Casey Comets striker Linda Restrepo, who was returning from injury, came off the bench in the second half to score her team’s first goal against Keilor Park at Keilor Park Reserve on Sunday. 18979 Picture: Stewart Chambers.By Marc McGowan
SEASON over.
There may still be six rounds left in the Women’s Premier League, but the Casey Comets’ latest defeat – 3-2 to Keilor Park on Sunday – has, barring a miracle, eliminated the team from the finals race.
Frustrated Comets coach Deborah Nichols conceded as much after her side’s loss at Keilor Park Reserve.
“I’d say that’s it,” she said.
“We’re looking over our shoulders now, especially since the FFV (Football Federation Victoria) is undecided about how many teams will be relegated.
“We reckon worst-case scenario they’ll relegate four and we’re fifth from bottom ahead of Keilor, but they’ve got a game in hand.
“At the end of the day, we can’t worry about anyone else; we just need to keep playing and not go through the motions.”
Medina Asanovski and Vanessa Hellar replaced defender Anna Carmichael (illness) and midfielder Katrina Carmody in Casey’s starting line-up.
Keilor Park led 1-0 at half-time and went further ahead when Kerri Little and Tijen Hussein benefited from some slack defence.
Staring at a three-goal deficit, finally the Comets came to life with the introduction of striker Linda Restrepo from the bench.
Within minutes of coming onto the field, Restrepo buried a Talia Silivestros cross into the back of the net, capping her return from injury.
Keilor Park had chances to seal the result, but it was Casey that struck again with only two minutes on the clock.
Teenager Lisa Cloke smashed home a deep ball from Marcie Algeria to reduce the margin to one goal and send shudders through Keilor Park.
But time ran out for the Comets, leaving them – not for the first time this year – to ponder what might have been.
After a stellar performance from its midfielders in the previous round, Casey did not receive much production in the centre of the park on the weekend.
Nichols also felt Carmichael’s absence, coupled with Asanovski’s and Hellar’s insertion into defence, unsettled her team.
But the Comets mentor mostly lamented her players’ lack of mental preparation.
“I am running out of answers as to why individually they can’t turn up ready to play,” Nichols said.
“I played and never had an issue and was always psychologically ready to play, so I don’t know what I’m dealing with.
“I’m frustrated because they’ve shown they can match it with the top sides, and then (they) go and do this.
“It was always a danger game, but if you don’t prepare well mentally when you play lower sides that’s beyond my control.”
Casey’s reserves had to settle for a draw with Keilor Park, with neither outfit able to trouble the scorers.
The Comets begin their fight for survival against South Melbourne at Comets Stadium on Sunday.
The reserves are on at 11am and the seniors play at 1pm.
