Match report

Season Date Round Venue
2022 U15 7th May 11:00am League Round 2 HSC Main Pitch 1
Goals
N/A

Best
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Goals
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Best
N/A
Match report

Hahndorf Unified U15 Team Historic Win

 

In a truly memorable game, on Saturday 7th May, the first-ever Hahndorf Magpies Unified U15 team took on Stirling Districts White U15 at the Hahndorf pitch. There were some pre-game nerves as the Hahndorf team included two players with Down Syndrome, Jensen Norris and Hakim Herriman, both of whom were playing for the first time in the AHJFA U15 competition. Magpies Coach, Shafiq Herriman (aged 15), noted that, "Despite extensive research, we have found no record of any club - in Australia or overseas - that has included Down Syndrome players as part of a regular eleven-player team in a competition against teams with no special needs players." However, any concerns were quickly calmed as Hahndorf took decisive control of a sizzling game.

 

After an exciting and evenly matched first quarter, Hahndorf's left wing forward, Mitchell Stribley, broke the ice at the 24th minute with a tidy finish in the six-metre box that gave Hahndorf the lead. Stirling Districts attacked strongly but could not penetrate the Hahndorf defence spearheaded by well-practised and determined centre-backs Rhys Davies and Zara Tinsley-Smith. Keeper Tom Boekel saved a penalty to maintain Hahndorf's lead.

 

A position switch called by Hahndorf's young coach Shafiq Herriman established a partnership between Cameron Norris as centre-attacking midfield and Lance Pope as striker that quickly dominated the scoring. Among many firsts for this game, Lance scored a total of eight goals. Stirling struck back with a second-half goal.

 

With Hahndorf centre defensive midfielder, Liam Sickerdick, loudly coordinating and encouraging his team, both 'all abilities' players, Jensen and Hakim, played with enthusiasm, determination and much pleasure. Nevertheless, despite such an impressive list of first-time achievements, the most heart-warming and wonderful moment of the game came in the second half. The Stirling District's centre-back saw that Jensen Norris was unsure of what to do with the ball at his feet. Instead of closing in quickly to tackle and clear the ball, the Stirling Districts player displayed the highest level of good sports play, stood back patiently, and waited for Jensen to take a short kick. The ball was then rapidly cleared safely down the field.

 

Hahndorf U15 won the game, but the players of both teams won the hearts of the crowd at a game nobody will forget.