By Marc McGowan
CASEY Comets Soccer Club continued its free-fall on Saturday by going down 3-0 to Sandringham in the Women’s Premier League at R.J. Sillitoe Reserve.
After bursting out of the blocks to claim the league’s inaugural pre-season cup, the Comets have sputtered their way to just a win and a draw after six rounds.
A woeful, upset loss to the lowly Eastern Lions the previous week should have been enough to motivate the squad, but Casey could not have had a worse start against Sandringham.
Within 15 seconds of the kick-off Aimee Benton slotted the opener for Sandringham, and it proved to be the only score in the first half.
It was a snapshot of the Comets’ campaign – they have conceded 11 goals already this season after only letting in 18 in the 22-round fixture last year.
Regular defensive errors have been a constant reminder that Casey has not hit its stride and the longer it goes on, the larger the gap between the top five and the Comets becomes.
Despite periods of dominance in the first and second 45-minute blocks, the Comets were unable to pierce the Sandringham defence.
Casey’s best chance came with a one-on-one between teenage striker Lisa Cloke and the Sandringham goalkeeper, but, as with its day, it was unsuccessful.
Ashlee Good and Elise O’Connor added further misery to the Comets’ afternoon by banging through their side’s second and third goals respectively.
Casey coach Deborah Nichols was predictably disappointed with the result and provided an insight into her players’ current mindsets.
“We were not great goalscorers last year either, but we were in games a lot longer and by building the pressure we were often able to squeeze a goal,” she said.
“Because we’re not as tight as we have been, once we concede a goal it goes through their head that they cannot score.
“They are totally shot of confidence in the goalscoring department.”
The form slump has even raised the distinct possibility of the Comets being relegated from the Premier League.
“Most of the players have been here for six to 10 years and have extremely high standards,” Nichols said.
“They won’t accept not playing finals football, even though we are blooding kids into the team.
“We will never be too bold as to say we are not going to be relegated and assume we are too good to go down.
“We are only a point out of the relegation zone at the moment.”
Casey’s reserves side lost 2-0 to Sandringham to continue its winless streak.
The Comets appear set for more pain when they take to the pitch against titleholder Box Hill at Wembley Park tomorrow (Friday) night.
The reserves will play the curtain-raiser at 6.30pm before the senior showcase at 8.30pm.
