After a tense battle the Cannons emerged triumphant from Port Melbourne – Heidelberg United was not able to add a win to their collection after a showdown with St. Albans – The Sharks are now out of the top six – Northcote and Kingston City achieved huge away wins – Box Hill United couldnt overcome Boroondara
South Melbourne – Dandenong Thunder
This South Melbourne Hellas squad is stronger than a cup of coffee on a Monday morning. They dominate their opponents even when they’re just coasting along, which is why they’re sitting pretty at the top of the rankings.
Last Sunday, they took down the chaotic Dandenong Thunder, thanks to a goal from their resident goal machine, Harrison Sawyer, in the 26th minute.
With suave moves, the centre-forward effortlessly slotted the ball into the net from ten – twelve meters out, securing another win and a seven-point lead over Avondale and the Cannons.
It wasn’t their flashiest performance, but with only five games left in the regular season, every victory is gold.
The Legendary South Melbourne Hellas knows how to make the average day, exceptional.
St Albans Saints – Heidelberg United
Sunday was not a fun day for the Heidelberg United supporters.
Despite their “yellow and black” team’s valiant efforts, their away game against St Albans ended in disappointment.
In a battle of determination, it was Joseph Monek’s last minute goal that left Heidelberg tasting defeat.
With precision, Monek nailed the ball past the keeper from the edge of the box, sending Heidelberg tumbling to fifth place in the standings.
As Hume United and Oakleigh Cannons hold onto third and fourth place, they can’t help but chuckle at their opponents’ misfortunes.
Talk about delivering a swift kick while someone is already down.
Port Melbourne Sharks – Oakleigh Cannons
The Oakleigh Cannons took home the crown in their battle against Port Melbourne. Despite facing major obstacles, the hosts put up a valiant fight against the Cannons. Lady Luck may have been the only thing missing in the final third for them to achieve a grander outcome. But with a midfield standoff and solid backlines, the game was a real snoozefest with limited opportunities to score.
In the second half, both teams were like kids in a candy store, itching to spice up their game with a dash of creativity and aggression. But the real sugar rush came in the 62nd minute when the ref served up a penalty for the visitors, giving them the perfect opportunity to take the lead. And boy, did Stefan Valentini satisfy their sweet tooth by putting them ahead thirty minutes before the final whistle.
In a seemingly never-ending game of deja vu, the same player once again made it 2-0 with a flawless penalty kick twenty minutes later.
The home team barely scraped by with one goal in the 83rd minute thanks to Eoghan Stokes’ on-point free-kick.
It was a sad day for the Sharks, who have slipped out of the top six and must reevaluate their game if they want a chance at the league finals.
Meanwhile, the Cannons are on cloud nine, winning two games in a row (including last week’s triumph at Lakeside Stadium) and claiming third place on the table.
They’re crossing their fingers for some major setbacks from South Melbourne and Avondale in the final stretch of the regular season.
VPL1
Northcote City showed us all how it’s done by crushing their opponents on their own turf. The Greek-Australian squad shook off last week’s loss and dominated George Cross with a sweet 1-2 victory. And with table-toppers Melbourne Victory reigning supreme, second place feels pretty good for now. The team’s die-hard fans are beaming with pride and seeing the NPL promotion on the horizon. It’s safe to say, these boys are on their A-game.
The Bentleigh Greens put up a valiant fight against the Eastern Lions, but it seems they forgot to pack their winning mojo for the trip. Despite their best efforts, they had to settle for a 3-2 loss and head home with heavy hearts. Looks like the road to victory was just a little too bumpy this time.
The mighty Kingston City team proved that home field advantage is overrated with a stellar away win on Friday night. They conquered Langwarrin’s picturesque pitch after an intense 90-minute showdown, emerging as the triumphant victors with a 1-2 score..
VPL2
Unfortunately for Box Hill United, Boroondara’s defense was as impenetrable as a Ancient Greek fortress. Despite their valiant efforts, the match ended in a 0-0 draw, leaving both teams with just one point.
NPL – RESULTS
Melbourne Knights – Manningham United 1 – 0 (33′ I. Franjic)
Green Gully – Dandenong City 2 – 3 (56′ G. Iannucci, 73′ J. Letham – 12′ G. Lampandaridis, 65′ D. Kim, 69′ J. Webster)
Moreland City – Hume City 0 – 2 (15′ D. Watters [A], 57′ L. Isgrove)
Port Melbourne Sharks – Oakleigh Cannons 1 – 2 (83′ E. Stokes – 62′ S. Valentini [P], 83′ S. Valentini [P])
Altona Magic – Avondale 1 – 0 (34′ D. Fabrizio)
St Albans Saints – Heidelberg United 1 – 0 (85’ J. Monek)
South Melbourne – Dandenong Thunder 1 – 0 (26’ H. Sawyer)
NPL – TABLE
1. South Melbourne 21 50
2. Avondale 21 43
3. Oakleigh Cannons 21 43
4. Hume City 21 40
5. Heidelberg Utd 21 38
6. Dand City 21 31
7. Port Melb Sharks 21 30
8. Melb Knights 21 29
9. Altona Magic 21 27
10. Green Gully 21 24
11. Dand Thunder 21 22
12. Manningham 21 14
13. St. Albans 21 13
14. Moreland 21 10
VPL1 – RESULTS
Langwarrin – Kingston City 1 – 2
Eastern Lions – Bentleigh Greens 3 – 2
Caroline Springs – Northcote City 1 – 2
Preston Lions – North Geelong Warriors 3 – 2
Melbourne Victory – Werribee City 2 – 0
Western United – Melbourne City 1 – 2
Bulleen Lions – Brunswick City*
*This match took place on Monday night (8/7)
VPL1 – TABLE
1. Melb Victory 21 45
2. Northcote 21 41
3. Preston Lions 21 41
4. Western Utd 21 37
5. Langwarrin 21 31
6. Bulleen Lions 20 29
7. Bentl Greens 21 28
8. Melb City 21 28
9. Eastern Lions 21 24
10. Carol Springs 21 23
11. Kingston 21 22
12. Brunswick City 20 20
13. Werribee City 21 16
14. North Geelong 21 14
VPL2 – RESULTS
Box Hill United – Boroondara Carey Eagles 0 – 0
Pascoe Vale – Brunswick Juventus 2 – 1
North Sunshine Eagles – Essendon Royals 3 – 3
Altona City – Beaumaris 1 – 1
Doveton – FC Melbourne Srbija 1 – 2
Goulburn Valley Suns – Nunawading City 3 – 3
VPL2 – TABLE
1. FC Melb. Serbia 17 36
2. Nth Sunsh. Eagles 17 35
3. Altona City 17 31
4. Brun Juventus 17 30
5. Pascoe Vale 16 27
6. Boroondara Eagles 16 23
7. Essendon Royals 17 23
8. Nunawading City 17 21
9. Box Hill 17 20
10. Doveton 16 13
11. Goulburn Valley 17 10
12. Beaumaris 17 9
