It’s been a slow burn of a season for Casey Comets, who in another year may just have been a bit more worried about their lack of form in the league.
A change in structure for the WPL – to fit in line with the current NPL model for top-flight men’s state football – means that avoiding a bottom two spot is little more than an aesthetic bonus for the club’s history, with no relegation to worry about.
But that hasn’t made the last fortnight any less important for the South-East based side, whose confidence has skyrocketed after two straight unbeaten games.
“It’s good just to get the points on the board. [on Friday] we were probably a bit unlucky not to get the three, and that’s why we’re feeling a little bit down,” Casey captain Laura Croft said in the aftermath of her side’s 1-1 draw with Sandringham SC.
“But the girls’ work effort throughout the year, I can’t fault it at all. The last couple of weeks, it’s just been getting better.
“There’s not many times this year where we’ve taken the lead. We’ve had to be reactive [to goals against] in most of our games so it was good to be proactive and go out there, get that goal on the board and get confidence for the other girls as well and not just be defensive.”
The run of results was a much needed confidence builder for the side – who have leapfrogged South Yarra into 11th spot on the WPL ladder – skipper Croft candidly admitting that motivation was stretched at times due to the results.
“I’m not going to lie, it’s been hard at times [to stay motivated] but literally every training session, every week, we out there and do it for our friends, which are my teammates, our coach, who has coached me for eight or so years, and not just doing it for yourself but those around you.
“We have so much fun at training but we also get so much work done. We’re learning something new every day we’re on the park and that’s really good motivation to keep coming each week.”
A pair of new signings, exotically named American duo Raelynn Mikell and Mykaylin Rosenquist, have shored up the defence in recent weeks, with the flow on effect seeing Harriet Cordner move into midfield to shore up the spine.
The change in structure, personnel and the subsequent effects were clear to see against Sandy, as they rode their oppositions waves of pressure with a calmness of mind.
“I think that’s what we’ve gotten better at, not having those lapses in games where we give two or three goals away,” Croft said.
“It was just a bit unlucky in the box, and an own goal [officially credited to Sandringham midfielder Annabelle Gibney] that went through. That was a bit unfortunate and we would’ve loved to come away with the three points but I’m really happy to have come away with the one.
“The steps we’re taking forward as a club are really good.”