Monday June 30th 2008

Hawks Swoop In And Steal The Points                                                                                           by Andy Craig

Hahndorf and the MA Hawks put on a fierce contest for the tenth round of the SAASL Division 2, a single goal to the visitors giving them the points despite the Magpies having the better chances.

The Magpies got off to a poor start with goalkeeper Danny Pace and the defence of crafty Wayne Forrester, veteran Andy Craig and towering Tyrone Blunt put under early pressure. The Hawks midfield moved the ball through the midfield well and their movement troubled Craig Cottle, Ash Parr and Todd Newman with wide players Brad Francis and Paul Charles also starting on the back foot.

 After seven minutes, the Hawks sprayed a diagonal ball wide as the defence pushed out, leaving them exposed in the middle and a simple cross picked out an unmarked striker who gave Pace no chance from close in. 

The goal awoke the lethargic Magpies and they started to build their game, with the Argentinian Wiz, Martin Moran dropping deep to help out the midfield and John Lawler making some runs up front.

Charles collected a wide ball from a Cottle - Moran combination and took it to the goal-line before whipping it into the middle with his left foot. Lawler ran to the cross but could not get a firm head on the ball and it glanced past the post with the goal beckoning.

Lawler soon had another excellent opportunity, running on to a through ball and bearing down on goal before he fired the shot just over the bar. The Magpies kept up the pressure with several corners but their best effort fell to Craig who volleyed from just inside the box and his shot was stopped on the line.

At the other end, the Hawks attack also had a few chances but good defence by Hahndorf denied them shots on target and ‘keeper Pace was relatively untroubled. Cottle put in two sharp free kicks but the Hawks ‘keeper was able to neutralise the threat of the inswinging ball as half time drew close.

In the second half, Hahndorf continued to push for an equaliser and, urged on by the local support, began to take control of the match. Moran was dominating possession and Cottle, getting back into form, found his passing range with Newman and Parr working hard in the midfield cauldron.

The MA Hawks found themselves launching long balls forward in a bid to break down the Hahndorf defence, but Pace and Forrester cleaned up most of the Hawks’ loose deliveries with Blunt injecting some assured passing. The run of flankers Francis and Charles remained a threat to the Hawks, until Francis ran out of legs and was replaced by Stephen Ness.

Ness got immediately into the match with some good defensive work and the fresh player helped open up the midfield. Mercurial Chilean, Roly Tobar entered the fray, his unpredictable style a handful for the Hawks midfield.

Minutes later, an injury to Newman forced Hahndorf into their last substitution, with Lachlan McQueen injected up front.

In the remaining twenty minutes, Hahndorf desperately sought the equaliser, the players lifting as the Hawks hung on to their slim lead. Charles and Lawler made blazing runs down the wing before putting in promising crosses. McQueen charged forward, intent on the ball and just missed one cross before going wide with his header with a second.

The minutes slid by as the Magpies renewed their attack, Moran working his way into the box before he was seemingly cut down, the calls for a penalty falling on deaf ears as the referee waved play on. With the Hahndorf side still pushing for goal they were denied by time as the final whistle was blown.

It was a tough result for the Magpies who created the better chances but paid dearly for their tardy start and profligacy in front of goal. However, it was a good performance by the team and the Magpies will be encouraged in the way their new formation is working with every player putting in a fine effort.

Reserves 

The Hahndorf Reserves put together some impressive football but ultimately could not get the goals it deserved in a 4-1 defeat to the MA Hawks reserves.

After a sketchy opening ten minutes, the Hahndorf Reserves took control of the midfield and created many good exchanges of play. Goalkeeper Nathaniel Brooke presided over a young but improving defence of Ben Wells, skipper Rupert Lindon, Sam Gowan and Matt Medley, celebrating his 18^th birthday.

Jack Farrimond made a return from injury in midfield along with Angus Coulls, Kyle Eglinton and Luke Jones. The midfield combined well to support frontrunners Jack Goodfellow and Vin Chow however it was in the last third of the pitch that the Magpies had the most trouble.

 They built up play well but could not get a telling shot in the back of the net, the best chance falling to Coulls. In central defence, Medley and Lindon ensured the Hawks worked hard for every glimpse at goal, the captain leading from the front and putting in a stellar game.

Both teams entered the second half looking for the leading goal, but it was Hahndorf who dominated the first fifteen minutes, some crisp passing between Wells, Eglinton, Jones and Chow working the ball down the flank. However, the shots at goal did not eventuate and it was Gowan who pushed forward with some enterprising play resulting in two long range shots that had the Hawks’ ‘keeper scrambling to keep the ball out.

Despite their possession, the Magpies went down by two quick goals taken against the run of play, the first catching Brooke out of position and the second the result of the striker taking his chance well. The Magpies continued to battle and brought on the Italian Maestro, Edmondo Palumbo, Lachlan McQueen and Andrew Kenny to bolster their chances.

The move nearly paid off but again Hahndorf was found lacking in front of goal despite a good build up. The Hawks countered with another two goals before the Magpie Reserves were awarded a penalty. Jones lashed the ball into the net for a consolation goal but the Magpie Reserves will feel that they should have added more as they moved the ball well for large periods of the game. All players put in a great effort with Lindon outstanding on the day.

Next week the Hahndorf Magpies are on the road visiting Flinders University, where they hope to hand out a footballing lesson, while the Super Cs are also away at FC Adelaide.