Talia’s goal blitz fires

By Marc McGowan
TEENAGER Talia Silivestros’ extraordinary four-goal haul led the Casey Comets to a 7-0 demolition of Geelong in Women’s Premier League action at Howard Glover Reserve on Sunday.
Silivestros, 16, took just 20 seconds to register her first score after a brilliant run from teammate Marcie Algeria and completed her hat-trick inside 20 minutes.
The striker’s fourth goal – and the Comets’ seventh – came in the second half when the result was well and truly decided.
Midfielder Lisa Cloke gave Casey a 4-0 half-time lead before Melissa Atherton and Nicola Prins added scores after the break.
The victory sent the Comets into second spot in the standings with three wins and a draw from their five matches.
But it was Silivestros’ break-out performance that had stand-in coach Glen Bristow, who is an assistant for the club’s men’s team, raving.
“To score a hat-trick in 20 minutes – even to have four goals at the elite level of women’s football – is quite an achievement,” Bristow said.
“To be fair, she should have had more and Nicky (Prins) was, at the end of the day, unlucky – she hit the bar, the post or the ’keeper would save it.
“She eventually got one, but she should have had a hat-trick, minimum, as well.”
The hosts had a brief period midway through the first half when they created a couple of half chances, but they rarely troubled Comets goalkeeper April Huijbregsen.
Huijbregsen is playing in place of number-one ’keeper Emma Bracken, who has a major right-foot injury.
Bristow believes his side’s goal tally could have easily reached double figures and credited Geelong’s goalkeeper for keeping the damage to seven goals.
“We just focused on what we were doing and just went there to get the three points – we had no idea what the competition would be like,” he said.
“The result for them was quite flattering – it could have been, minimum, double figures.
“Fortunately, they had a good ’keeper in goals. She had some great saves and kept the score to seven – it could have been way more.”
Bristow will hand the coaching reins back to regular mentor Debbie Nichols, who flew home to England three weeks ago due to a family bereavement, this weekend.
He enjoyed his first experience of women’s football and was pleasantly surprised with the standard.
“Hopefully, I’ve left the team in a good position and they’ll consolidate and take on that form,” Bristow said.
“I hope they’ve learned something along the way and if Debbie ever needs a hand I’m more than happy to help out.
“It’s been great. I’ve never coached women’s football before, but it has actually been quite entertaining to the eye, so to speak – they play very good football.”
Casey locks horns with fourth-placed South Melbourne at Comets Stadium on Sunday from 1pm.