United crash in Comets clash

By Stuart Teather
HEATHERTON United’s campaign for promotion into State League One hit a surprise roadblock on Saturday, with the side going down to cellar-dweller Casey Comets 2-1 in their State League Two South East clash.
Fourth-placed Heatherton had a chance to move into second position on the ladder but blew it against the Comets, who recorded their first win of the season.
Playing at Comets Stadium, United had the run of the play early and went ahead when Alil Memedovski scored with a header from the near post, off a corner kick.
But it was bad news from then on as the Comets returned fire within 10 minutes, through striker Kris Paterson, to tie the scores at half-time.
Paterson was again at it after the break, when Heatherton’s goalkeeper was caught out of position contesting a ball in the air, and the Casey striker was on hand to head home the match-winner.
The visiting crowd called for a free kick against the Casey forward who crashed into the keeper, but the referees ignored the pleas, and the goal counted, sealing Heatherton’s fate.
After the game Heatherton coach Simon Barisic was left to rue missed opportunities.
“Some parts of the game were very much equal, but we missed our chances,” he said.
“It was a tough game, I expected a tough game, Cranbourne are a much stronger team than they were at the start of the season, they’re trying to survive in this division.”
The coach conceded his team had missed an opportunity to push for the top two, but said he was maintaining realistic expectations.
“It was an opportunity for us, but I never dream of it with such a young squad.
“I’m not a big dreamer, I’m not expecting them to finish top two, just somewhere mid-table.”