Match report

Match report

The first round of the entire Adelaide Hills Junior Football Association was played on Friday evening at Pine Avenue, Hahndorf.

In the black and white corner was Hahndorf, on the back end of a proud and deserving 2020 U16 Season Championship. Their previous season record was mostly clean, albeit with a minor blemish, a loss to the only team who was able to beat them, the same team who they were about to face.

In the red and blue corner was Woodside, on the back end of a strong second half of the 2020 season. The team had finished fourth, a handful of wins in front of fifth and as many behind first. A weak first half of the season held them back on the ladder, but it also hampered their perceived respect, something that caught Hahndorf off guard when they lost against them.

The match-up had all the markings of an almighty battle, but both teams, both coaches and all supporters were well aware of the potential for things to go south for either team.

A 6pm kick-off during daylight savings drew ample natural light for Hahndorf’s brilliant LED lighting system to be kicked in later. The pitch itself was splendid, as they all are at this point in the season. All players pumped. The coaches nervous. The referee’s whistle blew, signalling kick off for both the game and the season in its entirety.

It was clearly evident that both teams meant business with the ball changing hands numerous times in the first few minutes. However over the first ten to fifteen minutes the game was predominantly controlled by the home team, keen to put the away team back in their box. A goal by Hahndorf’s Kyle Fenlon saw the home side open their account.

It wasn’t long before one of Woodside’s recent pick-ups, LACHLAN MOWBRAY, netted an equaliser. This was followed by Hahndorf’s second before a reply from another of Woodside’s pick-ups, ANGUS WILKINS. The Captain sent the ball in from distance, placing it somewhere under the bar and beyond the jumping distance from Hahndorf’s keeper, the younger brother of one of the younger players.

Scores were levelled at two a piece going into the half time break.

The second half saw the directions reversed and Woodside challenged with the uphill climb to score if they could. A last minute decision to start EDWARD HERMAN on, who had already spent time on the bench and was about to face more time, seized the opportunity to score early for the away team. A handy cross from JETT TONKIN direct to the feet of Eddie saw Woodside one goal up.

Hahndorf were quick to respond with successive goals, putting them a goal in front, a dangerous position for the away team with 15 minutes to go.

All players were visibly tired when Hahndorf had one player, unchallenged, drop with suspected cramping. Hahndorf, in control of the ball at the time, sent the ball out. The player eventually came good and Woodside’s throw in saw the ball return to Hahndorf’s keeper.

Woodside Captain, Angus, scored his second goal for the game and fourth for the team, which both levelled the score, and lowered the dangerously high heart rate of Woodside coaches and supporters.

Not long after a second Hahndorf player dropped, again with suspected cramping. This time Woodside sent the ball out, giving the sore player enough time to recover. Notably Hahndorf resumed play with a throw-in to one of their own, which eventuated in a terribly close on-target goal shot.

With minutes to go, an unfortunate incident in front of the home goal saw an obvious and non-deliberate hand ball, leaving Woodside striker Mowbray to take a penalty, landing his second goal for the season. The complaints from the sidelines were plenty, but the breach of the rule was obvious, something Woodside would have been reminded of if the situation was reversed.

With the second half going beyond the allocated time by minutes, and the ball changing hands rapidly, it was only a matter of time before the referee eventually saw an opportunity to end the game. 4-5 in favour of away team, Woodside.

“Both teams were not only balanced against each other, but also within the structure of their own formation” stated Coach BRUCE TONKIN after the game. “There’s no overly weak spots in either team and it was unfortunate that the game was decided by a penalty. A draw would have fair.”

Player of the match went to Woodside keeper SAMUEL HERMAN, with LACHLAN MOWBRAY and ANGUS WILKINS with notable performances.

Round 2 should see Woodside’s U17 team play after the Easter long weekend at home against long-term rivals Stirling United, something they’ll be preparing for.