For the penultimate round of the South Australian Amateur Soccer League 2nd Division, the Hahndorf Magpies travelled to the Western suburbs where they met the Croydon Cougars in a torrid affair that saw the hosts battling to the end for a 2-1 win.
The fine weather and relatively good surface of the Cougars’ ground brought out some sparkling football by Hahndorf in the opening twenty minutes. Matt Norris and Jordan Webber put the Cougars defence under pressure as the Magpie midfield enjoyed the better possession in the opening exchanges.
The Cougars made some forward moves but the defensive line of Steve Noble, Andy Craig, Jack Farrimond and Rupert “Crusher” Lindon forced their opponents into shooting from distance and the speculative shots were comfortably dealt with by Hahndorf ‘keeper Nathaniel Brooke. Norris was proving to be a serious threat up front for the Magpies and drew the majority of the contested ball in the forward third of the pitch. Webber, Norris, Dan Hermel, Chris Sawers and Kayne Stubing all helped to keep the hosts on the back foot as chances fell to Hahndorf but despite the Magpies hitting the crossbar, their scoring chances were not converted.
Although they played the first twenty minutes largely in the Cougars half, the Magpies had little to show for it and the hosts made them pay with a quickly taken free kick that surprised the Hahndorf custodian. The goal gave the home team confidence and the match was soon evenly balanced with neither side creating many clear cut chances. Hahndorf had a great opportunity to level the score from a corner but Craig showed why he had spent the majority of his playing days in defence when he blasted a shot over the bar from close in.
The second half continued much like the first had ended, a tight tussle between the two sides with the respective defences quenching the majority of attacks. Hahndorf began to use Sawers more and the speedy winger made some telling runs into Cougar territory but the Magpies found their aim astray as Hermel and Norris shot wide.
Lindon found himself the target of some side line banter but answered his critics by repeatedly cutting out the Cougars attack on the flank and combined with the other Magpie defenders to keep the Cougars to shotting from distance. A Hahndorf free kick found the head of Norris and he knocked the ball across to Hermel but his shot went wide of goal as the Magpies pushed for an equaliser.
Tom Holland entered the match with the intensity lifting and play went end to end as each side found the defences difficult to get past. Ness remained busy deep in midfield and combined with Norris and Hermel to get Hahndorf going forward. Craig and Farrimond made a few good challenges to keep the Cougars at bay while Stubing, Norris, Holland and Hermel remained a persistent threat in attack.
With the match entering the final ten minutes the Cougars scored, an innocuous shot from distance escaping through Brooke to put the home team two goals up. Hahndorf responded with some of their best attacking play and finally broke through with a goal. Holland sent a cross-field ball to Sawers and he deftly chipped a pass into the path of Hermel who took it in his stride to centre the ball to Norris, the combative striker turning it into goal.
The Cougars responded with a volley that was lashed toward goal but Brooke made an excellent diving save to deny the score. A frantic final few minutes saw Hahndorf throw themselves into attack and they created several good opportunities but could not find the net. Norris went agonisingly close to an equaliser after Sawers low cross was forced out by the Cougars’ ‘keeper into his path, however the onrushing striker could not guide the ball into the net. A final free kick in the dying minutes gave the Magpies their last chance but Craig failed to get a touch on Stubings tumbling drive and the shot went just the wrong side of the post.
It was a highly competitive match and the Magpies will feel they did enough to get a draw but it was not to be. Man of the Match was Matt Norris, who worked tirelessly in the forward line all game with Hermel and Craig also having strong contributions.
Reserves
The Hahndorf Reserves put on a clinical display to comprehensively outplay the Cougars in a 4-1 result that was richly deserved by the Magpies.
From the opening whistle, Hahndorf took the attack up to the hosting Cougars with striker Jesse Konstantinoff busy in the forward line to the extent that he was fouled in the penalty area after just a few minutes of play. Konstantinoff took the penalty kick but the Cougars’ ‘keeper did well to save the strike and the Cougars added insult to injury by scoring themselves minutes later.
Hahndorf suffered a further blow when Konstantinoff went off with an injury and he was replaced with “El Presidente” Stuart Thomas, who slotted seamlessly into central defence alongside Tim Staniford. The Magpies regrouped and defenders Ash Parr and Scott Breaker began to use the wide spaces to bring Kyle Eglinton and Angus “House” Hambrook into play. Gary Ledson and Tom Stevens took control of the middle and Chris Hyde formed a new striking partnership with Tom Holland, the latter restoring parity with an excellent goal.
The Magpies held possession in the attacking third before Holland dallied at the top of the penalty area, keeping the Cougars defence guessing before he picked out the bottom corner of goal with a fine drive. Hahndorf continued to control large portions of the match, with Magpie ‘keeper Andy Jones only called upon for some routine saves. The match swung decisively in favour of the visitors just on half time, when Hambrook, having a great game, made a burst down the flank to find Hyde in the middle and the experienced marksman drilled a volley low into the net.
After the resumption of play, Hahndorf were unrelenting in their application, the Magpie spine of Thomas, Ledson and Stevens forming a solid base to distribute the ball wide to Hambrook and Eglinton. The Magpie defence remained defiant, Breaker in particularly good form as Hahndorf pushed for further goals. Eglington heeded the call with Hahndorf’s third, neatly side footing the ball over the exposed Cougar ‘keeper after some fine build up play.
Parr made a few rampant runs at the heart of the Cougars and on one occasion, the opposition parted like the Red Sea before Moses, allowing Parr to lash a shot just wide of the mark. Hahndorf stamped their authority on the match with their fourth score of the game, Hambrook and Holland combining to present Hyde with a fine ball and he slotted away his second goal.
The match was a great result and well deserved with strong performances across the park. The Man of the match plaudits went to Scott Breaker with a plethora Magpie players close behind, including Hambrook, Hyde, Holland, Stevens, Parr and Staniford.
Super Cs
The Super Cs had a comfortable 2-1 win over local rivals Strathalbyn, the Magpies going 2 nil up by the half time break. Big Brian and Nat Stewart put the goals in for Hahndorf while ‘keeper Ben Simpson made a brilliant save from a penalty to keep Strathalbyn scoreless until the final minute of the match.
Next week all three Hahndorf teams are home for the final matches of the season, the Super Cs kicking off the day against the top ranked McLaren District with the Reserves and Firsts hosting the second placed MA Hawks, the visitors having already secured promotion to the Premier Division next season.
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