Adelaide Comets recorded a third win of the season thanks to a 5-1 result against Modbury in Round 4 of the South Australia PlayStation4 National Premier League at Jet Park on Saturday.

Patrick Deruvo and Jack Bladen had Comets two goals to the good just past the hour mark, as Modbury defender Tim Henderson saw red. The Jets pulled a goal back through Andrew Lindsay, but Comets romped home in the final 10 minutes thanks to a hat-trick from John Karatzas. 

Adelaide Comets coach Jim Karatzas says the match continued their fine start to the season. 

“I thought we were pretty good. We pushed the ball around nicely, had possession and then in the last 20 minutes finished well and saw out the game,” the coach noted.

“After the second goal we took our foot off the pedal and that’s not acceptable. Modbury came back and we were under pressure for a time against 10 men. We steadied and finished. 

“It was good for us to go out and show we can score goals. The boys are moving along nicely to start the season.” 

Modbury coach Jason Trimboli chalks it down to a learning experience. 

“I’m obviously disappointed with the result. It was not as good a showing as against Croydon, but we were in the game until 10 minutes after the send off,” he stated. 

“We need to learn from these situations. Players dropped their heads after the third goal and didn’t consolidate what we had. Defensively we can’t switch off. We did in the opening minutes and went a goal down. As a group we must stay switched on for the entire match. 

“Maintaining possession is another area we can improve, but overall I can see the team has been better in the last two games than the first two. We must continue.” 

The visitors opened the scoring in just the third minute when goalkeeper Paul Reilly misjudged a long ball forward and Deruvo chipped into an empty net. 

Modbury had the better of the remaining first half opportunities, starting with Mario Marcinko being denied by Pedram Sourjani when through on goal. 

The goalkeeper kept out a Rhys Devlin free kick, while the same player whipped in a dangerous corner that Nicholas Green looked to finish, only for a reflex Sourjani save. 

Darsem Shaksi’s attempted pass back to his goalkeeper in the 62nd minute led to Comets second. The visitors intercepted and Samuel Tesfagabr laid the ball off for Bladen to fire home. 

In the aftermath Henderson received his marching orders for a second bookable offence. 

Trimboli’s side were handed a lifeline when Marcinko’s cross was handled inside the penalty area. Lindsay stepped up and confidently reduced the deficit. 

Karatzas was denied a sealing goal in the 81st minute through a combination of Reilly and the woodwork. 

Comets No 7 did get on the scoresheet 60 seconds later, cracking in a low angled drive. 

Four minutes later Karatzas was at it again, cutting inside and finishing in the far corner. 

He completed his hat-trick in injury time, running through a despondent Jets defence and drilling his shot past Reilly.

Article by Luca Cetta - @l_cetta