The unstoppable Cannons scattered Altona in all directions – A great away victory for Bentleigh Greens against Hume – Heidelberg’s never-ending nightmare continues.
With their eyes on leaders Avondale and their foot on the gas, the Cannons emphatically cleared yet another obstacle on the road to a highly successful season. Chris Taylor’s stars started the match against the Magic a bit sluggish; they were seriously threatened on three occasions in the first twenty minutes and if it wasn’t for an amazing day from the team’s 22-year-old goalkeeper, Lachlan Hart, we might now be talking about a completely different result.
The talented Connor Hampson opened the score for the home team in the 26th minute. Oakleigh captain, Joe Guest, took a corner from the right, Hampson jumped higher than anyone and a powerful header left the visitors’ goalkeeper, Zac Bowling, no room to react.
The “Red and Whites” managed to level the match in the 42nd minute with the top scorer of the division, Josh Markonski, but somewhere there the resistance of the western suburbs team stopped, as just three minutes later Connor Hampson headed another goal to give the lead back to last year’s champions. The teams went to the locker room for the half-time break with the score at 2 – 1 .
In the 57th minute, Daniel Clark found himself on the edge of Altona’s small area and with a beautiful move raising the score to 3 – 1. A goal that he ran to celebrate with the team’s general manager, Akis Ionnas. Clark was the scorer of the home side’s fourth goal in the 82nd minute, while Chris Lucas put the icing on the cake three minutes later, taking advantage of another great pass from the captain, Guest.
Greens break through
Bentleigh Greens stunned Hume City with an incredible 2-3 away victory. Christos Theodorakopoulos was the star of the show, scoring two goals to help his team to victory. Hume City took the lead in the 5th minute, but Bentleigh equalised in the 23rd minute thanks to Chris Theodorakopoulos. Then, just before half-time, an own goal from Hayden Tennant put the visitors ahead.
Hume City came out fighting in the second half and Jawad Rezai’s beautiful goal in the 57th minute brought the match back to level terms. But Bentleigh had one last trick up their sleeve – in the 74th minute, it was again Theodorakopoulos who scored the winning goal to secure a memorable victory.
Heidelberg struggle
The season has been a competitive Golgotha for George Katsakis’ team and Heidelberg United’s dismal performance shows no sign of ending. When they welcomed the North Geelong Warriors, the bottom-of-the-table team, it seemed like the start of a counter-attack, but it was not to be.
In the 32nd minute, the Warriors scored a goal typical of Alexandros’s current bad competitive and psychological state. George Ellis found himself in the centre of the pitch, tried something between a cross and a shot, sending the ball high towards Nicholas Eres’ goal. Much to everyone’s surprise, he was unable to stop the ball, resulting in one of the strangest goals of his career.
Anthony Banovac managed to level the match with an own goal seconds before the end of the first half, but it was still an unsatisfying night for United and their fans, who remain in the bottom tiers of the table, far from the top places they hope to see their team reach.
NPL 2
Of the “Greek” teams in NPL2, only Brunswick City left the field with their heads held high this weekend. The “Blues” prevailed over the Eastern Lions 2–1 in a match that was decided mainly on strength and duels in the centre of the field. Northcote City was less fortunate after losing 2–1 at the unwelcoming Preston Lions stadium. Kingston also had a bad night, losing 3–0 at home to Dandenong City.
NPL 3
Box Hill United’s fourth draw in six games for the NPL3 Championship. Pythagoras failed to get the better of the Goulburn Valley Suns as both teams scored a goal apiece, sharing points and impressions.
State League 1
State League 1 “Greek” teams continued their course with two defeats and a draw. Aris lost 2-1 at home to Gippsland United in the South-East group, while Malvern drew 2-2 against Melbourne Srbija. In the North West group, Yarraville suffered a 4-2 defeat to their neighbours, Altona City.
NPL Results
Heidelberg United – North Geelong Warriors 1 – 1 (45+3′ A. Banovac [OG] – 32′ G. Ellis)
Oakleigh Cannons – Altona Magic 5 – 1 (26′ C. Hampson, 45′ C. Hampson, 57′ D. Clark, 83′ D. Clark, 85′ C. Lucas – 42′ J. Markonski)
Avondale – St Albans Saints 4 – 0 (1′ S. Zinni, 45+3′ S. Timmins [OG], 52′ Z. Guy, 71′ D. Jakupi)
Hume City – Bentleigh Greens 2 – 3 (5′ J. Rezai, 57′ J. Rezai – 23′ X. Theodorakopoulos, 45+1′ H. Tennant [A], 72′ X. Theodorakopoulos)
Dandenong Thunder – Moreland City 3 – 2 (24′ D. Yildiz, 54′ K. Dover, 73′ G. Damen [P] – 60′ J. Hooper [P], 84′ F. Fulton)
Melbourne Knights – Green Gully*
South Melbourne – Port Melbourne Sharks *
*The matches will be played on Monday afternoon (24/04)
NPL – Table
1. Avondale 10 28
2. Oakleigh Cannons 10 23
3. South Melbourne 9 22
4. Melbourne Knights 9 17
5. Green Gully 9 15
6. Altona Magic 10 14
7. Hume City 10 13
8. Dandenong Thunder 10 13
9. Port Melbourne 9 12
10. Heidelberg United 10 9
11. Moreland City 10 8
12. St Albans Saints 10 7
13. Bentleigh Greens 10 6
14. North Geelong 10 4
NPL2 Results
Dandenong City – Kingston City 3 – 0
Pascoe Vale – Bulleen Lions 2 – 2
Werribee City – Melbourne City (Y) 3 – 2
Preston Lions – Northcote City 2 – 1
Manningham United – Langwarrin 4 – 1
Brunswick City – Eastern Lions 2 – 1
Brunswick Juventus – Western United (Y) 1 – 0
NPL2 – Table
1. Preston Lions 10 21
2. Western United (Y) 10 21
3. Dandenong 10 17
4. Kingston City 10 17
5. Pascoe Vale 10 17
6. Langwarrin 10 16
7. Manningham 10 15
8. Eastern Lions 10 15
9. Northcote City 10 13
10. Werribee 10 12
11. Brunswick City 10 11
12. Bulleen 10 10
13. Brunswick Juventus 10 7
14. Melbourne City (Y) 10 7
NPL 3 Results
Essendon Royals – Beaumaris 1 – 0
North Sunshine Eagles – Geelong 5 – 4
Box Hill United – Goulburn Valley Suns 1 – 1
Nunawading – Boroondara Eagles 3 – 4
Caroline Springs George Cross – Melbourne Victory (Y) 0 – 0
Ballarat City – Doveton 2 – 6
NPL3 Table
1. Melbourne Victory (Y) 6 16
2. North Sunshine 6 15
3. Nunawading 6 12
4. Geelong 6 10
5. Goulburn Suns 6 10
6. Boroondara 6 9
7. Beaumaris 6 8
8. Caroline Springs 6 7
9. Doveton 6 7
10. Box Hill 6 4
11. Essendon 6 4
12. Ballarat 6 1
