By RUSSELL BENNETT
HISTORY was made on a blustery day at the Darebin State Football Centre on Sunday as the young Casey Comets under-13/14 girls competed in their first-ever final.
A diverse range of ages and skill levels were on display with 10-year-olds having played for several years and 14-year-olds playing in their first season of soccer, along with everything in between.
The Comets won 15 games and lost just three in a season in which they won the Southern league before coming up against Eastern league winners Ashburton in the final.
The game started with Ashburton winning the toss and electing to kick with the wind in the first half – and some wind it was.
The run of play was mostly through the middle of the park with bursts of attacking play from both sides. But after 15 minutes of a good, hard contest Ashburton broke through and scored.
The Casey girls seemed to tire quickly into the wind and quickly found themselves on the wrong end of a 2-0 scoreline.
Despite kicking with the wind in the second half, the Comets had run out of puff and their Ashburton opponents continued to wear them down – ultimately winning 5-0.
“With some of the girls being too old for the team next season, unfortunately, we will have to split up the team,” said Chris McCormick from the Comets.
“The girls have all been pleasant and friendly to each and everyone involved at the club and gel well together so it is a shame to break their bond but they are all coming back next season regardless of the team they’re in.
“Our focus now is to strengthen an under-16 team for next season for the older girls in the team that are moving up, so they don’t have to jump so high up to an under-18 team.”
The Comets’ current under-18 group also played in a grand final on Sunday, going down 3-0 in the Sportsmart girls’ Metropolitan Under-18 State League decider to Chisholm United FC Blue.
Though neither of the weekend’s games went according to plan, they provided further proof that the Comets have laid a strong pathway for both boys and girls from the junior ranks through to the senior men and women.
For more information visit www.caseycomets.com.au.
