Comets’ sights sink with loss

By Marc McGowan
A HEADER in the dying moments left the Casey Comets shattered against the Bendigo Vipers at Strathfieldsaye Sport Complex on Saturday.
The Vipers took a corner and, as the Comets surged forward to defend, Emily Leversha was left unmarked and headed the ball past hapless Casey coach Deborah Nichols.
The 88th-minute score broke the goalless deadlock, leaving the Comets with little time to make amends as they fell to their 10th defeat of the season.
Making matters worse, Casey had dominated play for a 15-minute period during the second half, when the visitors peppered the goals only to be denied each time.
Nichols partnered teenager Talia Silivestros with veteran Leigh Terek up front to add bite to what had become a stale attack.
Forward mainstays Lisa Cloke and Linda Restrepo then came off the bench in the second half to provide some late impetus for their team.
Cloke had struggled with illness during the week and Nichols was trying to increase Restrepo’s effectiveness over a full match rather than in short spurts.
The pair’s injection into the game seemed to spark the Comets, and Restrepo had one of Casey’s best opportunities to score.
But with the game seemingly heading towards a draw – a result Nichols would have been satisfied with – Leversha bobbed up to leave the Casey players despondent.
Vanessa Hellar impressed in defence and Rachel Lamb created two of the Comets’ second-half chances.
Nichols was disappointed her side took nothing from the weekend contest.
“It wasn’t pretty – both teams were average, to be honest with you,” she said.
“The players were gutted. They knew it was not their best day, but they worked really hard and it’s never an easy place to get points.
“Once the game was over, we were sort of like, ‘how the hell did that happen?’ and we were in a bit of shock.”
Casey has a bye this weekend, but Nichols said the players again had to worry about relegation.
“We’re looking over our shoulders because there’s still been no decision from Football Federation Victoria on how many teams will be relegated,” she said.
“We’re fifth bottom, but we’re only two points clear of Keilor. We have to make sure we finish a minimum of fifth bottom.”
The Comets’ reserves won 2-1 over Bendigo in the earlier game to make sure the club did not go home empty-handed.
Casey resumes against Gippsland at Latrobe City Sports Club on Saturday 9 August.
The reserves compete at 2pm and the seniors kick off at 4pm.