Match report

Match report

Grim. This is the best way to describe the conditions that faced the U11s this week as they warmed up at home to face Mount Barker at home. Rain was sheeting across the pitch as the mercury dropped into single figures. However, the conditions did not match the player's enthusiasm as they energetically went through their drills and prepared for the game to start. Mount Barker started strong, with early probing runs into the Hahndorf backline. In the opening minutes, Mount Barker blocked an attempted Hahndorf clearance near the teeth of goal that dropped favourably at the feet of a Mount Barker player which lead to the opening score. Following the opening score, the Hahndorf defence successfully absorbed several offensive thrusts by an aggressive Mount Barker forward group. Cohen Whinfield, Rowan Gilroy and Hugo Curtis on several occasions deftly moved the ball under pressure to give the Hahndorf forwards a chance against the Mount Barker defence. Notwithstanding the pressure the backline found themselves under, Oliver Ramsay saved several Mount Barker shots on goal in the first half in a very solid performance at keeper. Mid way through the first half, Hahndorf began to work into the game offensively, with Thomas Gould in the midfield linking up with Patrick Freer who launched a stinging shot from outside the box that beat the Mount Barker keeper, but rattled off the post. The Hahndorf backline of Eli Parkyn, Pearl Beasley and Jack Gaskin continued to work well together, repulsing several Mount Barker attacks, but eventually yielded another goal just before half time.

A brief period of sunshine greeted the players as the second half commenced. The brighter conditions also mirrored Hahndorf's fortunes to start the second half - strong work from Oliver Ramsay saw Lachlan Gardner send a rocket past the Mount Barker keeper in the opening phase of the second half. Thomas Gould moved to keeper for the second half, stopping several shots with both his feet and strong hands. The backline again worked solidly together, closing down several attacks by Mount Barker. The second half was a close affair, which saw time run out just before Mount Barker put the ball into the Hahndorf net. All Hahndorf players persevered magnificently in very trying conditions.