Oakleigh took back the leadership of the VPL with a scrappy hard fought win over form team Bentleigh Greens.
The visitors hadn’t lost since John Anastasiadis took charge and Oakleigh were coming off a shock loss to the struggling VTC squad last week. It was a high tempo and very physical encounter, with neither team willing to give an inch as they head toward the final third of the season. Chances were relatively few and far between and the nearest either team came to scoring in a disappointing first half was when English import Richard Offiong latched onto a Hayden Doyle through ball and lobbed Peter Gavalas from outside the box, only to see his shot hit the bar and bounce clear of the goal. Doyle, who joined the Cannons from Bentleigh just a few weeks ago was the stand-out creative force on the pitch, but it was his finishing rather than his creativity that ultimately made the difference.
Early in the second half he ran onto a Ricky Diaco cross and smashed the ball into his old club’s net. Oakleigh had already gone close through Frankie Lagana from long range, and also had a long range effort from Diaco as they stepped up the pressure on Bentleigh, but there were still opportunities for Peter Zois to remind everyone of his quality at the back – throwing himself full length to stop a Craig Smart volley. Late on it was Bentleigh keeper, Peter Gavalas who pulled off an excellent save – coming off his line to save from James Robinson.
Oakleigh took the points and established a three point lead at the top of the VPL, although second place Hume have a game in hand. Next weeks match with South Melbourne takes on even greater importance with South sitting third in the league just five points behind Oakleigh. 3.00 pm, John Cain Memorial Park, Northcote.
