Monday June 2nd 2008

Sturt In Different Class

A depleted Hahndorf hosted league leaders Sturt Marion Thunder on a fine Saturday for the 7^th round of SAASL division 2. In a brave effort, the home team battled hard before Sturt prevailed 7-0.

With injuries still devastating the club, Coach Peter Cottle found his options limited and had to play a few players in unfamiliar positions against the imposing Sturt Marion side. Regular custodian Danny Pace found himself behind a defensive line of Kyle Eglinton, Ash Parr, hard man Wayne Forrester and veteran Andy Craig alongside the towering Tyrone Blunt.

The Magpie defence were in the action early as Sturt Marion pushed players forward looking for a quick score, but their opening forays were repelled as the new formation held their own. Midfielders Craig Cottle, Stephen Ness, Paul Charles and young Alex Oldham put pressure on the Thunder, winning some valuable balls but unable to link effectively with the Argentinean Wiz, Martin Moran.

The opening goal for the visitors came courtesy of a cheeky free kick, quickly taken while the Magpies were organising their wall and the ball was curled into the far post. Despite the setback the Magpies should have equalised a short time later, but after creating the space and opportunity, the final pass was over hit.

Many of the Sturt Marion attacks relied on the long throw, a potent weapon when it was delivered into the 6 yard box and Craig and Forrester had their work cut out in dealing with the aerial threat. When the visitors did get a header on target, Parr was on hand with a timely clearance off the line.

The pressure by the Thunder eventually paid off, some neat passing working the ball into the area and finished with a close range shot that just crept inside the post.  Hahndorf continued to battle for the ball but struggled to get shots on target as half time drew near. The Magpies were unlucky to concede a third just before the break when a long range effort found the net after Hahndorf had denied the visitors closer access to goal.

The resumption of play saw Hahndorf on a more even footing with Sturt Marion with Ness and Oldham winning some midfield tussles and forcing the visitors to reassess their options. Forrester was marshalling the defence well and Hahndorf made several forays forward but consistently lacked a convincing finish in the final third of the pitch.

Hahndorf soaked up the pressure but Sturt Marion were relentless in their attacking endeavour and added two more goals after twenty minutes, one a rasping effort from distance that found the top corner of the net.

At the other end, Moran and Charles combined down the flank to earn a corner but the Magpies couldn’t capitalise on the opportunity. Their predicament worsened when a Hahndorf player gained two fairly soft yellow cards, leaving the Magpies to negotiate the remaining twenty minutes with ten men. Cottle made two substitutions, bringing on Vin Chow and Luke Jones for Charles and Eglinton.

Pace faced more pressure in goal and continued to do extremely well making some important saves. He made a great double save and was most unlucky to see the ball roll to a Sturt Marion forward and he tapped in from two metres. With five minutes remaining the Thunder added their seventh from what looked to an offside position, a one on one that Pace was unable to keep out.

Despite the result, the Magpies made the league leaders earn their three points by battling hard all day. They need to finish off their attacking moves with more conviction and then they may see some more favourable results in future weeks.

Reserves

The Hahndorf Reserves faced the same selection problems as the first team but managed to put out a competitive side that was undone by the Sturt Marion side 5-0.

With several players elevated to the first team squad, the Magpie Reserves started with Nathaniel Brooke in goal presiding over a defence containing Mark McGrath, Ben Wells, Sam Gowan and Matt Medley. Jamie Brice returned after an absence to line up alongside Jack Goodfellow, Lachlan McQueen, Vin Chow and Reserves captain Rupert  “the Enforcer” Lindon. Live wire Luke Jones filled out the attacking role and Hahndorf started the game with spirits high.

The more fancied Sturt Marion tried to dominate the Hahndorf defence from the start, however Medley and McGrath were up to the challenge early on. The Magpie midfield more than matched the visitors and Hahndorf created some good opportunities in the opening exchanges.

However, Hahndorf soon found themselves of the back foot after conceding the first goal. The Magpies recovered well and went on several attacks but lacked penetration at key moments. A substitution saw Angus Coulls replace Goodfellow after thirty minutes.  

Sturt Marion added a second with a fine drive from twenty-five yards that arrowed into the top corner, giving Brookes no chance. In the shadows of half time, Hahndorf conceded two more goals to go into the break four goals down.

As has often occurred this season, the Magpie reserves were a much better team in the second period. They tightened up in midfield and their passes began to hit their targets.

Medley was proving very hard to get past and along with Brooke they shut down Sturt Marion’s chances. A flowing move from one end to the other saw the ball pass from Lindon to Chow who squared it for Coulls and he pushed a through ball for McQueen. Driving in from the left, McQueen hit his shot well but it flew just the wrong side of the post.

As the game drew on Sturt scored a fifth and a little later Coach Edmondo Palumbo brought himself on for the tiring Gowan. The Italian Maestro made some key interceptions as Hahndorf fought back in the later stages. Wells showed his trickery down the flank and the midfield were winning the hard ball. They had chances to get on the board but time escaped them before they could get one past the Sturt Marion ‘keeper.

It was a good performance in the second half by the Magpies, they just need to keep the intensity up from the start and the results will turn their way.

Next week the Magpies travel down to the far reaches of Torrens road to visit Budapest, a team that was promoted last year along with the Hahndorf side.