AHJSA Match Reports

To start the day, most players experienced their first minute of silence, in tribute to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth’s passing.

On a damp pitch, but no rain in site, Hahndorf took on Bridgewater at Basket Range.

Bridgewater started strongly with a goal within the first minute, it then turned into a game of defence.

Miles Hennessy played goals in the first half and he had his hands full, with plenty of shots on goal, luckily for Hahndorf, Miles was on his A game, saving most in spectacular style.

As the ball came down the pitch often, it was important for Hahndorf to play well defensively.  All players stepped up as Bridgewater brought the ball down, both Eric Jager and Harris Parkyn getting in front of the ball to pressure the opposition. Hamish Glynn had a great run at goal, weaving his way through several players, just falling short of scoring.

In the second half, Hahndorf got a bit more creative with the ball, passing it around well and establishing some space. Again, lots of defensive pressure from Hahndorf, making it really tough for Bridgewater to break through, Charlie Roeszler took a heavy defensive block which showed a lot of character. With Michael Griggs working hard in goals, Scout Ramsay and Angus Clifton also kept in front of the ball all day and did well to ensure Bridgewater were held to only 1 goal in the second half. It was a long shot from Hennessey to get Hahndorf, it’s goal of the day, near the end of the game. Kealan Atkinson took his first shot of goal for the season in the dying minutes, and almost came up trumps. Hahndorf fought well all day and worked well as a team.

Round 17        Bridgewater White vs Woodside u9

The week leading into this week’s game had us thinking we were going to get postponed as we had plenty of rain yet again. 

Well we were wrong game was on and the pitch was soggy. players were expecting to have to work pretty hard with such a heavy pitch under foot. 

For the first time in a while we had everyone fit and well and ready to play, so we actually had a sub on the bench rotating through.

The game began with the team and the crowd showing respect to the Queens passing with a minute silence. It was a memorable moment and a special way to begin our second to last game of the season. 

Warm up had a new feeling with Fight Song pumping us up ready for a tough game and we had a lot to find after our first real solid defeat last week. 

Every time we have played this team it has been hard and fast and could go either way at present scores are even for both teams having a win on the board against each other, bridge winning the first and Woodside winning the second.

Game began and we were looking like we were going to be dominant,  as we pushed forward and played an early attempt on goal, we missed as the bridge defence pushed us out wide, it wasn’t going to be easy after all, ball going back and forth up and down the pitch, everyone giving their all . Our centre forward seemed to be everywhere being forced to play harder than I had ever seen before. 

The whistle blew it was half time and scores were level at 0/0 defence from both sides seeming to be impenetrable. 

Second half started after a short break and only minor changes made to the team on the ground as we had one player coming off of sickness that he went in goals to save some energy as breathing looked to be a struggle. 

Game continued and the new goalie on bridges team looked amazing diving to save a goal and catching up high as well, it was looking as unlikely as every that either teams were going to score this game. 

Woodside kept fighting regardless of their failed attempts on goal from the bridge pressure provided by their defence. 

Time was running out and we were no longer waiting for players to get back to halfway  as we needed all the time we had to give us as many chances as we could to score . It was a goal kick from our end, we had posession, pass out wide, and then a pass up the line and a quick dribble past a couple of players and finally a cross goalie gets a finger to it but it is not enough and it hits the back of the net. 10 more seconds and game is over . 0/1 Woodside’s  way what a match right down to the wire. 

Hahndorf met Woodside Red for an early morning game on a very soggy pitch at Woodside oval. Despite this distraction, both Hahndorf and Woodside played a strong game. Oliver Ramsey in left midfield, was able to get the ball from Woodside several times, while Woodside pushed forward. Patrick Freer in defence made strong attempts to stop a Woodside midfield. Ashon Broadbent-Shaw did a great pass to Hugo Curtis for a goal attempt. Hahndorf displayed their abilities to call for the ball, with Luc Russack-Putallaz making great use of free space to call for the ball.

Hahndorf showed great improvement on previous weeks with their passing skills, which really paid off as they were able to move the ball to their goal end and keep control of the game in the second half. Great determination displayed by both teams!

The seventeenth round of the season saw Hahndorf meet Strathalbyn at Hanhdorf Recreation Ground. The day started with a poignant moment, with a minutes silence to mark the passing of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll.

Hahndorf displayed their prowess from the outset with strong play from Thomas Stapleton dominating from the whistle. Stapleton was ably supported by Samuel Whitehead and Sonjae Cook  in attack, with Louis Moran, Jensen Ingram and Emlyn Gilroy feeding the play. Lawson Shotton and Cooper Newman with Billy Cook kept the Strathalbyn goals at bay together with goalkeeper Jackson Bidgood. The second half saw Hahndorf continue to dominate with Caleb Earley, Harry Wood and Christopher Haynes joining the field.  Both sides displayed great sportsmanship and spirit and despite the strong scoring by Hahndorf, they provided spectators with a match played in the true spirit of the game.

