Shock for City

By Stuart Teather
BERWICK City suffered a cruel blow in its quest for promotion from the State League Three South East competition on Saturday, going down to middle-of-the-table Peninsula Strikers 2-1.
The game was a must-win for City to maintain its three-point margin at the head of the table, but with the loss slumped to equal points with Southern Suburbs and Noble Park United, hanging on to top place only on goal difference.
The loss to Peninsula was not for a lack of trying, however, with Berwick playing some of its best football of the season, without being able to score.
Berwick went into the half-time break one goal up, but one man down after Mark Davidson was sent off mid-way through the term.
After the break, despite being a player short, Berwick took control of the match, peppering the goal, but failing to secure a breakthrough.
In the end, Peninsula struck on the break – twice – ensuring an unlikely loss for City.
Coach Joe Carrol was at a loss to explain the result.
“They just caught us on the break really, they never caused us any problems except for the goals,” he said. “One man down with one forward up front, we played some of the best football we have all season.”
But the coach remained positive – after all, his side is still on top of the ladder.
“We did play some really good stuff; we showed on a decent pitch we are a good football side – if anything, it was a good wake-up call.”
Elsewhere, the Casey Comets may not have got the result it wanted, but still managed to put a game’s break between themselves and the State League Two South East relegation zone following a 0-0 draw with Malvern City at Comets Stadium.
The Comets went into the clash off a disastrous 3-1 loss to the side it is competing with to avoid relegation, South Springvale, but could not secure the three points against Malvern.
In Provisional League One South East, Endeavour United went down 2-1 to Fitzroy City and top side Monash University hammered Doveton 5-0.