Comets content after derby draw
SOUTHSIDE Comets coach Chris Collins was happy his “rusty” side earned a point in the FNQ Premier League’s south Cairns derby.
The Comets played their first game in a month when they hosted Leichhardt at Walker Road Sporting Precinct, with an April 17 bye on top of two washed out weekends adding to the long and unexpected break.
And Collins was happy his side was able to earn a 2-2 draw against Leichhardt.
“I am (happy) considering we didn’t play for four weeks,” Collins said.
“Ben Collins played his first full game in almost two years, Cooper Butcher debuted, Kaden Warnick made his first start for the season.”
When they met in the FFA Cup, Leichhardt dominated early before the Comets took control, and this game was almost the complete opposite.
Southside controlled the early portion of this contest before the Lions fought their way back, before a second half in which neither side could find the back of the net.
Comets livewire and reigning FNQ Premier League MVP award winner Zeca Soares produced another strong performance, scoring one goal and going ever so close to a brace, only for the officials to judge that the ball hadn’t crossed the line.
Leichhardt, who were short on troops for the derby clash, scored through Hayden Crema and Seamus Fowler to hold a 2-1 lead, with one goal coming from a goalkeeper error by Billy Holiday.
The shot-stopper, long considered among the best glovemen in the region, made amends later in the contest as he saved a penalty and stopped several Lions’ shots to keep his team in the game.
A Will Monin goal locked up the score before halftime, which it stayed until the final whistle.
The Comets are second last after three rounds but Collins isn’t concerned by their lowly standing.
The return to a 21-round season means there is plenty of time for Southside to make their move, and with three games against every other club, taking a point on top of the learning experience can only help their cause.
They will be expected to knock over bottom-placed Marlin Coast this week, and Collins wants to see his side improve from what they showed on Saturday night.
“I’m not concerned (by the table), we know what we have in the squad,” Collins said.
The Cutters earned their first win of the season with a thumping 5-0 win over last year’s wooden spooners Marlin Coast.
Innisfail Utd was barely troubled by the visitors, as they romped to a big win which sent them to second on the Premier League ladder.
Elsewhere, a Crios O’Hare brace kept Edge Hill United’s perfect start to the season intact as they beat Mareeba United 3-1. The Tigers are now five points clear atop the table after just three games.