Cranny
HumbledBy Jim Wilson
The Comets lost top spot of the Vodafone State League Division Two South East after a disappointing result away to cellar dwellers Diamond Valley.
The Comets players were left shell shocked as Diamond Valley put two goals past Stuart Borghona inside the first minute. Half the travelling support was on life support as they could not believe it as Mark Court scored the first inside 20 seconds and then Tory Deporto slipped in to guide another one in the Comets net with only 60 seconds on the clock.
Cranny regrouped and when Adam Rudzki pushed a great ball for Fikret Korkaric to put it in the net at the 14th minute the travelling support thought a fight back was on the cards, But at the half hour mark the defence went to sleep again and Sercan Doganey finished off a fine move to restore a two goal lead for the Valley men.
Just on the stroke of half-time the Comets reduced the deficit when Korkaric got his second of the match when he was first to an excellent corner from Mattie McDermott and headed in at the near post.
The second half did not see the Comets make any headway and despite a few slim chances they were second to the ball at almost every contest. New signing Murat Demirkol showed glimpses of talent when he came on for Troy Williams who had a re occurrence of his back related injury. The Valley added another two goals without reply. The goals scored by Doganay and Tamer Simsek put the game truly beyond the Comets.
Anthony Ciccarelli was very unlucky to be red carded near the end as he got tangled up with Doganey and was deemed to have fouled him.
To say Coach Dale White was disappointed after the game would be an understatement. His words were sharp and the players better not be late for training on Tuesday night.
The Ressies were unlucky to loose 1-0 to a penalty late in the second half to an experienced Valley team.
Next week the Comets are at home to struggling Fitzroy City and hope to get back on track and repeat their 5-1 win in the first meeting.