AHJSA Match Reports

Players were greeted with a force 9 gale when they arrived at Summit for their matchup with Nairne. Eli Parkyn won the rock/paper/scissors and elected for Hahndorf to kick with the assistance of the wind. When play got under way, Hahndorf were immediately on the offensive with Hugo Curtis seemingly everywhere in the mid-field. Passes were directed out to the wings, with Patrick Freer crossing into the middle, leading to several deflections and early corners for Hahndorf. The constant pressure on the ball from Thomas Gould and Curtis eventually led to an opportunity for Freer whose strike sizzled passed Nairne’s keeper only to ricochet off the post. 

 This bad luck didn’t stop the players for long, with Pearl Beesley taking possession in the midfield and getting the ball to Curtis, who was able to link up with Gould who slotted Hahndorf’s first score of the day. After Hahndorf had opened their account, Nairne began to bring more pressure to bear in the midfield and penetrated into Hahndorf’s defence. However, Alice Cannavo and Oliver Ramsey were able to shut down these attacks efficiently and release the ball back to Hahndorf’s midfielders. Nairne did break through the defence on a couple of occasions, but their shots were saved by Parkyn in goals, who, on a couple of occasions came well off his line to clear the ball away. 

 Sideways rain arrived just before the half and the players were visibly relieved to make a rush for jackets and jumpers in an attempt to keep warm during the break. 

 The second half commenced with the rain disappearing and Hahndorf again pressuring Nairne in the midfield right from the outset. Curtis continued his brilliant play of the first half confidently taking possession in the midfield and feeding balls to Ashon Broadbent-Shaw and Freer in the forward half. This constant pressure could only be absorbed by Nairne for so long and eventually Broadbent-Shaw weaved his way between two defenders to slide the ball past the keeper for another Hahndorf score. 

 Following the score, Nairne pushed aggressively into the Hahndorf backline. A deflected save by Lachlan Gardner bounced back to a Nairne forward, who put a shot on goal but was denied by a brilliant goal line clearance by Gould to maintain Hahndorf’s clean sheet. The backline scare seemed to galvanise the defensive trio of Parkyn, Mason Sickerdick and Gould who tightened up their pressure, played up the pitch and moved the ball effectively back to the midfield thereafter.  This resulted in getting the ball to Freer in the middle of the pitch, who then took the ball past three Nairne players on a scintillating run into the box that ended with a stunning strike into the top corner that gave the Nairne goalie no chance. 

 After the strike, Hahndorf continued to use excellent short passing in the middle of the pitch that gave Freer the opportunity to score his second of the morning. The rain arrived again in force just before the final whistle sounded and the players scurried to the shelter for well deserved king-sized doughnuts. 

 The spirit in which the team played this morning capped a fantastic year for all of the players and thanks go to Nairne for the exciting game. A massive thanks to the coaching team for all the time and effort you have put in coaching and training the girls and boys this year!  

Battling against strong wind and rain, the Hahndorf Under 12’s team pulled together securing a win of 4 - 1 against the competitive Stirling Districts team at Summit Sport and Recreation Park in Mount Barker.

Kicking against the wind in the first half saw Emlyn Gilroy, Joel Bateman and Caleb Earley keep the ball moving through the centre field whilst Thomas Stapleton was kept busy defending goals. Christopher Haynes, Samuel Whitehead and Jacob Gerber worked hard in defence alongside Harry Wood and Billy Cook, with all players working hard through intercepting then ball and keeping pressure on their opponent. Minutes before half-time saw Stirling score the first goal of the match.

Despite the bad weather continuing in the second half, the team were able to reset their game plan which saw the Hahndorf momentum gather, supported by Louis Moran and Jackson Bidgood passing well through the field. This then allowed Lawson Shotton, Bateman and Jenson Ingram to all take kicks for goal. Ingram found the back of the net twice whilst Bateman also secured a goal, taking the final score to 4 – 1, with the addition of an “own goal” early in the second half.

The Hahndorf team demonstrated perseverance and patience resulting in a hard-fought win. The Hahndorf under 12s team wish to thank the Stirling Districts Team for the game played in the great spirit of the game on Saturday 17th September 2022.

With Strathalbyn beating Stirling 2-1 in the AHJFA Cup five days earlier the two teams lined up. For Strathalbyn, the opportunity to prove again the force they’ve become. For Stirling, a win to guarantee the premiership, but anything less almost certainly runners up.

A stiff breeze across and down the pitch stifled more free running play but the sides quickly adapted to a low, shorter, passing game. With the breeze in their favour Strathalbyn were quickly in attack and pressing the Stirling defence which held firm. Then with just a skerrick of space Strathalbyn’s first real shot – but controlled by Stirling’s keeper Emma Dalton around the 6-minute mark. Thereafter, with the ball mostly confined to the downwind side of the pitch, Stirling worked the ball forward against the wind in series of strenuous close passing movements. Zora Huang, pivotal in such efforts, got behind the defence more than once but was denied by good keeping. Strathalbyn kicking with wind were quickly back to Stirling’s half only to have Stirling work it back again and again with several shots brushing the outside of the post. Much of the first half continued in this fashion.

Strathalbyn in return had some sharp shots but controlled by some good Stirling keeping including a one-on-one that was just able to be deflected, and diving save at the feet of running attackers. Then a switch play saw Stirling’s Auriana Healy with space to run and in speedy solo effort, beat several defenders, to slot a fine goal.  Strathalbyn’s never say die attitude saw them continue to press Stirling hard and with only a minute to half time Zara Yates, given too much space, slotted another fine goal to add to her brace from the Cup final five days earlier.

The second half saw Stirling pin Strathalbyn in their own half for much of the time, however the Strathalbyn defensive unit was proving impenetrable. In reply Strathalbyn launched several good attacks but the Stirling defence and keeper were not too stretched and were able to quickly return the ball to their midfield to resume attack. With about 25 minutes of the half elapsed and the game seemly heading to a draw Stirling’s Evie-Mae Kaines broke through the Strathalbyn defensive line, and despite close attention from defenders, slotted home a sharp goal to give Stirling the lead. Thereafter despite a few additional good chances Stirling were just unable to capitalise on, no further goals were earned by either side. For Stirling the narrow 2-1 win reversing the score line from five days earlier and earning them the season premiership. For Strathalbyn another display of the highly competitive force they evolved into during the season.