A 10-player Casey Comets have lifted themselves off the bottom of the WPL ladder first time since Round Five after securing a 1-1 draw with Sandringham SC at Comets Stadium.
Visitors Sandringham have had their own form issues of late, and the draw against Casey – who went consecutive games unbeaten for the first time all season – was their third game without a win.
The last meeting between these two sides saw Casey outperform their more fancied opponents, who were bailed out by two stoppage time goals to pinch victory.
Round 14’s reverse fixture looked to be heading in the same direction, as Casey started the faster of the teams.
Laura Croft – dominant in midfield across the 90 minutes – got the ball rolling with a perfectly weighted through ball for Antonia Niteros, but the striker couldn’t steer her first time shot towards goal.
A raking cross from Emma Runnalls in the 18th minute was flicked on at the near post via a Nicola Westwood backheel, but Casey keeper Alyse Brusamarello was up to the task, claiming the ball before the onrushing Annabelle Gibney could shoot.
Niteros again fashioned a chance on goals, this time a snapshot was safely watched wide by Sandringham’s Ingrid Phillipe.
The two teams exchanged blows for the opening 20 minutes, with both enjoying a number of opportunities from set-pieces.
The 24th minute saw the Comets open the scoring with a wonder strike from captain Laura Croft; the culmination of Casey’s forward pressure and a succession of corners.
A floating delivery from Katrina Avila worked its way towards Rachel Binning, who saw her header cleared off the line by Steph Tanti and seemingly away from danger.
But Croft – 25-yards from home – spotted an opening and fearlessly struck a bobbling strike into the bottom left corner, leading her team in rapturous celebration.
They were then set the rare task of defending a lead, and a deeper defensive line opened up the chance for a Sandringham response.
A great interception from Mykaylin Rosenquist – an American defender making her home debut for Casey – ensured Westwood wasn’t allowed an open sight at goal in the lead up to half time.
She did get the chance to fire one in following a throw-in on 45 minutes, but despite clearing the defensive line, her strike was hit straight at Brusamarello.
Holding onto their slender lead in the second half proved a tough ask for Casey, and were it not for a key interception from centre-half Raelynn Mikell, Sandy forward Emma Runnalls would’ve run clean through on goals in the early stages of the term.
The back four continued to brush aside the advances of Sandringham, who struggled to find the right avenue to goal.
That avenue proved to be from a corner, as a Tanti outswinger on the hour mark found the head of Gibney, who nodded home off a Casey body at the far post.
Having already once come from a goal behind to defeat Casey this season, Sandringham held onto hope that they’d fashion a similar result this time round.
Gibney nearly gave them the lead seven minutes after her first, but she saw a dinked effort drift narrowly wide of the left upright.
Casey’s press across the pitch was relentless, and they weren’t afraid to take the contest to Sandy on a physical level.
Attacking midfielder Avila pushed the boundary too far however, and was given her marching orders for a tug of an opposition shirt and subsequent second yellow card.
The sending off opened the game up completely, with both teams flexing their attacking muscle in a high-tempo end to the game.
Chances fell at both ends; winger Sharnoah Hurley went on a mazy run past three defenders, eventually forcing Phillipe into a comfortable save, while Binning at the other end scrambled to keep the Sandy attackers at bay.
Niteros nearly managed to steer an outside of the boot shot on target despite being off balance and under the pressure of an opposition defender.
Sandringham – with the player advantage – pushed bodies forward and enjoyed a prolonged spell of pressure in their forward half.
They tallied close to 10 set pieces in good positions from the 80th minute onwards, but Casey continued to valiantly defend their point.
With bodies all committed forward, the hosts were offered one final chance to take the lead on the counter, but despite a three on two situation in attack, Hurley’s cross lacked the quality required.
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Casey Comets 1 (Croft 24’) drew with Sandringham SC 1 (Gibney 59’) at Comets Stadium [HT: 1-0]
Casey Comets: 1. Alyse BRUSAMARELLO (GK), 12. Harriet CORDNER, 4. Rachel BINNING, 14. Anouk MEEREBOER, 2. Antonia NITEROS (13. Arman FAZLIC 80’), 3. Laura CROFT (C), 8. Shaunna MURRAY, 16. Katrina AVILA, 6. Raelynn MIKELL, 11. Sharnoah HURLEY, 9. Mykaylin ROSENQUIST
Unused Substitute(s): 13. Chelsie SELLECK, 10. Amy RADFORD, 5. Melissa KIRBY, 7. Sheridan DUDLEY, 15. Amah FAZLIC
Yellow Card(s): Hurley 75’
Red Card(s): Avila 72’
Sandringham SC: 1. Ingrid PHILLIPE, 9. Emma ROBERS, 6. Steph PARTON, 7. Kirsty SHEARING, 8. Nicola WESTWOOD, 9. Emma RUNNALLS, 10. Steph TANTI, 18. Sienna FOGARTY, 19. Annabelle GIBNEY, 12. Eliza Gleadell, 20. Hannah Stuart
Unused Substitute(s): 21. Niki COOK, 3. Lily O’BRIEN, 11. Elisabeth ROBERS, 29. Irena TASEKI, 27. Simone KENNY
Yellow Card(s): Runnalls 22’
Red Card(s): Nil