Comets
stay in top spotBy Jim Wilson
Dingley 1 v Comets 3
The Comets stayed in top spot of the Vodafone State League Division Two South East after a terrific second half performance last Saturday away to Dingley City.
It was like a home game for more than half the team who either started their playing careers at Ross Reserve or played for the old Springvale City in the last few seasons.
It was a very hard tactical game that the Comets had to play as despite the Dingley side having a few bad results over the past few weeks Coach Dale White knew that the this game was a deciding factor for both teams at this point of the league season
The Comets had Steven Bellerini back in the mid-field and the first half ended badly for the Comets when Sinon Atdogan was given too much room at the edge of the box and his shot was deflected into the net despite a great attempt by Stuart Borghona in the Comets goal to stop it.
The half-time ‘pep’ talk was not for the faint hearted and changes were made Simon Keegel came on which allowed Adam Rudzki to go into his normal mid-field slot and just when the Comets were thinking they were never going to get a result up popped Anthony Ciccarelli to force the ball over the line after Pajic Kosto in goals for Dingley made a costly mistake in dropping the ball from a great corner kick from Mattie McDermott.
This spurred the Comets on and soon after from a Stefan Rudzki corner Captain Dario Simunic rose above the Dingley defence to nod it into the net.
Mario Diaco came on for the injured Stefan Rudzki and his pace caused problems for the Dingley defence. Despite a few anxious moments towards the end the Comets made the points safe when Frankie Bove beat the offside trap and left Kosto rooted to the spot with a classic finish from fully 25 yards out.
Coach Dale White was a happy coach after the game as these points away from home are vital in the run for the title.
The ressies had a disappointing result when they lost 1-0 to a poor Dingley reserve team. Too many chances went a begging and the Dingley goal was clearly hand balled before it went over the line. New player Steven McPhilips had a solid game and will be pushing for a spot in the seniors.
Next week the Comets are away again to Diamond Valley and they need the points to keep their noses in front at the top of the league.