Hahndorf all but ensured their South Australian Amateur Soccer League Division 2 survival with an epic 4-3 win over USC Lion on Saturday, a cracking winner by Chris Sawers sealing the match in the final minutes for the Magpies.
Three points separated the two sides going into the 16th round of League fixtures, the match touted as a fabled “six pointer” between the 7th placed Magpies and the 9th placed Lion teams. The pointy end of the season took on a razor sharp focus for the Magpies and they hit the ground running to go 1-0 up within the first minute. Kayne Stubing escaped on the flank to deliver a fine cross that was contested in the middle by Michael Lewington and Matt Norris, the later getting a telling touch to guide the ball into the Lion net.
Hahndorf maintained their momentum in the early phases of the match, Chris Sawers and Stubing industrious with Dan Hermel and Steve Ness in the midfield, while big forwards Norris and Lewington were an imposing threat. Lion regrouped and began to wrest possession from the Magpies, defenders Scott Schubert, Luke and Kieran Guest with Jack Farrimond finding themselves under increasing pressure as the game developed.
However, it was the Magpies who struck the next blow, a score carved out of an innocuous free kick to the top of the penalty area. With his back to the goal, Stubing brought the ball down with his chest and then created space to turn and arrow a sharp effort to the bottom corner of goal, a stunning strike that left the visitors in trouble at 2-0 down.
Hahndorf grew in confidence and found the flanks offered the best chances of scoring, speedster Sawers racing through to find Lewington in the middle but his glancing header flashed past the post with USC Lion in disarray at the back. Hahndorf kept up the pressure through Hermel and Norris, the two combining as the Magpies kept the ball in the attacking third before Ness lashed a shot wide of goal.
Hermel and Stubing continued Hahndorf’s attacking drive with a neat move but the USC Lion goalkeeper made a good interception before the duo could add to the goal tally. Several more sorties by the Magpies kept the Lion defence on their toes but it was the visitors who struck back, a counter attack catching Hahndorf out minutes before half time. Hahndorf custodian Nathaniel Brooke parried the initial shot but Lion retrieved the loose ball and a good cross to the far post gave the Lion forward a neat headed goal. Lion could have equalised a minute later, an audacious shot from forty metres almost catching Brooke out but it was high and wide of the target and the Magpies went into the break with a 2-1 lead.
After half time, Hahndorf looked to regain their two goal lead, and had several promising attacks broken down by Lion before Lewington scored, but a handball in the control of the ball saw his strike disallowed. Lion hit back with some sustained build-up but Guest brothers and Farrimond had the defence organised to dull the searching Lion attack.
Norris continued with his high work rate, latching onto a fine through ball but the Lion ‘keeper was equal to the task and beat the shot away as Norris closed in on goal. Stubing and Sawers found there was plenty of space to roam on the flanks and several times the latter exposed his marker with some deft turns and dummies to get behind the defence. Stubing fed off the spoils from Lewington who knocked down a free kick to the winger and he drilled a shot at goal only for the Lion ‘keeper to make a great diving save and tip the ball over the bar.
Despite the positive drive by the Magpies, Lion hit back with a goal to restore parity, a cross cut back to a player in the middle and a neat finish made it 2-2. Five minutes later and a revived Lion stalked out of the relegation zone with a long range strike that deceived Brooke in the air and sent the visiting team and supporters into celebration.
The intensity of the game increased as players lifted themselves for the final twenty minutes. Hahndorf and Lion exchanged attacking forays but met desperate defences determined to deny another score. Hahndorf launched a searing attack deep into Lion territory where a loose ball in the penalty area was heavily contested and the referee awarded a penalty to the Magpies. After the protestations of the visitors were silenced, Norris stepped up to the spot kick, hitting the ball cleanly into the corner for a 3-3 score and adding another layer of excitement to the highly charged contest.
The final fifteen minutes were action packed with both teams creating some fine chances. Lion had a free kick on the edge of the penalty area but wasted it by shooting over the bar. Hahndorf responded through Stubing, the winger dashing past the Lion defence to smash a shot against the crossbar. Brooke made several telling saves as Lion applied the pressure, his best effort a great tip over the bar from a long range drive.
The Hahndorf coach made some changes, injecting the fresh legs of Jordan Webber and Tom Holland into the seething cauldron of end to end football. Lion poured forward but strong rearguard action by Farrimond stopped them in their tracks. Hahndorf countered but could not break through. Lion then had the best opportunity to take the points, a scramble in the Magpies penalty area seeing the ball drop to a Lion player close to goal but he blazed his shot over the bar when he should have done better.
Hahndorf made Lion pay dearly for the miss when they drove forward, Holland splitting the Lion defence wide open with a superb ball to Sawers free on the wing. Sawers raced directly to goal and hit a thunderous shot at pace that fizzed past the advancing ‘keeper and buried in itself in the top corner of the net to send Hahndorf players and supporters into frenzied celebrations.
However, with five minutes to play, the visitors had the chance to once again even the score. Lion managed a couple of shots on goal but these were scrambled away by Brooke to maintain the lead for Hahndorf and they were able to see out the remaining time and claim the three valuable points.
The match was an epic battle between last years two promoted teams and puts Hahndorf six points clear of the relegation zone with two rounds left. Man of the match was late goal hero Chris Sawers who had a superb game on the flank with Matt Norris and Kayne Stubing also major contributors in the win.
Reserves
The Hahndorf Reserves and USC Lion played out a competitive and entertaining 2-2 draw in the second fixture of the day.
Hahndorf started the match well with Kieran Guest, Angus Hambrook, Jesse Konstantinoff and Rupert “Crusher” Lindon setting out to attack the Lion unit from the outset. The Magpies moved the ball well in the initial stages and pinned the visitors back in their half. Tom Stevens was industrious in the middle of the park with good support from Kyle Eglinton and Scott Breaker. Hahndorf capitalised on their possession when they scored through Konstantinoff, the hard working forward striking fine shot to give the Magpies the lead.
Lion worked their way back into the match, giving Dan Mardle Gary Ledson and Andy Craig plenty of defensive duties as they sought to protect Andy Jones’ goal. Hahndorf created some good chances but could not take full toll of their opportunities with some neat interplay going unrewarded. The home team were making the better plays and probably should have found another goal for their endeavours. Yet it was Lion who scored, the goal a blow to the hard work of the Magpies throughout the half.
Hahndorf brought on Tim Staniford after the break as the two teams resumed play. Lion began to impose themselves more on the match and Hahndorf had to scramble a few close calls away to safety. The match was largely played in the Magpies half with the Lion putting Hahndorf under pressure for long periods of play. Perseverance paid off for the visitors when they took the lead, the Magpies tardy in possession and Lion took over to deliver a ball to the far post and finished it with a fine headed goal.
However, the Magpies were not done and showed their battling spirit to grasp a late equaliser through substitute Tom Holland, who drove in a fine curling free kick that nestled into the far corner of the net. The draw was a fair reflection of the match, Hahndorf having the better first half with Lion stronger in the second. Best for Hahndorf was Dan Mardle, who had a fine match in defence with Jesse Konstantinoff and Tom Stevens also strongly involved.
Super Cs
In the first match, Hahndorf kicked off the days triple header against CCM United, the Super Cs paving the way with a solid 3-0 win over the visitors.
Next week the Hahndorf Magpies are away to the Croydon Cougars, while the Super Cs are visiting local rivals, Strathalbyn.
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