South Melbourne has protected their narrow lead in first for another round after crucially smashing Eastern Lions, with Oakleigh close behind after recording their own dominant win.

“Hellas” dominated the Lions in the Victorian NPL’s 20th round, with three other Hellenic sides also earning big victories in what was a very successful weekend.

Heidelberg United, the only side not to taste victory, was held to a 0-0 away draw to St Albans in the round’s closing match on Sunday afternoon.

Port Melbourne comfortably beat Altona Magic 1-4 away on Saturday evening to bounce back from their loss last week.

The Sharks took a commanding four-nil lead, thanks to an own goal from Alexander Castiello (9′) and strikes from Luca Tevere (18′), Valentin Cesnik (32′) and Christopher Duggan (66′), with the hosts bagging a late consolation from Lars Anton Kanninder (80′).

A magical display from Harrison Sawyer helped the league leaders to a 0-4 away success against Eastern Lions on Saturday afternoon.

The star forward scored all four goals (8′, 27′ pen., 65′, 87′) to protect South Melbourne’s two-point gap at the top of the table.

Oakleigh recorded a whopping 5-0 win over Dandenong City at home on Friday night to keep on “Hellas'” tail.

A hat-trick to Joseph Knowles (13′, 23′ pen., 86′) and efforts from Joe Guest (73′ pen.) and Chris Lucas (90+1′) guided the Cannons to their third straight success.

Bentleigh Greens secured a great 0-4 win over Green Gully to put themselves within one point of the top six.

The visitors were propelled to victory through a brace from Jack Painter-Andrews (9′, 48′), an own goal from Caio De Godoy (42′) and Ajak Riak’s late strike (90+6′).

NPL Victoria Ladder

1-South Melbourne: 47

2-Oakleigh Cannons: 45

3-Port Melbourne Sharks: 40

4-Avondale FC: 34

5-Heidelberg United: 33

6-Green Gully: 33

7-Bentleigh Greens: 32

8-Dandenong Thunder: 28

9-Melbourne Knights: 23

10-Altona Magic: 23

11-St Albans: 23

12-Hume City: 16

13-Dandenong City: 13

14-Eastern Lions: 6

NSW

Both Sydney Olympic and Newcastle Olympic had their respective matches postponed due to severe rainfall.

SA

Adelaide Olympic fought their way to a 3-3 comeback away draw against South Adelaide on Saturday afternoon in the 17th round for their fourth draw in their last five matches.

The home side took a 3-1 lead into the break through goals to Alexander Rideout (10′, 28′) and Jonathon Rideout (36′ pen.), with Kristin Konstandopoulos offering some resistance (34′).

Jason Konstandopoulos (77′) and Christos Pounendis (86′) produced a help their club earn a point to take their league tally to 17 as they still remain in tenth.

QLD

Olympic FC’s round 15 match with Moreton Bay United was also postponed due to weather.

WA

Floreat Athena stunned Perth RedStar with an incredible late flurry to defeat their title rivals 2-3 away on Saturday evening in their 15th round clash, going to 32 points with a four-point lead in first.

Two goals from the hosts’ Blair Govan (56′) and Chok Dau (68′) cancelled out Nicholas Ambrogio’s early penalty (11′) before Ben Steele (90′) and Laat Mathiang (90+5′ pen.) helped Athena steal the three points.

ACT

Canberra Olympic played out a goalless home draw against Tigers FC in the 12th round on Saturday afternoon, their fourth consecutive stalemate which puts them in fifth on 13 points.

TAS

Olympia Warriors suffered a 1-3 home defeat to Kingborough Lions in the 12th round on Friday night, handing them their tenth league loss of the season.