Comets down to the wire

By Marc McGowan
SO IT all comes down to this.
The Casey Comets’ Women’s Premier League season hangs in the balance after a 3-1 defeat to Heidelberg United at Olympic Village on Sunday.
The fourth-placed Comets lead Ashburton and Sandringham by just one point and both of those clubs have easy final-round matches this weekend.
Casey, on the other hand, needs to take down top-of-the-ladder Box Hill for the second time this year.
Coach Debbie Nichols knows the task her players face.
“We’re playing our grand final on Sunday,” she said.
“If we win we go to third and get a home final, but if we lose we could end up sixth.
“To miss out on the last week would be quite devastating, but it’s pretty simple – win the game and you get the glory, lose the game and it’s next year.”
The Comets were lethargic at the start of their weekend clash and Heidelberg United star Melanie Camilleri punished them with the easiest of goals in the 26th minute.
Casey suddenly sprang to life and both Nicolas Prins and Alex Gummer had one-on-one chances with the Bergers’ goalkeeper, but were unable to capitalise.
The visitors were unable to bridge the gap before half-time, but entered the break knowing they had wrested control from Heidelberg United.
Prins had finally broken the shackles to find some space and was looking dangerous; Melissa Atherton was her usual workhorse self; and Vanessa Hellar was patrolling the defence.
Both sides had early second-half chances – Comets netminder Emma Bracken saving a Camilleri rocket and Talia Silivestros failing to get a foot onto a Prins header.
But the complexion of the game changed when Bergers substitute Ellvana Curo came onto the field.
Curo scored in the 65th and 76th minutes after following in shots that rebounded out of Bracken’s grasp.
Gummer pulled one back with some nifty work inside the 18-yard box in the 81st minute, but that was as close as Casey got.
The Comets and Box Hill lock horns at Comets Stadium on Sunday from 1pm.