Match report

Match report

The new Mt Barker sports summit played host to Rangers and Hahndorf for both teams first game of winter 2021. The Mt Barker council and everyone involved in developing this new community sports hub must be congratulated for creating a fantastic venue. The artificial pitch certainly brings a new dynamic to the game and sets the scene for some great contests now and into the future.

Along with a new venue, Hahndorf also welcomed the inclusion of a number of players to their squad. With the Hahndorf U15 boys unable to continue, the team disbanded. The upside being for the U17s, having struggled with numbers themselves, the inclusion of Tom Boekel, Konrad Michael, Stefan Panich, Alexander Romaldi and Damon Martin to the team sheet, a timely addition as the competition goes into the second half of the season.

With a full complement of players and a winning streak of 8 games, Hahndorf was full of confidence going into the game, and an early 5-minute goal to Eddie ‘the eagle’ Hardingham suggested it would again be a game dominated by Hahndorf.

With no substitutes to rely on, Rangers hadn’t read the same script. It has been a pleasure to see this team develop into a very competitive outfit, and high praise to them for their effort and skill. Whilst the first half saw Hahndorf create a number of opportunities, it was Rangers who appeared the most likely to get on the board, and they were rewarded with a 20 minute goal that came off a terrific team build up. There was no further scoring to either team, with Hahndorf fortunate to have had Xavier Kell doing a great job in goals to avoid being down at the break.

With Hahndorf looking a bit out of sorts, Coach Kerr had to re-evaluate the team second half make up. Ragnar Nielsen was moved into goals and with Romaldi, Panich and Tom Boekel doing great jobs on the flanks the move of Kell back into his more familiar mid-field role was hopefully going to be the antidote in breaking down the Rangers defensive line. It looked like the new set up was going to deliver with some terrific lead up work only to be thwarted by stoic Rangers defence and to be fair, some pretty poor finishing by Hahndorf.

Rangers too had their opportunities, the reliable Hahndorf defensive line was being challenged, and they too were somewhat fortunate not to concede had Rangers been more accurate on goal. Hahndorf appeared to have some ascendency in the game, but the clock was ticking and there was no reward for either team being produced. It was feeling like this was a game that was either going to end in a draw or an unlikely win for Rangers. This feeling grew when Josh Raynor took a nasty blow from a mistimed eagle header which made a number of spectators’ wince, and with the game entering its final phases it didn’t look or feel good for Hahndorf.

Hahndorf however, whilst not at their best, have a number of times this year been able to find a way to win. With 7 minutes left on the clock, the gifted Kane Gibbs played through a beautiful ball from the left side of the field to the ever present Kyle Fenlon, who was able to put away the opportunity and put Hahndorf up 2-1. The Gibbs Fenlon show hadn’t finished yet though, and perhaps with sabbatical thoughts in mind, both players were able to net another goal each to put Hahndorf up 4-1 in the space of a few minutes and out of touch of the brave Rangers outfit.

Hahndorf would be relieved to have the win on the board. It is a tight battle for Kerr’s team this year and they are being challenged by all comers which is great for the competition. Well done again to Rangers, a tough loss for them after playing so well.