Match report

Match report

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!