Comets still ablaze

By Marc McGowan
THEY weren’t as impressive as recent weeks, but the Casey Comets still easily accounted for Preston 4-1 in Women’s Premier League action at Comets Stadium on Sunday.
The Lions opened the scoring after just 10 minutes when Sarah Sumner blasted the ball from the right side past Comets keeper Emma Bracken despite Sumner clearly being off-side.
Casey gradually assumed control of the contest after a slow start and Marcie Algeria and Alex Gummer combined to thunder home the equaliser in the 33rd minute.
Gummer was unlucky not to be credited with another five minutes later when her cross into the box appeared to go untouched, but was called an own goal.
The only downer for the Comets was that star speedster Lisa Cloke exited the pitch with a hamstring injury soon after.
Casey entered half-time with a 2-1 lead and hammered home its advantage in the second half.
They created a host of chances before a Jeni Black through ball released striker Nicola Prins to score her 11th goal of the season.
Prins was also involved in the Comets’ fourth goal when Gummer finally finished her high cross into the box from close range after Linda Restrepo was unable to get her foot to the ball.
Casey coach Debbie Nichols, back on the sidelines with Bracken returning from injury, praised Gummer, veteran midfielder Jeni Black and consistent defender Laura Croft.
Nichols said anything short of finals for her side this year would be a massive disappointment.
“All the players are talking finals and that’s something we haven’t spoken about for three years,” she said.
“We’re confident we can make it and they’ll only have themselves to blame if they don’t.
“The guys who’ve battled through the last two seasons have been terrific after obviously dealing with not having a very good run … they’ve been given a new lease on life.”
The Women’s Premier League has a bye this weekend due to the National Under-17 Championships in Coffs Harbour.
Comets Alex Gummer and Laura Croft will compete for Victoria.
Casey’s next match was supposed to be against Bendigo on 11 July, but is set to be rescheduled possibly for midweek next week.