By Marc McGowan
THE Casey Comets on Sunday slumped to their third straight loss amid further bad news regarding key players.
Heidelberg’s 2-1 win over the Comets at Olympic Village in Heidelberg Heights leaves the latter six points adrift of fifth-placed Sandringham with eight rounds to go in the Women’s Premier League season.
Having already lost midfield stalwart Lucy Kapusta to Sandringham midway through the year, Casey was rocked with the news that fellow midfielder Sarah Fitzgerald was heading home to Tasmania to be closer to family.
Fitzgerald is easily the Comets’ top goalscorer with 10, and only three players in the competition have bettered her total.
To make matters worse, teenage sensation Alex Gummer looks set to miss the rest of the season due to torn cartilage in her right knee, which has bothered her for the past six weeks.
Gummer will play for the Victorian under 17 side at the National Youth Championship for Girls in Coffs Harbour from 7 to 14 July before likely surgery.
Belinda Powell and number one goalkeeper Emma Bracken also missed the Heidelberg game through injury.
Linda Restrepo and Anna Carmichael were promoted from the reserves and 15-year-old Shuanna Murray came on as a substitute in the second half as Casey desperately tried to cover the absentees.
Heidelberg flew out of the blocks to post two quick goals as it dominated possession in the opening half.
But the Comets received a heartbeat right before half-time when Rachel Lamb finished off a Restrepo cross to peg back the margin with her fourth score of the season.
The goal seemed to lift the youthful Casey squad, which produced a spirited performance after the main break as it sought the equaliser.
Comets sweeper Jeni Black almost did exactly that with a header from a corner, but a Heidelberg defender chested the ball from the last line to resign Casey to its fifth one-goal defeat of the year.
Comets coach Deborah Nichols is becoming increasingly frustrated with her team’s bad luck, but is delighted with the performances of her younger players.
“It drives me insane. We probably had five players missing that would start in our top side,” she said.
“But the kids came in and did such a great job for the side and they’ve been doing it all year.
“We need the likes of the Lisa Clokes, the Marcie Algerias and the Linda Restrepos to step up, along with the other younger players that haven’t cemented their spots – they’ve got a great opportunity.”
However, Nichols is distinctly aware that Casey is in severe danger of missing the finals for the first time since the Women’s Premier League’s format changed five years ago.
“We have never not made finals, so we would be disappointed, but we know we’re in a rebuilding stage so if we were to make the five it would be terrific,” she said.
“Until it is mathematically impossible, we’ll be going for it.”
The Comets’ reserves were beaten 4-1 with a weakened line-up and will continue to struggle as injuries afflict the club.
The women’s leagues go on a two-week break starting this weekend due to the National Youth Championship for Girls, and Casey’s three-match home stand begins on 22 July when it takes on Keilor Park.
