2012 Round 6: Hahndorf Magpies V Gleeson

Hahndorf Magpies V Gleeson
Hahndorf and Gleeson fought out an entertaining nil-all draw in a battle between the league strugglers, both sides showing the intensity to win but unable to convert the chances on offer.

The first taste of winter weather this season greeted the teams at Pine Avenue, the ground subject to several showers during the match to provide a slippery but firm surface for the 6th Round of the South Australian Amateur Soccer League 2nd Division.

Hahndorf began the first half attacking with the slope, forwards Jesse Konstantinoff and James Anderson keen to test the Gleeson defence. The conditions made ball control a premium and both sets of players took time to adjust their passing range. Jordan Webber, Steve Ness, Tim Prince and Captain Jack “Sparrow” Farrimond were engaged in the midfield, the main battleground of the match, and the quartet found the environment to their liking.

The Magpies had a good chance early in the match; Anderson found himself in a prime position but poked his shot over the crossbar from close in when he should have done better. Gleeson tested the Magpies defence with a few forward forays but custodian Andy Jones was not troubled in the early going, Ash Parr, Todd Newman Matt Norris and Chris Sawers providing a solid defensive barrier.

A combination involving Sawers, Ness and Anderson put Konstantinoff in with an opportunity, but latching onto Anderson’s cross, the marksman’s first time shot blazed over the bar. The Magpies were keen to maintain their forward momentum and Anderson was bowled over by a bustling Webber as both players tried to finish off a good move by Hahndorf.

Gleeson hit back with some good attacking play and Jones had to be alert to keep out a couple of shots as both teams fought out a tight tussle with neither gaining the ascendancy. After his lengthy layoff, Sawers returned in fine form, intercepting play and launching Hahndorf into attack with some precision passing.

A neat move by Hahndorf saw Parr and Anderson team up to serve Konstantinoff with a cutback ball on the edge of the penalty area. Konstantinoff turned one way then another to elude three Gleeson players at close quarters but couldn’t complete his piece of brilliance, slicing his shot wide with the ‘keeper to beat.

Hahndorf continued to pressure the Gleeson defence in the later stages of the half, with Anderson particularly busy, but clear chances were rare. The first forty-five minutes ended with the scoreboard unchanged with both Hahndorf and Gleeson locked in a close battle, the hosts arguably having the better chances.

The second stanza continued the theme that was established in the first, the respective defences largely on top despite the best efforts of the forwards. The play was confined to the midfield with each side having periods of possession but unable to turn this into any clear shooting opportunities. Anderson was unrelenting in his forward role, harassing the Gleeson defence at every opportunity while Farrimond was busy robbing the visitors of midfield momentum.

A knock to Norris ended his match prematurely and while he was capably replaced by Scott Graham, it caused the Hahndorf defence to undergo some rearrangement. These changed the complexion of the match in the last twenty minutes as Gleeson desperately sort a breakthrough goal. The visitors held Hahndorf under pressure for large passages of play but some good defending by the Magpies and some very wayward shooting by Gleeson kept the slate clean.

The Magpies brought on Kane Oppelaar on to relieve some tired legs as the pressure mounted on the hosts. Prince provided some relief with a promising run in the forward line before being fouled but Hahndorf wasted the resulting free kick. Gleeson went on the attack and Jones made a spectacular save to keep parity as Gleeson edged closer to finding a goal. Parr chipped in with a great clearance off the line and the visitors continued to spray shots wide of the target.

The Magpies held firm in the remaining minutes with Gleeson seeking a way through the miserly Hahndorf defence before the referee ended the match. The draw opens the account for the Magpies and they will look to build on the result in further matches. Best on the day was Chris Sawers who made a tremendous return to first team football, with valuable contributions from James Anderson and Steve Ness. Captain Jack “Sparrow” Farrimond was also notable for his plundering role in the heart of midfield.

Reserves
The Hahndorf Reserves suffered their biggest loss of the season in a forgettable match where Gleeson took took full toll of the opportunities that befell them.

The visitors got off to a blistering start on a day of patchy showers, Hahndorf were tentative on the slippery ground and Gleeson took advantage of some hesitancy to poke a quick goal past goalkeeper Vaughan Barratt. Before the Magpies could settle the visitors added a second, a angled finish after the Gleeson winger escaped his marker and placed a shot into the corner.

Hahndorf regrouped and began to recover from their tardy start, the midfield of Stuart Thomas and Kyle Eglinton with Kane and Lloyd Oppelaar getting to grips with conditions. Forwards David Grant and Scott Bonnar found more of the ball and the Magpies created some decent scoring chances.

Andy Craig, Scott Breaker, Tim Staniford and Samuel Putalla tightened up the defence and Hahndorf pushed the ball around with more surety. The hosts suffered a blow when Thomas left the pitch with an injury, giving Ben Wells a run in the middle. After having a number of good chances, Hahndorf managed to pull a goal back, Grant forging a run down the wing and putting in a fine cross. Bonnar and a defender challenged for the flighted ball and it ballooned to the edge of the penalty area where K Oppelaar drove a sumptuous volley low into the net.

Hahndorf picked up the pace and should have added a second soon after when Bonnar was put through, however the ‘keeper managed to unbalance the speedy forward as he went past and Bonnar crashed his shot against the post.
Gleeson responded with some close chances but could not find the net as both teams went into half time with the match largely in the balance.

The start of the second half mirrored the first with Gleeson getting a quick goal soon after the restart. They added a fourth soon after when a deflection off the referee fell fortuitously for Gleeson and wrong-footed the Hahndorf players.

The Magpies tried to hit back but despite getting into promising positions, they could not find the net, either through shots missing the target or making one pass too many in the penalty area. Gleeson had no such trouble and scored from a corner, the ball driven into the six-yard box where Gleeson were the first to react and stick it in the net.

The shell-shocked Magpies kept pushing to find another goal and after Breaker put in a fine free kick, Craig should have added their second but he sent his header just over the bar. Soon after, Craig’s match got worse when he mistimed a tackle and conceded a penalty that was despatched for Gleeson’s sixth score.

Hahndorf stuck to their game plan and continued to threaten the Gleeson goal but found their finishing not equal to their approach play. Gleeson added salt into the wounds with a final score, driving an low shot past a crowd of players after the Magpies half cleared a corner.

Despite the score, the Magpies showed fight to the end of a very bad day and hope to turn their fortunes around in two weeks time. Best on the day was Lloyd Oppelaar with a strong, pivotal presence, with good support from Scott Bonnar, backing up after Super Cs duty and the reliable Scott Breaker.


Super Cs
The Super Cs suffered a 0-3 loss to Gleeson in what looked to be a fairly even contest, both teams doing well in the conditions but the visitors making the most of their chances.

Next week the Magpies have the week off due to a bye and will use the time to rest some players and to get others off the injury list. Action returns to the Pine Avenue Arena in two weeks time when the Reserves take on Croydon Cougars on the 9th of June in the 2nd round of the Cup competition.