Casey midfield dynamo Leigh Terek attempts to send her side forward despite the close attention of Box Hill defender Anthea Vardakas at Comets Stadium on Sunday. Picture: Marc McGowan.By Marc McGowan
THE Casey Comets’ Women’s Premier League finals hopes look shot after the team succumbed 2-0 to title favourite Box Hill at Comets Stadium on Sunday.
Fifth-placed Sandringham upset Eltham North 2-1 at Spring Street Oval to give it an almost insurmountable 12-point lead over the Comets.
Belinda Powell became the latest Casey player to become unavailable through injury and Jeni Black’s neck complaint also kept her out of the vital contest.
The Comets barely ventured into attack in the first half as their opponent continually charged forward.
And it was not long before the more athletic and taller Box Hill made its mark on the scoreboard.
In the 18th minute, Analisse Rios strolled past a flat-footed Casey defence before thumping the ball to Comets coach and goalkeeper Deborah Nichols’ left for the clash’s opening goal.
The match continued in this vein and Evgenia Avram almost doubled the visitors’ lead soon after.
But there was no such luck for Casey when Amanda Lawless gained possession in the 36th minute, and she casually accounted for two Comets defenders to slot her 16th score for 2007.
The lowlight of the first 45 minutes came right on the brink of half-time when a seemingly routine goal kick from Nichols resulted in her losing her footing and rolling her ankle.
A temporary delay ensued as Nichols slumped to the ground in pain and when she rose to her feet she was noticeably limping and took no further part on the day.
Emma Bracken, who has her own injury worries but was the club’s only option, took Nichols’ place in goal after the break.
The second half was Casey’s turn to assume control and as light rain fell the Comets looked a new team.
Casey midfield general Leigh Terek took matters into her own hands and her first piece of magic set Irena Taseski up for a header, but the Macedonian could only hit the bar.
The Comets’ best chance came when Lisa Cloke broke forward and looked certain to score, but frustratingly for Casey she too hit the bar from close range.
It proved to be the local side’s final real threat on the Box Hill net as the Comets failed to score for the second week running.
Despite the loss all but consigning the club to its first finish outside the top five in a decade, Nichols applauded her squad’s effort.
“It was a terrific performance, especially in the second half, because I think (Box Hill will) win the championship,” she said.
“It makes it extremely difficult to make it now, doesn’t it?
“It hasn’t come up in conversation and we’re still a mathematical chance.
“How we go in the next five weeks is really important for next year, considering we have six players 20 and under in the team.”
The Casey reserves lost to Box Hill in the team’s third straight 1-0 defeat.
The Comets travel to Beischer Oval in Strathdale on Saturday to lock horns with the Bendigo Vipers, with the reserves kicking proceedings off at 12.30pm before the seniors take to the field at 2.30pm.