The penultimate game of the season saw the third instalment of Woodside Vs Woodside at the Warriors’ Fortress. It’s probably fair to say that Woodside Red had dominated the previous two encounters, with a clear statistical advantage in both games. But despite this, the honours had been shared, with each side claiming a win. Today was a very similar affair. Both sides were significantly understaffed today too, with a number of U12’s stepping up to fill the gaps. And at one point an injury to Blue reduced them to only ten on the field (Red also removed a player at this point to balance the affair).

Woodside Red clearly dominated the first half of this encounter, creating 13 shots on goal to Woodside Blue’s 2. And yet when the teams sat down for a half-time chat none had beaten the goalkeeper. For Woodside Red, it was total frustration! They were playing fine football at both ends. Defending cleanly at the back to take possession and provide valuable ball for their inexperienced midfield, who were linking beautifully with their front three to create an abundance of opportunities. And their front three looked hot as well, beating Blue’s back four repeatedly to go one-V-one with the keeper. But they just couldn’t finish, several shots shaved the outside of the goalpost, one hit the crossbar, and the keeper did the rest, putting in a fine performance with the gloves. It was Like watching Liverpool play Palace this season, only without the head-but-of- frustration.

It must be said that Woodside Blue lifted in the second half, and although Red still dominated the game slightly, it was much, much tighter. Woodside Red goaled in the 2nd minute of the half through a fine strike from their right wing and looked set to go on with it. But Blue wouldn’t capitulate and in the 11th minute they found a goal of their own when Red were a little slow to clear the ball out of their box. Red rallied on the back of this goal but were repelled time and again by a Woodside Blue centre back who simply refused to back down. Eventually, with only five on the clock, Woodside Blue’s right wing hit a pearler of a shot from the left corner of the 18-yard box that flew goalward. It curled beautifully through the air towards the top right corner of the net… hit the inside of the post… bounced back in front of goal… and was cleared out of the area. It was just one of those days for Woodside Blue! There was no further score after this point and the game ended in a 1 – all draw.

The entirety of this match was played with impeccable sportsmanship. It was tough and physical, but clean. And all present were proud to be part of the Woodside Warriors Junior Football Club!

Following what had been a sombre 24 hours for the Commonwealth, both teams gathered together on the pitch for a minute's silence to honour the late Queen Elizabeth II.  Only the surrounding frogs could be heard in this moment of respect.

It didn't take long for both teams to be ready to fire, with Levi Beesley starting the momentum with Hahndorf's first goal within minutes.  Much attacking and defending play along the pitch by both teams, including with some young Hahndorf talent of Lawson Shotton, Thomas Stapleton and Jensen Ingram.  Ryley Neumann continued to show his defensive pressure and reliability, with Daniel Peters helping to deflect Stirling attempts at goal.

Joash Ng's grace with the ball meant he weaved through defending players, passing to Luci Tinsley Smith who ran a good sprint along the wing, allowing Hayden Lien to pass to Cooper Liddle and goal.  Some fancy foot pinball in the penalty box meant Lien used his class to send the next goal into the bottom right of the net, making it 3-0 at the half time break.

The second half saw Harrison Gould out the blocks with another quick goal, followed by Neumann dodging and weaving and sending the ball into the back of the net.

Jet Zahra and Jacob Gardner played their parts through the middle of the pitch, allowing goal opportunities for Hahndorf's forwards.  Stirling stepped up a little further in the second half, allowing goalie Stapleton to save a number of attempts.  The final score did not reflect the consistent back and forwards of the ball down the pitch, and a good game was enjoyed by all players and spectators as we near the end of the season.

U15 Hahndorf v Woodside

Tensions were high with anticipation in the crowd when both teams took to the pitch as the sunshine broke through the clouds. With a lot riding on this game for each team the one-minute silence to acknowledge the death of Queen Elizabeth II before the game kicked off added a respectful and sombre note. Woodside made an early attempt at a goal kick within the first two minutes of the game that was well prevented by Tom Boekel. Jesse Powell and Lance Pope worked hard at moving the ball upfield and the pressure was high from the start, with the crowd well aware this was going to be an intense game. Alexander Romaldi displayed excellent footwork throughout the game and Luca Cannavo put his whole body into action to defend against the opposition. Angus Mifsud kept pressure on the opposition in defence with great support from Toby Thomas and Oscar Johnson. With Woodside keeping pressure on the goal square, Boekel was put to the test and demonstrated repeatedly why he is such a valued goalkeeper for the team. Thomas was observed to get his whole body involved in his efforts to keep the ball in high pressure play.

