Young guns … Under-18 Victorian representatives Chris Coleman, left, and Pat Phillips are important parts of Altona’s young State League One side. 46468
By Tim Doutré
PLAYER stocks at Altona Hockey Club are healthy if teenagers Chris Coleman and Pat Phillips are any indication.
The two Seagulls have returned from impressive performances with the Victorian under-18 side at the national championships in Canberra last month.
“We finished fifth overall, we were aiming to finish top two,” Coleman said.
“It was a bit disappointing in the end. I played pretty well.”
It was one of many state appearances for Coleman, but for Phillips it was practically a new experience.
“I played indoor earlier this year for the under-18s but apart from that I hadn’t really trialled and stuff before,” he said.
And the reason for going for the under-18 side?
“Just a couple of my mates asked me to do it,” he said.
Philips impressed as a striker for the Vic side scoring four goals throughout the tournament.
The two 18-year-olds have become important members of the Altona State League One side as they look to build as one of the younger sides in the competition.
On the weekend the two teenagers were part of 3-6 loss to State League powerhouse Greensborough.
Greensborough was missing a couple of stars because of Australian commitments but its Victorian over-age and under-age representatives were on song, and combined early in the match to take a 1-0 lead.
Altona goalkeeper Andy Beck transferred from Greensborough at the start of the 2010 season, so he was keen to do well against his old club, but conceding an early goal was not the ideal start.
Greensborough was awarded a penalty corner about 15 minutes into the match and the drag flick, which was ruthlessly flicked into the top left corner, gave Beck no chance to get a glove on it.
The 0-2 deficit seemed to spark Altona into action. Veteran Victorian representative Mathew Higgins took control of the midfield, combining well with Altona skipper Matt Guest to build some meaningful attacks.
Young strikers Mick Gallo and Phillips looked dangerous, while Matt Briscoe, usually a defender, was providing some extra run at centre-forward as he found himself in an unusual position thanks to an injury early in the game to striker Jessie Gatt.
With star defender Steve Campbell already out with injury, the depleted Altona side had a monumental task made even tougher.
Altona was awarded a penalty corner and desperately needed to score. Coleman, stepped up and fired a ball low and left towards the net. The Greensborough keeper got a stick on the ball, deflecting it up towards veteran striker Greg Drake, who knocked the ball, mid air, into the right corner of the net.
The success was shortlived though with Greensborough scoring once again to take a 3-1 lead into the main break.
The home side scored early in the second half before Higgins clinically converted a penalty corner to give the visitors a sniff. Both sides put one more in with Tyson Priddle getting his first of the season but it was not enough to reel Greensborough in.
