THE Casey Comets won 2-1 against third-placed Bentleigh Greens in a hard-fought Men’s State League One contest at Comets Stadium on Saturday.
The Comets were forced to play with only ten men for the last 30 minutes after new player Jamie Paterson received a second yellow card in the 61st minute.
Former coach Dale White returned as the club reached out when its coach Dario Simunic quit on Tuesday night.
With four new players, White was confident of getting a result.
However it was the Greens who struck first when, in the 17th minute, defender Cliff Tuck was left unmarked at the back post and buried it past Robbie Acs in the Comets’ goal.
From that moment the Comets took the game to Bentleigh and were rewarded with a fine goal at the 37-minute mark by new signing Jack ‘Plugger’ Cudsworth as he met a cross from Craig Platt and smacked it past Christian Morales in the Greens’ goal.
Spurred on by the crowd, Cudsworth was creating havoc as he took on the Bentleigh defence every time he took possession.
After a succession of corners, Fikret Korkaric knocked one to the far post and Greens ’keeper Morales was in no-mans land and Stefan Ciccarelli rose above the defence and headed home a stunning goal.
Towards the end, Cudsworth went on a run, chasing a long ball and when he won it he was hacked down in the box and referee Lawywl awarded him a penalty.
Three Comets players stepped up to take it, but Cudsworth waved them all aside and demanded he would take it, but he pulled it wide of the goal.
Scores: Casey Comets 2 d Bentleigh Greens 1.
@BT Sub Sport News:UNDER 21s
The under 21s drew 1-1 in an entertaining game, highlighted by some great work from young goalkeeper Gary Pinter, who saved the young Comets on more than one occasion.
Another goal from Daniel Castillo brought his tally to six for the season.
Coach Dale White was full of praise for his players as he only had one training session with the squad and said once they got to know each other and what was expected of them, would be a better team.
This Saturday sees Casey take on local rivals Frankston Pines at 3pm at Monterey Reserve, Frankston, for the first time in about six seasons.
