City coach’s ‘nightmare’

By Gavin Staindl
BERWICK City coach Doug Chisholm reflected his side’s sentiment on Monday night when he said “I am having a nightmare.”
Chisholm’s frustration stemmed pre-game when he had to call five reserve players to make up numbers. It lasted for the remainder of the night, as Berwick was beaten 4-1 at Jack Thomas Reserve.
Hosting their first Monday night game, the Division Three side went into the match against North Caulfield without starting midfielders James Ashby and Alex Torelli and still struggling to replace striker Simon O’Donnell, who ruptured his ACL four weeks ago.
Such was the extent of Berwick’s omissions and injuries that president Dave Mackie was forced to call on his 16-year-old son, Ryan, to make up numbers in the reserves.
The young Mackie, an Aussie rules player who finished his season last week, was signed earlier in the week as reserve players Nicolas and Jamie Lasanc and Craig Johnson were elevated from the seconds to the firsts.
Despite their best efforts, Berwick could not contain North Caulfield, who clinched a 2-0 lead by half-time.
The Berwick players were even forced to stand in the rain for five minutes at half-time as officials looked for the keys to open the changerooms, such was their night.
However, hope was on the horizon for Berwick, who registered their first goal through some classy movement by captain Orlando Mejias early in the second half.
Berwick went close to levelling the scores but after botching a one-on-one with the opposition goalkeeper, paid the ultimate price as North Caulfield countered and converted to extend its lead to 3-1.
Only hours after receiving injections at hospital for an illness, junior goalkeeper Dennis Martin copped a bruised rib as he unsuccessfully slid to prevent North Caulfield’s fourth goal.
“We can’t take a trick at the moment,” president Mackie said.
Berwick needs to win one of its remaining two matches to ensure it avoids relegation.
Doveton, meanwhile, returned to the winners’ list and snuffed out any small chance it had of falling victim to relegation.
Johnathon Ash scored twice as the Doves beat the lowly Croydon City Arrows 2-0 at Dorsett Recreational Reserve on Friday night.
Despite dominating possession, the Division Two Casey Comets could not prevent the Doncaster Rovers from snatching a 1-0 win at Anderson Park.
In the Provisional Leagues, Endeavour was beaten 1-0 by Caulfield, while the Casey Kings salvaged a 2-2 draw with Monbulk.