While Romaldi was seen everywhere around the pitch keeping the pressure on the opposition, initial attempts by Powell at goals missed the mark by going a little high or slightly wide. The energy of both teams was palpable as they both sought to achieve that first goal. Great passing was displayed between Cannavo, Mitch Stribley, Thomas, and Pope and at the 20-minute mark with a great assist by Romaldi, Powell kicked the first goal of the game. Liam Sickerdick provided great assist work to his teammates and the ball kept moving up and down the pitch, with the opposition keen to respond with their own goal. Thomas displayed amazing ball skills that saw him kick a ball between an opposing players’ legs before taking it further up the pitch. A ball was lost to the roof of the clubroom and a new ball was quickly brought into play. Both teams continued to display excellent efforts and well-developed skills on the pitch before Woodside equalised the game with their first goal just after the 34-minute mark. This was answered shortly after by Hahndorf with an awesome header in front of the goal by Thomas assisted by Powell. Will Viller provided an impressive assist to Powell that ended a little wide in his goal attempt and the half time whistle went with Hahndorf in the lead at 2 goals to 1.

When play resumed for the second half the tensions were raising, and the onlookers were on tenterhooks. Rhys Davies was making amazing efforts in defence and provided great assistance to Boekel, Mifsud and Johnson at thwarting the oppositions efforts at goals. With an aggressive tackle, Stribley had to leave the pitch after his head connected with the fencing causing damage to his right ear. Five minutes into the second half, Powell scored his second goal, and the Hahndorf parents breathed a temporary sigh of relief. Cannavo worked hard at moving the ball down the pitch, while Mifsud was repeatedly called upon in defence. Subsequent efforts by Pope and Powell at goals missed their mark, going wide or too high and spectators could see the energy of the players from both sides beginning to flag. Boekel performed amazingly in goals and prevented several attempts at reaching their mark. A woodside player received a yellow card after an aggressive tackle resulted in Pope flying into a rolling tumble. The resulting free kick taken by Powell glanced off Pope’s head to hit the goal sidebar. Cameron Norris displayed solid efforts at assisting the team each time he was subbed on, while also supporting his brother, Jensen Norris with play.

Davies and Johnson were put to the test in defence with Woodside fighting hard and the skill development that both teams have made over the season were evident. Another ball was lost to the bushes and the game continued when a new ball was thrown in. Woodside’s efforts at goals finally paid off and the pressure kept escalating. Johnson, Sickerdick and Mifsud kept making solid efforts at clearing the ball away from the goal square, but Woodside eventually equalised the game at the 72-minute mark. Thomas and Powell worked well together at creating further opportunities for Hahndorf to seek additional goals. Woodside responded with their fourth goal with only 3 minutes left in play. This was an amazing game to watch and both teams kept pushing till the final whistle with the result Woodside 4, Hahndorf 3. Great efforts by all and an incredibly tense game for the teams and their spectators.

Waterlogged pitches saw the teams assemble at Strathalbyn again, for a minutes silence for the late Queen Elizabeth II, and a top of the table clash. If SDFC win they’ve won the season and if Torrens Warriors win, all but mathematically, the same.

The match started at a good pace with the game evenly poised and neither side gaining great advantage as it ebbed and flowed between the 18-yard boxes. Torrens pressing with a slight wind advantage found space in the box and Louise Issit slotted home a good early goal. Stung by the score line SDFC pushed harder and into the slight breeze made many good attacking advances. But Torrens defences – right down to one V one’s with the keeper held firm and repelled. In reply Torrens too made some good attacks. Then another good attacking advance saw Maizy Kaines, just mended wrist still in a brace, clip the ball neatly to the net in her first game back from injury for SDFC. Scores remained level to half time.

In the second half SDFC were able to press some good attacks with the slight breeze, but Torrens equally made some powerful drives and in one, with only around 10 minutes remaining, attacker downed in the box, were awarded a penalty. With steely nerves Bella Mathews netted a good penalty for Torrens despite a valiant attempt from SDFC keeper En Ueda. With the play very evenly poised to this point it seemed likely the score would stand to the end. Then in what seemed a very short time a return foray saw SDFC’s Maizy Kaines on the ground in the Torrens box and a reciprocal penalty awarded! Maizy lined up and duly slotted her second to level the scores at 2-2. And there the match stayed to the end. Game done but battle for the season’s honours now hanging on the last round.