As the dust settles from a chaotic season start, not everyone can say they’ve come out of the battle unscathed.

Only four out of the 14 teams have managed to play every match scheduled, while most are at least one match down and a couple down two.

It really hasn’t been a great start for Oakleigh Cannons in the NPL, who haven’t been able to avenge their second place ranking last year for two matches straight.

Their Hume City fixture was abandoned after Oakleigh forward Ben Clarke was severely injured and their midweek fixture for round three is to be played on April 7.

But, in the middle of that, the Cannons have managed to show they mean business. They smashed Corio SC 12-0 in the FFA Cup preliminaries. Unbelievable!

Miron Bleiberg’s boys return to the NPL tonight when they play Pascoe Vale away.

The fixture this time was kinder to them, seeing as Pascoe Vale hasn’t had a win yet.

Northcote City secured their fist win of the season last week against Pascoe finishing a defiant 3-2 giving the young looking team something to celebrate about.

Northcote have a much tougher task at hand today when they take on a cruising Port Melbourne Sharks.

The Sharks had a successful FFA Cup preliminary match last Saturday against Eastern Lions which they won 1-0.

It’s given them more momentum after they were held to a 0-0 draw against Avondale FC.

Coach Eric Vassiliadis says the club has been working hard in training while getting some young players ready for a start.

“This week we were actually working on how to be more effective in the front third,” he tells Neos Kosmos.

“We came off a game where we couldn’t make enough opportunities, so we’re hoping to put some more pressure.”

He isn’t discounting Northcote City despite their inconsistent results. In their first home game of the season, Vassiliadis says Northocote City will be a tough opponent.

“It’s a very proud club, I have no doubt they can turn things around,” he says.

“Historically they’ve had a great culture and great environment. We expect them to be a different proposition his week, given their result against Avondale.”

Northcote lost their FFA Cup preliminary match against Avondale last week after their defence failed to block three goals.

Avondale have a very tough task ahead, as they take on goal machines Heidelberg United.

The Greek sponsored team had fans jumping for joy at their FFA Cup match against Truganina Hornets SC, with the Bergers managing a whopping 7-0 scoreline.

They will be hitting the road again to meet Avondale but expect to bring home a win.