With no finals run for the NPL, all teams are in a battle to get to the top of the ladder. None is more apparent than Oakeligh Cannons’ conquest to claw ahead of South Melbourne.

South managed to create a huge lead after scoring 11 straight wins, but that stopped at the hand of the Cannons in round 12.

Back then, South were leading by nine points, but the gap is slowly but surely closing.

The Cannons have flourished with Miron Bleiberg at the helm for the full season. He’s been able to make the changes he’s wanted while bringing in amazing players that gel perfectly together.

He has no shortage of strikers, but the real key to Oakleigh’s rise is thanks to an impenetrable defence. They have only conceded three goals in 16 rounds, the best of any team in the league.

Last week, the Cannons showed their worth once more, thrashing Port Melbourne Sharks 4-0.

Port Melbourne has been struggling to get into formation for the whole season. Coach Eric Vassiliadis’s new signings Zois Galanopoulos (Werribee City),
Nicky McNamara (FC Clifton Hill) and Gal (St Albans Saints) all got their start last week but didn’t help the Sharks get above the line.

For Oakleigh, they have a tough away fixture to Green Gully this week which might put their rise to the top on hold.
Green Gully has dropped just one point in its past five home games and gave South Melbourne a difficult match last week but couldn’t get past South’s early goal.

Heidelberg might also give Oakleigh a run for their money, when they had one of their biggest wins last week.

They thrashed Goldburn Valley Suns 5-0 to pick up from their draw the previous week.

They take on Ballarat Red Devils away on Sunday, and the weather will definitely be against them. There’s the potential of snow to hit the area, so the match won’t be for the faint hearted.

Northcote City held Ballarat to a 1-0 loss last week and will be hoping to make it a third win when they take on Pascoe Vale on Saturday.

South Melbourne has a tough battle on its hands with Hume City on Sunday, who have come off wins against Dandenong Thunder and Werribee City.

South Melbourne is at full strength and looks like its found its rhythm again so it might be holding onto its lead for a little while longer.