AFTER a win last weekend and a draw in its previous 2009 encounter, Altona entered Sunday’s clash with Waverley full of confidence, despite the opposition’s superior ladder position.
The positive attitude held the Seagulls in good stead as they knocked off the favoured side 1-0.
Sitting in seventh before the round 15 clash, the Seagulls are still a mathematical chance for the finals with two rounds to play but coach Darren Duff was more focused on positive performances.
“While finals are a bit of a stretch, today’s form suggests we could nab another couple of wins before the end of the year,” he said.
The coach was ecstatic after the win over top-four Waverley.
“I was very confident today. I knew the boys understood the importance of this match, and last week gave them a lot of confidence,” he said.
The first half was a tight affair, with both sides having numerous chances but unable to find the back of the net.
Altona’s defence, led by goalkeeper Adam Barty, was rock solid, keeping out several field goal and penalty corner attempts.
A 0-0 half-time scoreline was encouraging for Altona, but the side was keen on securing successive wins and came out fired up after the break.
The only goal of the match came after an excellent intercept by acting captain Tyson Priddle in the midfield.
Priddle found Canadian international Richard Hildreth in the attacking circle and his shot was deflected into the net off a defender’s stick.
With about 20 minutes to play, Waverley threw everything at the Altona defence in search of an equaliser.
Centre-half Marc Richardson was sent off for five minutes, but Altona banded together and kept Waverley out for the rest of the match despite being a man down.
Barty made some excellent diving saves in the net, while young half-back Jake Macvean put in a stellar performance.
Altona takes on sixth-placed MCC on Saturday at home, and will again go in confident after a 3-3 draw against that team in the first half of the season.
