After causing one of the upsets of the season last Saturday to defeat the almighty Bentleigh Greens, Northcote City faces another massive challenge in its must-win final match of the season, in a Hellenic derby away to Oakleigh Cannons.
Sunday’s match marks a reunion of sorts for the two opposing coaches, who formerly worked side by side at Northcote. Current Oakleigh joint coach and former Northcote coach Gus Tsolakis will match wits with his former assistant, Northcote City head coach Goran Lozanovski.
Northcote’s shock 2-1 win over Bentleigh Greens last week revived hopes of survival for Lozanovski’s team, lifting it temporarily above Richmond into the play-off spot before Richmond won a crucial relegation battle 1-nil against Bulleen at the Veneto Club last Monday to again climb above Northcote by two points.
The maths for Northcote is simple. It must win its final match against the Cannons and hope either one or both the teams above it, Richmond or Bulleen Lions, lose their final games. If both those teams lose, and Northcote defeats Oakleigh, then Northcote secures automatic survival.
If one of those teams loses and Northcote wins, Northcote secures a play-off place. If Northcote loses or draws, it kisses NPL 1 football goodbye for the season.
After the win against Bentleigh, Northcote coach Lozanovski said: “The belief’s always been there, no doubt about it. No doubt we’ve had some hard times over the last month or so, but belief’s always got to be there. It’s my job to keep everyone switched on mentally. As far as I’m concerned, as long as we keep winning games and the rest pans out, if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.”
At the other end of the table, Heidelberg United finds itself in the driver’s seat for a top-two finish behind Bentleigh, after the dramatic events at the tribunal mid-week turned things in Heidelberg’s favour.
South Melbourne’s three-point penalty means it slips back into third place, equal on points with the Bergers, but behind on considerable goal difference. A win to Heidelberg on Sunday against relegated Melbourne Victory will secure it the prized second-spot finish and consign South Melbourne to a more difficult finals campaign. The Bergers will welcome back striker Kenny Athiu whose partnership with newly-signed Archie Thompson is eagerly anticipated by Bergers’ supporters.
Third-placed South Melbourne hosts fourth-placed Green Gully on Sunday.
In Rd 26 NPL 2 East action this weekend, Dandenong Thunder hosts Kingston City in a long-awaited top-of-the- table clash on Saturday evening, which could settle the title race once and for all between the two sides, who have been neck and neck all season. City will be looking to pick itself up from a setback last week when it lost 1-3 at home to St Albans Saints. The loss leaves it trailing Thunder by three points.
In other NPL 2 E matches, Box Hill United hosts Nunawading City on Saturday, while Brunswick City will be hoping to continue its impressive run when it travels to Shepparton on Sunday to play Goulburn Valley Suns.
In Rd 20 State League NW 1, Yarraville hosts Banyule City while Western Suburbs travel to Diamond Valley. Alton East Phoenix travels to Westgate FC after scoring an upset 1-nil home win over second-placed Preston Lions last weekend.
In SE 1, fourth-placed FC Clifton Hill hosts Frankston Pines, South Springvale hosts Berwick City and in the match of the round, second-placed Manningham United hosts third-placed Malvern City.