WAVERLEY was too strong for a disappointing Altona in Saturday’s State League One Clash, most likely ending Altona’s finals aspirations for the season.
Despite opening the scoring and leading for two periods of the match, Waverley was too slick and Altona spent most of the match in defence, absorbing wave after wave of Waverley attacks.
Altona got off to a flyer, through a Chris Coleman drag flick, but Waverley soon equalised through a well-worked field goal.
With usual goalkeeper Aaron Anstis injured during last week’s match, veteran goal keeper Adam Barty returned to the net and was having a blinder. If it wasn’t for Barty, and support from defenders Jacob Macvean and Mathew Higgins, the 1-1 half time score line would have been much worse.
A great run down the wing from Pat Phillips, and a back stick smash across the pitch to Ben Burriss at left wing saw Mick Gallo on the end of a deflection goal, and despite the dominance of Waverley, Altona was back on top 2-1.
The lead was short lived, with Waverley winning a penalty corner and slamming a drag flick past a desperate Barty dive to equalise 2-2.
As has been an issue during the past month, a 15-minute lapse from Altona proved costly, and saw its opposition score quick, easy goals.
Waverley had been dominating for most of the match, and Altona’s defence was superb in absorbing it, but the side’s intensity dropped momentarily, and Waverley’s dangerous midfielders and strikers pounced. Waverley scored three goals in 15 minutes, to go out 5-2 winners.
“We have a bit of work to do, if we are to mix it with sides like this. They were clinical around the net, their skills were much better than ours, so we know what we have to do to turn score lines around like this. The week off will give us time to re-assess where our season is going.” said a disappointed co-coach Greg Drake.
Altona takes on Camberwell away on 14 July at 3.30pm.
The news was better for Altona’s women’s side, which defeated Waverley 5-2.
Altona came out firing, peppering away at the net, but it took until the 20-minute mark before the deadlock was broken with Canadian international Kate Gillis smashing a tomahawk back hand shot into the bottom corner of the net.
This seemed to open the floodgates for the A’s, with former Hockeyroo Dan Schubach and state representative Bronte Kerley dominating in the midfield, setting co-captain Steph Sarantis and Tegan Purser up with plenty of scoring opportunities.
Kerley found Sarantis on the post for a deflection from a penalty corner set play, before Emma Aitken put a goal in from the baseline, after a goal mouth scramble.
Altona went into the break 3-0 up, but this was short lived, with Waverley pouncing on a ball after a scrappy contest near the goal mouth, pegging a goal back in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Waverley then converted a penalty corner five minutes later, and suddenly Altona’s dominance was not reflected on the scoreboard.
Altona’s midfield and strikers lifted a notch, with Purser beating four players with silky drags, passing to Gillis, who smashed the ball across the face to Sarantis, who calmly slotted Altona’s fourth. Waverley’s former Hockeyroo then was sent off, and Altona used the extra player to their advantage, setting up young striker Jessica Brennan for an easy tap in goal from a Purser cross.
“After two really pleasing competitive performances, which we didn’t get enough scoreboard outcomes for our persistence, it was pleasing to score a few goals today. We have another chance against Camberwell in a couple of weeks to score a few more, so we are looking to that opportunity to build on a finals dash from here,” coach Marc Richardson said.
