Shuanna Murray and the Casey Comets were shell-shocked on Sunday after suffering a 7-0 defeat against Eltham North that sent them to the bottom of the standings in the Women’s Premier League.By Marc McGowan
NEVER before in their 33-year history has the Casey Comets looked up at the entire Women’s Premier League competition.
But after a 7-0 thrashing at the hands of Eltham North at Anderson Park on Saturday – their fourth straight loss since the season began – the Comets have slumped to the bottom of the standings.
The dismal beginning to 2008 comes after the club missed the finals for the first time in a decade last year.
Despite there still being more than four months left in its campaign, Casey is now in serious danger of being relegated from the elite division.
There are a host of problems at the Comets, most notably their goalkeeping situation.
Fifteen-year-old rookie Alice Ryan was handed the duties at the start of the season, but was yanked from the weekend contest just 25 minutes in.
Coach Deborah Nichols filled the breach, as she did in round two and several times last year, but hopes former goalkeeper Emma Bracken can come out of retirement.
Bracken did play for the reserves on Saturday – her first appearance this year – but has taken over the coaching reins of the club’s under-15 side and may be unavailable.
Ryan’s future at Casey is up in the air as the North Balwyn teenager’s commitment to the club was on the understanding she would only play senior football.
But Nichols revealed that this was not an option at this stage.
“Alice had never been subbed before, but it was a case of welcome to the real world and she’s on a steep learning curve,” she said.
“After the Heidelberg game, there was a niggling doubt about her ability to handle the physicality of the game and she conceded some soft goals in that game.
“The change from junior to senior football might have been too big a jump; not just the physical, but the mental side of it.”
The Comets conceded just 28 goals over the 22 rounds last season and only 18 the year before, but have already leaked 14 in their four matches this season.
Eltham North scored four times in the first half on Saturday and added another three in the second 45 minutes to complete the whitewash.
“It was very disappointing and we can’t get too much lower,” Nichols said.
“It’s very unfamiliar territory because we’ve never sat on the bottom of the ladder or lost 7-0 in our history.”
Nichols said the atmosphere after the outing was one she had not encountered before.
“They were extremely frustrated and it was the quietest warm down I’ve experienced in my life,” she said.
“Usually when they are sitting around doing their stretches at the end there is a bit of chatter, but there was not a word said.
“The gap between the bottom and just outside the top five is only three points, but in saying that we need points on the board and we have a pretty big month coming up.”
Ironically, Casey’s reserves side picked up its first win of the year with a 7-0 thumping of Eltham North in the earlier game.
The senior team will seek redemption against Keilor Park at Comets Stadium on Sunday at 1pm.
