Altona’s Mens Premier League side travelled to Hawthorn to play Toorak-East Malvern (TEM) on Saturday afternoon. Both sides sat mid-table, in 8th and 9th respectively, so a close match was expected. Both sides also have strong penalty corner batteries, with Altona’s Chris Coleman and TEM’s Adam Seccull both representing Victoria in the U/21 side as drag flickers, so corners were expected to be a feature.
TEM were extremely aggressive early with their defensive running, putting the Altona defence under pressure as they switched the ball around the back half. Veterans Mathew Higgins and Tyson Priddle were up to the challenge though and were creating drive from the back line. Harry Dolenc was getting a heap of ball at Centre Half and along with Steve Campbell, who returned from injury, was providing the forward line with ample opportunities to attack. Unfortunately, the Altona forwards were having trouble penetrating the TEM defence.
TEM were running hard through the midfield, and creating some opportunities for their forwards, particularly on the counter attack and fast break, but like their Altona counterparts, were unable to penetrate the scoring circle.
As predicted, both first half goals were scored from drag flicks on penalty corners. TEM drew first blood, with Seccull’s searing flick flying into the top corner of the net, while Coleman replied to tie it up at half time with a similarily fast, high flick.
The second half was similar to the first, an absence of field goal shots, and the majority of the match played between the midfields. Dolenc, Priddle and Campbell were good for the A’s, and Coleman was enjoying his time further up the field than usual.
Coleman put the Seagulls in front, with another confident drag flick, and it looked like Altona may hold on for only their third win of the season, but Seccull’s flick again was too good for goalkeeper Ben Oborne, and the match finished in a 2-2 draw.
“That was our third draw of the season, and was another close match in which we didn’t get maximum points. Finishing games off and being clinical throughout the seventy minutes is crucial, and something this young side will need to develop to challenge in this competition for finals.” said a disappointed head coach, Ben Guy after the match.
Altona 2 drew with Toorak-East Malvern
Goals: Chris Coleman 2
Meanwhile, the Womens Premier League side, sitting in second last on the ladder, went down to ninth placed TEM in a thriller. Similar to the A’s, TEM are a young, quick side, and the ball was moving around the field at a frenetic pace.
Hockeyroo Dannielle Schubach was again dominant, running through the midfield and was seemingly unable to be tackled. Bronte Kerley played well as a pivot at centre half, and Caity Campbell was rock solid in defence.
It went goal for goal all match, with neither side getting on top for more than five minutes at a time. Up front, Phoebe Rothfield was proving a handful for the TEM defence, running and leading hard and scoring two goals. Stephanie Sarantis, as always, was showing her class as Altona’s main avenue to goal, and was unlucky not to be on the scoreboard herself with a couple of near misses.
Young attacking midfielder, Ahried Isorena, had a fantastic game, probably the best of her short career thus far, and was linking in well with Rothfield and Sarantis. Altona had several chances to win the match, and Bronte Kerley’s successful penalty corner conversion to draw level at 3-3 with only five minutes to go, gave them a real sniff.
Unfortunately, with only a minute on the clock. TEM got a free hit in the attacking 25, played on, found an unmarked striker on the post, and hit the winning goal. It was heart breaking loss for the A’s in a season where they have only managed one win to date.
“One mental lapse can cost a match, and our side will learn from this. We are a young team, learning, developing and lessons like this hurt short term, but benefit us longer term.” said head coach Marc Richardson.
Altona 3 lost to TEM 4
Goals: Phoebe Rothfield 2, Bronte Kerley 1