Comets strike crumbling City

By Stuart Teather
DANDENONG City hit a brick wall in the form of the Casey Comets on Saturday in their State League Two South East clash, with the Comets cleaning up 3-0 at Comets Stadium.
City went into the game undermanned missing five of its best squad, but the side was outclassed from the first kick as the Comets went on a rampage.
The teams braved shocking conditions as wind battered the pitch and rain fell in patches but the Comets were the cleaner team, taking a 1-0 lead into the half.
City regrouped at half-time but the home side came out firing after the break, adding two more goals to blow the result out.
Star Comets striker Kris Paterson scored a double including a wonder-strike from 25 metres out, and Liam Ryan added another.
City coach Ivan Duzel said the loss put his side one step closer to the relegation zone.
“The players have to know that this is the position they are, they’re in the relegation zone,” he said.
Duzel put the goals down to mistakes from some of the club’s experienced players, and said the side needed them to lift if they were going to avoid relegation.
“The players are quality players, there’s no question about it, I believe we’ve got six or seven of the most quality players in the league, but they have to lift it up and do the right things in the right situations.”
The coach said with so many players missing, he injected some youth into the team in an effort to help the club secure a strong future.
“I put in younger kids to prove themselves and to see how they go, I think that’s the key of Dandenong City at the moment,” he said.
“I believe in the future that Dandenong City as a club, they have very talented young players and they’re in a good position for the future.”
Elsewhere, South Springvale’s lean streak continued with a 2-1 loss to Malvern City and Heatherton United knocked off top side Doncaster Rovers 2-1; State League One side Southern Stars drew 1-1 with Bentleigh; while the local State League Three South East derby between Springvale City and Noble Park United resulted in a 3-3 draw.