Winless Comets bottom out

Casey’s Steve Vernon jostles for the ball during the clash with South Springvale on Saturday. Picture: Meagan Rogers

By Stuart Teather
CASEY Comets dropped to the bottom of the State League Two South East soccer ladder on Saturday after going down to South Springvale at Comets Stadium.
The two sides were the only remaining teams in the division without a win for the season and it was the Souths that got the result, coming out in front 2-0.
Casey went into the game with an attacking mindset, but South Springvale seemed intent on slowing the game down, throwing plenty of men behind the ball on defence.
The visitors got the breakthrough late in the first half when Fikret Korkaric received a ball from Chris Palasidis and thumped it into the net. Soon after Korkaric slotted his second goal for the match after the Souths were awarded a penalty for a rough tackle inside the box.
The second half proved to be a lacklustre affair with South Springvale content to rest on the two-goal buffer.
The Comets threw everything at the Souths, running with three strikers for most of the half and even going to four late, but could not get the breakthrough.
A second yellow card to Dean Schembri, with 20 minutes to go, was a final blow for the troubled Comets, ensuring he would miss this week’s clash against Malvern City.
Comets’ coach Tony Saunders rued another missed opportunity.
“We dominated the game, but I’m pretty much disappointed with the intensity to be honest, we just had none,” he said.
“They’ve won the game, so full credit to them, but we had quite a few chances.
“We got on top early, but couldn’t change and lift the intensity of the game.”
In State League Three South East, Berwick City claimed a 2-1 win against the Boroondara Eagles at Macleay Park.
Goals on either side of half-time to Justin Fernand and Orlando Mejias ensured Berwick City took maximum points from the clash.
Endeavour United finally had something to smile about in the Provisional League One South East competition, recording its first win of the year with a commanding 4-0 trashing of Old Camberwell Grammar.
A hat-trick to Anthony Ciccarelli and another to Shane Savanah was enough to sink the Wellers, lifting United off the bottom of the ladder in the process.
Doveton had less luck, going down to Old Scotch 2-0 at H.A Smith Reserve.
This week The Comets face Malvern City, Berwick City takes on Peninsula Strikers, Endeavour United has a tough assignment against top side Fitzroy and Doveton hosts Monash University.