For all the positives that came out of Altona City’s 1-1 draw with Football Federation Victoria men’s state league 3 north-west ladder leader Essendon Royals on Friday night, the reality is that it could be remembered as the night City fell out of the promotion race.
The point garnered was not a justified reward for a City side that dominated shots on goal and controlled possession.
Like any good side playing on the road, the Royals absorbed everything that City threw their way and took their chance through Cameron Webb early in the second half to take a lead.
City found an equaliser from the penalty spot. Midfielder Huon Russell stepped up with 20 minutes to go to convert the penalty he’d just won.
Russell had some nice interplay with captain Matt McKay and weaved around multiple defenders before being brought down, leaving the referee no option but to award the penalty.
At 1-1, it was game on, but City could not find a second goal.
A late penalty call was waved away to the chagrin of City coach Sam Borg, and each side took a point from the game.
For the Royals, the draw keeps them in pole position, five points clear on top of the ladder. But for City, is was a major blow to its promotion aspirations.
City is a game behind second-placed Old Carey, but you can virtually add a point on top of that due to inferior goal difference.
“It was a good display,” Borg said. “We were the better team all night but just unlucky. Promotion is really uphill now.”
Another positive to come out of the game for City was the emergence of Mark Saric.
Time and again Saric slammed the door shut on the Royals’ attack in a best-on-ground performance in defence.
“It’s what I would call a break-out game,” Borg said.
“He held strong all day.”
Like everything else on the night for City, Saric’s game came with a caveat; he took a body blow that left him winded.
“I took him off for precautionary reasons,” Borg said.
“He was having a blinder of a game before that.”
