Team focuses for the rematch

By Gavin Staindl
THREE months ago the Casey Comets smashed Heatherton United 6-0, but that is the furthest thing from the minds of the Casey coaches and players as they prepare to take on Heatherton for a second time.
Since the April match, the sides have gone in opposite directions, with Casey pushing into third position, while Heatherton is scrambling to get out of the relegation zone.
However, coach Doug Chisholm is adamant his team must stay focussed if it is to take three points from the road match.
“They (Heatherton) are a danger, an absolute danger,” Chisholm said.
“We won’t be taking this game lightly.
“If we’ve got any ambition of catching that second spot, it’s places like Heatherton we’ve got to go and win at.
“But any team on any given day is capable of winning… and there is always a bit of feeling between the two teams.”
Casey will enter Saturday’s match as hot favourite, after it came back from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Division Two’s best club, Dandenong City, at Comet Stadium on Saturday.
Dandenong was reduced to 10 men after one of its players was sent off for head-butting captain Tony Saunders.
To Chisholm’s disappointment, Casey failed to pass the City keeper and after 60 minutes it was the visitors who struck for the first goal.
The Comets pressed for the equaliser and found it from the boot of Brendan Elmazovski, who scored 10 minutes from full time.
Despite escaping with a point, Chisholm said he was “gutted” at the result.“It’s real disappointing,” Chisholm said. “We dominated for long periods in the first half, but couldn’t score.
“Their goalkeeper had three excellent saves and to come away with only one point is disappointing, but they’re a really good side.”
The local Division Two sides fared no better, with both Berwick and Doveton losing ground with Saturday’s losses.
After going 2-0 up, Berwick conceded four goals in the second half as the Peninsula Strikers ran away with the three points at Jack Thomas Reserve.
Doveton missed a golden chance to move within a game of third when it was beaten 1-0 by North Caulfield at Caulfield Park.
In Provisional Two, Endeavour United extended its undefeated run to six games, with a 2-1 win over Ashburton at Reema Reserve, while Casey Kings dropped to second last with a 3-1 loss to Old Carey.