Casey Comets midfielder Rachel Lamb was in supreme form against Sandringham at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex, Cheltenham, on Sunday. By Marc McGowan
A STRONG performance from the Casey Comets’ midfield was not enough to steal victory from third-placed Sandringham at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex, Cheltenham, on Sunday.
After a forgettable first half from both teams, the standard improved in the final 45 minutes. But neither team was able to pierce the other’s defence as they settled for a 0-0 draw.
Livewire Comets striker Lisa Cloke had the best of Casey’s chances and only a sliver of luck would have seen her be the match-winner.
Cloke’s importance went to another level midway through the first half when the Comets lost fellow teenage forward Talia Silivestros, who copped a stray boot to the face.
Marisa Sipcic replaced Silivestros in the line-up, but only Cloke threatened to break the scoreless deadlock for Casey.
The Comets also sent Melissa Atherton from the midfield into the centre back role early on to shore up their defence.
Casey held sway in the midfield, particularly veteran Rachel Lamb, who nullified former Comet Lucy Kapusta.
Kapusta walked out on Casey last year, stating she wanted to play somewhere that she did not have to be as committed.
Amanda Aldridge, Katrina Carmody, Leigh Terek and Marcie Algeria were also good contributors.
Despite the Comets being desperate for a win, as the gap between Casey and fifth side Eltham North continues to grow, coach Deborah Nichols – again thrust into the goalkeeping duties in the injury absence of Emma Bracken – knew they had to at least salvage a draw.
And with Sandringham rarely causing Nichols problems, Casey managed just that, but now sits eight points adrift of Eltham North.
The Comets’ reserves lost 4-2 to Sandringham, but, in worse news for Casey, second-leading goalscorer Linda Restrepo’s comeback was cut short when she again succumbed to her mysterious calf injury.
Nichols was dismayed by her senior team’s competitiveness with another finals aspirant.
“I said to them, ‘you’re playing against someone that’s third in the league and you made them look average’,” she said.
“We’ve competed well with the top five sides … it’s going to be one of those ‘if only, what if’ years.”
The Comets face opponents directly above and below them on the ladder in the next three weeks before the bye, starting with Keilor Park at Keilor Park Reserve on Sunday.
“It will be a tough game this week against Keilor away,” Nichols said.
“No disrespect to the teams we’ve played recently, but Keilor is hard to beat at home and is as inconsistent as we are.
“They play so well against the top sides and take points from them, but are only average against the other sides.”
The reserves compete at 11am before the seniors lock horns at 1pm.
