ALTONA’S State League One men’s hockey side defeated Toorak East Malvern (TEM) 2-1 in a scrappy affair on Saturday.
The ladder-leading Altona side was without young co-captain Steve Campbell, who was out with a broken arm after a training accident.
After a goalless first half, Chris Coleman launched a searing drag flick into the top left side of the goal from a penalty corner.
Matthew Guest generated several scoring chances but none were converted. Against the flow of play, TEM found an unmarked striker on the post with a cross from left wing, for an easy tap-in goal.
But Coleman again delivered, flicking low, straight through the TEM corner defence to claim a 2-1 win.
“While it was a low-scoring, ugly match, I was encouraged that we managed to grind out a win,” co-coach Greg Drake said.
