Altona’s Mens Premier League side travelled to Doncaster to try and win back the Ric Purser Trophy on Saturday. Buoyed by a narrow loss to reigning premiers, Greensborough, last weekend, the Seagulls entered the match with confidence, despite having a number of players out due to injury.
Altona got off to a measured start, with veteran defenders Mathew Higgins and Tyson Priddle controlling the ball in their defence, waiting for holes to open up in Doncaster’s defence before penetrating. With tough as nails midfielder Steve Campbell out for 6 weeks, post surgery during the week, young Centre Halves Harry Dolenc and Kieran Symons stepped up to fill the breach. Attacking midfielder Jesse Gatt, who starred the previous week, scoring a hat trick, was receiving some extra attention from the Donnie defence, leaving striker John Camilleri some extra space, allowing him to score his first ever Premier League goal.
Doncaster lifted their intensity, and were stretching the Altona defence with some speedy counter attacks. A series of dubious umpiring decisions resulted in consecutive penalty corners for Doncaster, a low drag flick went flying past goal keeper Adam Barty, to see the scores all tied up at half time.
The second half was scrappy, and even a little spiteful with a series of green and yellow cards to Doncaster resulting in several periods where Altona had a numbers advantage. Doncaster flooded back in defence and Altona’s attack, including Matthew Guest and Josh Horton, couldn’t navigate their way through the flood. Speedy striker, Patrick Phillips, found himself on the end of a slick passage of play, smashing the ball from the top of the circle, past the Doncaster goal keeper.
The 2-1 lead wasn’t enough, and when Doncaster regained their players from the sin bin, some confusion in Altona’s defensive circle saw an unmarked Doncaster striker tap in a cross from the goal line, to draw the match 2-2.
Coach Ben Guy rued the missed opportunity “While we were missing quite a number of players from our squad, we had a real chance to take three points against a side that has lost a number of players over the off-season. Our corners today lacked their normal punch, and only scoring 2 goals makes it difficult to win a game of hockey. There is upside, with guys to come back in the near future, but whoever we select knows our team objectives, and we did not achieve those today.”
Altona plays a double header next weekend, with the local derby (#Westendriot) at home against Footscray on Saturday, then 2012 runner-up Camberwell at the State Hockey Centre on Sunday.
Altona 2 drew with Doncaster 2
AHC Goals: John Camilleri, Patrick Phillips.
DHC Goals: Andrew Scheele, Reagan King.
Meanwhile, Altona’s Womens Premier League side remains winless in 2013, after going down 2-0 to a slick Doncaster unit. Despite missing some players due to Australian duties, the Doncaster side is chock full of young state representatives, and managed to over-run a gallant Altona side.
After missing an early penalty stroke, Altona’s confidence seemed to take a dent. Missing veteran defender Carla Ruhe, young full back Scarlett Kennedy played a stellar game in defence, made even more important when her cousin, Caity Campbell, was taken from the ground with a suspected broken arm.
Hockeyroo Danielle Schubach was superb, as always, and was supported by veteran striker Steph Sarantis. Unfortunately, the Seagulls were unable to find the back of the net, and a lack of scoreboard pressure saw a cool and confident Doncaster record an easy win.
“We aren’t scoring enough goals, having only slotted two in three games thus far. I think, as the season progresses, the young side will gain confidence and experience, playing at this level, and the improvement will come. Kennedy stepped up today, which was very pleasing, and Nicola Brown and Bronte Kerley are already benefitting from a number of seasons at this level” said an encouraged, but disappointed, coach, Marc Richardson.
Altona take on Footscray and Camberwell in the double header next weekend.
Altona 0 lost to Doncaster 2
DHC Goals: Sam Snow, Heidi Erasmus.