Comets make their point

By Marc McGowan
THEY didn’t win, but the Casey Comets were in the points for the second straight weekend in Women’s Premier League action on Sunday.
The Comets drew 0-0 with last year’s Women’s State League Division One champion South Melbourne at Bob Jane Stadium.
The outing was head coach Deborah Nichols’ last for three weeks before she headed overseas.
Nichols’ job will temporarily be filled by reserves’ coach Gavin Spencer-Pitts, who joined the club this year.
Spencer-Pitts played high-level soccer for Swindon Town in England.
South Melbourne pitted its physical style against Casey’s youthful exuberance, with little separating the sides.
The Comets’ teenage striker Lisa Cloke and captain Jeni Black had several opportunities to score, but could not capitalise.
At the other end, goalkeeper Emma Bracken was sensational again in her second game back from retirement, stopping everything South Melbourne threw at her.
Veteran Rachel Lamb was her typical reliable self in the sweeper role.
Ultimately neither team could pierce the other’s defence as they settled for a draw, leaving both clubs with four points for the season and struggling near the bottom of the table.
Spencer-Pitts was frustrated with the outcome, but conceded his players failed to grasp their openings.
“I think we created more chances, but I wouldn’t say they were better chances because we didn’t make them clear enough,” he said.
“We didn’t get into good position to finish them off, but we definitely created more chances.”
The interim coach suggested South Melbourne’s unknown quantity played a part in the result.
“When a new side comes in you’re not sure how they’re going to play and they were very physical and that’s something we will take forward for the future against them,” he said.
“Our size shows when we come up against taller opposition and we have quite a young side, too.
“Our younger players struggle with physical games and we’re definitely aiming to toughen them up.”
Spencer-Pitts does not expect Nichols’ absence to affect the squad.
“I’m hoping not. I’ve been training with them since the pre-season, so hopefully I’ve built up a bit of a rapport with the players,” he said.
“At training, they don’t seem to like me that much – they dread seeing me, but more in a fun way than a serious way because I work them pretty hard.”
As opposed to the senior fixture, the reserves’ match was an action-packed one, with South Melbourne trumping Casey 4-2.
The Comets return to Comets Stadium on Sunday to clash with the Bendigo Vipers.
The reserves are on at 11am and the seniors kick-off at 1pm.