Monday July 14th 2008
Mauled By A Cougar
by Andy Craig
Hahndorf suffered a second half fade out against
a fired up Adelaide Cougars and wound up on the wrong side of a
7-0 score line.
With both teams at the foot of the SAASL 2nd
division, round 12 was expected to provide a tight contest,
however battling the high winds and some uneven bounce, Hahndorf
could only provide a challenge for the first half.
The team got off to a reasonable start with regular
custodian Danny Pace between the sticks and the defensive core of
Tyrone Blunt, Andy Craig and Wayne Forrester. Hahndorf kicked off
with the wind and midfielders Ash Parr, Craig Cottle and young
Jack Farrimond immediately got into the fray as they sought to use
the flanks with Kyle Eglinton and Stephen Ness.
The Cougars also looked to exploit the flanks and
had several sorties into the Magpie penalty area where Pace was
alert to the threat. Using the long ball into the wind, the
Cougars found space behind the defence, who were not at their
cohesive best, however Blunt maintained his assured form from last
week and led the way in the back line.
Up front, the strike force of the Agentinian Wiz,
Martin Moran and John Lawler found the long ball was mostly
eluding them and going through to the Cougars ‘keeper. However,
the Magpies put together the best chances of the opening twenty
minutes through Parr and Farrimond, both with rasping shots that
went just wide. In another build up through midfield, Parr turned
provider for Ness, a sweeping cross met at pace by Ness and he
drove his shot inches wide of goal.
On the half hour the Cougars broke the deadlock
with a through ball that left Pace one on one with the nippy
forward and he put the ball past the diving Magpie ‘keeper.
Undeterred, the Magpies regrouped and put pressure on the Cougars
backline. Moran worked the ball with Cottle but could not find
space for the shot as Hahndorf tried to find the equaliser.
It was to never arrive as the Cougars again latched
onto a through ball and added their second with five minutes left
in the half. It was a disappointing end to a half where Hahndorf
should have put a score on the board.
The second stanza was painful to watch for the
travelling faithful as the Magpies rarely showed glimpses of a
team up for the contest. Throughout the half the Cougars added to
the score with regularity and possibly could have had many more
but for some outstanding saves by Pace.
Driven onto the backfoot by the wind and the
Cougars desire for the ball, the Magpie defence struggled to build
on their previous half. The Cougars continued to attack in numbers
and often found a man free as Hahndorf failed to mark up and
follow their players.
After the Cougars went 4-0 up, substitutes Roly
Tobar, Paul Charles and Michael Stevens came on to inject some
fight and fresh legs. Charles immediately went on the attack and
made some promising moves down the wing. One of these picked out
Tobar in the middle of the area but he could not put the ball on
target with the Cougars ‘keeper out of position. Stevens made some
solid contributions, while Farrimond continued to battle for every
ball, his efforts an example to most of his more senior teammates.
The referee’s whistle finally ended the Magpies
torment and they now have a weeks rest to find the form that
looked so promising just a week ago. Outstanding efforts for the
day went to Pace, Farrimond and Blunt, the shining beacons in a
sea of Magpie mediocrity.
Reserves
The Hahndorf Reserves put in a fine fighting
display but could not pull back an early Cougar goal, resulting in
a 1-0 loss.
Starting with a familiar back line of Matt Medley,
Ben Wells, Sam Gowan and Skipper Rupert Lindon, the Magpies were
stunned by a freak goal inside the first twenty seconds. From the
kickoff, the Cougars pushed down the flank and hit a speculative
shot from a wide position. Aided by the strong wind, the shot flew
into the top far corner, giving Nathaniel Brooke no chance and
putting the only score on the game on the board.
The Magpies fought back through the midfield of
Angus Coulls, Luke Jones, Lachlan McQueen and the Italian Maestro,
Edmondo Palumbo. Combining with forward Vin Chow, McQueen and
Jones set up Coulls on the edge of the area but he hit his shot
wide. Jack Goodfellow continued with fine form up front, his fleet
feet gliding past several defenders.
In defence, Wells drew an unwarranted swinging arm
which should have seen the culprit sent off but with the referee
not venturing outside the centre circle, the incident was put
aside.
Hahndorf flirted with danger, pushing players
forward and found themselves outnumbered four to two on a counter
attack. Fortunately for the visitors, the player blasted his shot
wide as he met the cross at the far post.
In the shadows of half time, McQueen found space
down the wing and the “Albino Yeti” put in a tantalising cross
that forced the Cougars ‘keeper into a clearing punch.
After half time, Stuart Thomas made a return from
injury and partnered Medley in defence and they both put in some
timely tackles to deny the Cougars a further score. Hahndorf
continued to play some good passing football and created scoring
opportunities, however they lacked the finishing touch to find the
equaliser.
Goodfellow made an excellent
run into the Cougars penalty area but frustratingly hit his shot
at the ’keeper. Chow was finding plenty of the ball and worked
well with the midfield, but Hahndorf often failed to find the
vital touch in the final third of the pitch.
The game progressed along with both sides getting
their chances but firm defence combined with the difficult
conditions saw no addition to the scoreboard in the half.
Hahndorf have a week off due to their scheduled
opponents, Cove, playing in the Cup, so they next face the third
placed Adelaide Villa away.
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