A big home crowd was on hand to see Altona record victories in both Premier League matches on Saturday afternoon. The men side recorded its third win of the season, holding off a determined Southern United, while the young Womens squad beat Toorak-East Malvern in a nail biter, for their second win of 2014.
The Seagull men had a point to prove, after getting touched up by Southern United last season, and came out firing. The ball movement early was impressive, but it was Southern who took the early initiative, scoring a scrappy field goal only a few minutes into the match. Altona were spurred into action, with captain Steve Campbell inspiring the side in the midfield, and the lightning quick Pat Phillips troubling Southern’s defence around the scoring circle. Phillips set up fellow striker Niels de Jong for a deflection goal to even the scores.
Despite dominating possession, Altona couldn’t put Southern away, and a break away attack saw a Southern attacker finding himself unmarked on the penalty spot for an easy goal. Campbell was brilliant, just minutes later, making a big tackle, and then fired the ball forward to midfielder Chris Porter, who combined with Lachlan Russell to launch a counter attack, and de Jong found himself on the scorers sheet again, with a classy flick into the net.
After half time, Southern United troubled Altona’s defence, and goal keeper Tom Pinnegar was called upon numerous times to make brilliant saves to keep the score tied at 2-2. Altona had numerous penalty corner chances, but couldn’t find the net, but managed to win a penalty stroke, which young national representative, Andrew Scanlon, clinically slotted to take a 3-2 lead.
Altona hung on to a 3-2 win, with veteran defender Mathew Higgins and his young defence repelling several Southern United attacks in the final minutes. Co-Coach Steve Ritchie was pleased after the match “We are very pleased with the start to the season, and very impressed with the side’s ability today to tough it out in a close one, especially missing some key players.”
Altona 3 defeated Southern United 2
Goals: Niels de Jong 2, Andrew Scanlon 1
The young Altona Womens Premier League side recorded their second win of the season, holding on to a 2-1 victory over another young side, Toorak-East Malvern.
The Seagull girls, led by their Hockeyroo champion, Danielle Schubach, looked sharp early, but it took 17 minutes before they could convert that into a lead, with striker Phoebe Rothfield slotting a field goal from a rebound off the TEM keeper’s pads. The lead was short lived, however, with TEM converting a penalty corner to equalise, in the shadows of half time.
The second half was a see-sawing encounter, with both sides having periods of ascendancy and both goal keepers called upon to make crucial saves. Taylah Brennan, for Altona, was brilliant, and assisted by fullbacks Mairaed Crawford and Lauren Winship, on several occassions.
Rothfield was creating havoc up forward, combining with fellow striker Tegan Purser, while Bronte Kerley and Schubach were dominating possession in the midfield.
Purser scored a brilliant field goal, with 20 minutes to go, to give Altona a 2-1 lead. Despite several attacks from TEM in the final minutes of the match, the Altona women managed to hold on to the lead, to win the match.
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Coach Greg Drake said “Today was a test, which we passed. I believe it showed that we have improved, and achieved several objectives we have set ourselves. There is much improvement to come, and stepping stones like this are an important part of that journey for our young side.”
Altona 2 defeated Toorak-East Malvern 1
Goals: Phoebe Rothfield 1, Tegan Purser 1