Comets loss hits home

By Gavin Staindl
THE hoodoo at Comets Stadium hit Casey on Saturday as the Comets once again failed to leave their mark on a home match.
Casey, which struggled at home last year – winning only five matches – has only one home win to its name after Noble Park Drina departed with a 3-1 win on Saturday.
Despite their disadvantage at home, the Comets were expected to be too good for the newly promoted Noble Park Drina, but it was Drina who looked like the established Division Two side, running rings around the hosts.
While Casey failed to string consecutive passes together and frequently resorted to long balls out of defence, Drina was constructive, often holding possession in the Comets’ penalty box for long periods.
Only a late goal from Liam Ryan prevented Casey from its second shut-out of the season.
Casey coach Dough Chisholm was lost for words when asked why his team can’t win at home.
“I can’t work it out,” Chisholm said. “We meet nice and early for home games and we train very well during the week, but I can’t put my finger on it as to why we can’t win. Maybe it’s a confidence thing.
“Against Heatherton, when we won 6-0, the confidence was flowing, we were making 40-metre passes and flicking the ball around and doing tricks … and last year when we could pull ourselves back into games, we are lacking confidence and can’t seem to do it this year.”
In Division Three, Berwick pulled off a much needed win, albeit with a bit of luck, to stay in touch with the top teams.
After a stunning home-win two weeks ago, Berwick was handed a crushing loss to Mornington the following week, but has bounced back after it was gifted an own goal to escape with a 1-0 win over Frankston at Jack Thomas Reserve.
Doveton was not as lucky after reliable goal scorer Grant Lane was sent off during the Doves 2-0 loss to Nunawading at Waratah Reserve.
In Provisional Two, Endeavour United enjoyed its first win in a month, topping the highly fancied Bayside Argonauts 2-1 at Reema Reserve, while the Casey Kings suffered their first loss of the season, going down to Keysborough 4-1 at Betula Park.