ALTONA Seagulls gave 100-gamer Steve Campbell a milestone to remember with a 3-0 win over Footscray Bulldogs in the long-awaited Hockey Victoria men’s state league 1 western derby at
JK Grant Reserve on Saturday.
The Seagulls had total control of the game from start to finish, but co-coach Greg Drake lamented their inability to turn a larger chunk of their attempts into goals.
“We got the job done, which pleased the fans, I’m sure,” he said. “But we didn’t get enough scoring output for the number of opportunities we created. They’re a young side, finding their way in this competition, so we were lucky
today.
“A performance like that, with a similar conversion percentage, against a top-four side will see us in real trouble.”
With the young and developing Bulldogs sitting winless at the bottom of the ladder, the Seagulls entered the game as favourites.
Despite this, the hosts knew their neighbours were quick, skillful and keen to record a victory against the longest-serving state league club in the competition.
While the rivalry between the two clubs has been focused on the lower grade seniors and junior divisions, given the Bulldogs last top-flight venture came in 1998, both sides contained a number of players aged under 25 who have grown up playing in western zone representative teams and know the ins and outs of their playing styles.
So, it was no time for the Seagulls to take their superior ladder position for granted, and they came out with all guns blazing in the early
going.
Strikers Pat Phillips and Jesse Gatt seriously troubled the Bulldogs’ defence with their speed and silky skills. Campbell led from the front, as in his previous 99 games, making countless tackles to halt any opposition counter-attacks.
The deadlock was broken when young defender and drag flicker Chris Coleman slotted a searing flick to get the party started, and he would have another by the half-time break.
The Seagulls came out breathing fire after getting a ‘bake’ from Drake and co-coach Ben Guy at half-time, scoring shortly after the resumption from the stick of Phillips.
But they added nothing thereafter, further angering the head honchos.
Altona will visit Greensborough on Saturday for rights to the Michael McLean Cup, inaugurated after last year’s death of a long-time servant and friend of both clubs.
Medals for the best players in both teams will be awarded to honour McLean.
Footscray will be in search of its first win under new coach Travis Brooks when Toorak-East Malvern arrives at McIvor Reserve.
Altona and Footscray played out a 1-1 draw in the women’s state league 1.
Danielle Schubach put the Seagulls on the board first from the penalty corner, but her goal was cancelled out by Bulldogs captain Leah Merrett.
Similar to the men’s coaches, Seagulls women’s coach Marc Richardson was not satisfied with the conversion rate of his team.
“We’ve got to score more goals to be a force in this competition,” he said.
“Our best players today were all in our back six, which shows we were fantastic at withstanding pressure but not able to apply scoreboard pressure on our opposition.”
HV SCOREBOARD
Men’s state league 1: Altona 3 Footscray 0.
Women’s state league 1: Altona 1 Footscray 1.
