Casey Comets coach Deborah Nichols was all smiles after her side defeated rival Women’s Premier League club Sandringham 2-1 at Comets Stadium on Saturday.By Marc McGowan
THE Casey Comets finished the Women’s Premier League season on a high on Sunday – knocking off their bogey side in the process.
A goal in each half was enough for the Comets to beat Sandringham 2-1 at Comets Stadium.
Casey had never defeated Sandringham, which had former Comets Lucy and Alina Kapusta in its line-up, at Women’s Premier League level until the weekend.
The Comets also prevented their opponents from booking a finals spot.
Casey looked good from the first whistle, surprisingly out-working a team still in contention for a top-five place.
A trademark Rachel Lamb run through the midfield was the catalyst for teenage sensation Talia Silivestros to put the Comets 1-0 up after 30 minutes.
Casey went into half time ahead for the third consecutive week and veteran playmaker Leigh Terek – a surprise starter on the bench – increased that advantage further.
Terek, after gaining possession out wide, cut inside and blasted a great shot into the top right-hand corner of the net.
But just as the Comets were beginning to feel like they had done enough to stave off the visitors, Mietta McDonald produced Sandringham’s first in the 92nd minute.
Casey, which lost 3-2 after leading 2-0 against Preston the previous round, endured a nervous final minute of injury time before finally being able to celebrate the victory.
The Comets’ reserves team lost 2-0 to Sandringham in the earlier clash.
Casey coach Deborah Nichols, who was forced to replace regular goalkeeper Emma Bracken (knee) once again, praised Terek’s second-half performance.
“Leigh Terek’s second half was the best she’s ever played,” she said.
“I dropped her to the bench for the first half and she was obviously annoyed about it.”
Nichols did concede she had some worrying moments at the end of the contest.
“We were confident because we were playing so unusually well and they weren’t looking very threatening at all,” she said.
“But at the back of my mind, after last week, I was a bit nervous for the last 60 seconds.”
The Comets’ strong finish to the year, which saw the club win two of its last three games, may also have convinced Nichols to go on as coach.
Casey officials are discussing her future and consulting the players on the matter.
“Before the Gippsland match (three weeks ago), I asked them to show me a reason for me to do this again,” she said.
“I’ll give them their dues – they performed terrifically against Gippsland, nearly delivered against Preston and played really well on Sunday.”
The Football Federation Victoria awards night is on 16 September and the Comets’ presentation night is on 11 October.
Nichols rated midfielders Melissa Atherton and Lamb as the club’s best players this year.
Casey will also participate in the Tracie McGovern Cup against clubs from around Australia in Port Macquarie next month.
The Comets were unable to enter the event in 2007 due to the delayed start to the Women’s Premier League season, but won the title the two previous years.
“We’re taking the strongest side we’ve ever taken, so we expect to do well,” Nichols said.
