AN ELDERLY woman fought back after two men allegedly tried to steal her handbag in Mt Clear yesterday morning.An 18-year-old Ballarat man and a 21-year-old Mt Clear man were arrested yesterday afternoon following the attack. Criminal Investigation Unit Detective Senior Constable Rod Stepnell said the 68-year-old woman was allegedly targeted by the two males demanding money about 8am as she walked through the Midvale Shopping Centre carpark."One of the males attempted to grab the handbag from the female, which she didn't release, but as a result she has fallen and received minor injuries," he said. "The males have run from the scene."Detective Stepnell said the unprovoked attack was "despicable"."It was callous and cowardly," he said. "She was simply walking to the supermarket."The woman was taken to the Ballarat Base Hospital to be checked out, and although shaken, she was unharmed.Police arrested the pair at a Mt Clear residence and took them to the Ballarat Police Station to be formally interviewed.The 18-year-old was charged with attempted robbery and unlawful assault and bailed to face the Ballarat Magistrates Court in March. The 21-year-old was released without charge.