Sport
26 June, 2026
Comets and Bulls in tough 3-3 draw
SOUTHSIDE Comets produced a spirited second-half comeback to earn a hard-fought 3-3 draw against Mareeba Bulls in an entertaining Far North Queensland Premier League encounter last Sunday.
Facing a Bulls outfit widely expected to claim all three points, the Comets showed tremendous resilience to battle back from a two-goal deficit and secure a valuable point in front of their home supporters.
The home side made the perfect start when Foua Thao lit up the contest in just the second minute. Receiving space outside the penalty area, Thao unleashed a stunning strike that flew past the Bulls goalkeeper to give Southside an early 1-0 lead.
The advantage lasted only two minutes as Mareeba responded through Keanu Tatti, who found the finishing touch at the near post to level the scores. The visitors continued to apply pressure and took the lead in the 21st minute when Tatti grabbed his second goal of the afternoon.
Despite trailing 2-1 at halftime, the Comets remained positive and continued to create opportunities. The second half developed into an entertaining end-to-end affair, with both sides looking dangerous whenever they attacked.
Mareeba appeared to have one hand on the points when Darcy McCormack unleashed a powerful strike to extend the Bulls’ advantage to 3-1. At that stage, the Comets faced a daunting task, but they refused to surrender.
Their reward came in the 70th minute when Del Manso found the back of the net to reduce the deficit and breathe new life into the contest. The goal lifted the intensity of the home side and sparked belief throughout the team.
With momentum firmly on their side, Southside continued to push forward in search of an equaliser. Their persistence paid off when Lucas Simpson was on hand to finish and level the scores at 3-3, completing a remarkable comeback.
The result felt almost like a victory for the Comets, who displayed plenty of character and determination to recover from a difficult position. While they may have fallen just short of a famous win, the performance highlighted the fighting spirit within the squad and provided plenty of positives as they continue their season.
