There was movement at the top of the NPL ladder after last round’s matches, with South Melbourne being the big mover, climbing to top of the table following its biggest winning margin of the season, an 8-1 thrashing of bottom team St Albans Saints SC.

The win was notable for a number of reasons. It catapulted South over arch rivals Heidelberg United and Bentleigh Greens into top spot for the first time this season as the Bergers and Greens both slipped up with losses to mid-table opponents Oakleigh Cannons and Pascoe Vale respectively.

South’s 15 match unbeaten run (including 12 League matches) is its best ever run in the NPL era under coach Chris Taylor. Impressively the eight goals against the Saints came without the injured striker Milos Lujic. His deputy for the game Leigh Minopoulos subbed perfectly with a hat trick. The match also introduced South fans to new Spanish signing David Barca who announced his arrival late in the game off the subs bench, with a debut goal.

This Sunday, South hosts Oakleigh in the second meeting this season following the grand final playoff last season. The inconsistent Cannons will be hoping to achieve a rare league double over South following its 1-0 win at home in the earlier encounter between the two sides this season. The Cannons did well to upset Heidelberg United last week with new recruits Janiel Silva and Wayne Wallace adding steel to the team.A win over South will help build momentum for a late charge at finals football.

Heidelberg United coach, George Katsakis will be hoping to find some answers to his team’s mini slump before the Bergers’ Sunday clash with Green Gully. The loss of key defenders Steven Pace and Josh Wilkins to injuries hasn’t helped the Bergers but the coach also expressed his frustration with the lack of chances created in the two consecutive losses to South and the Cannons. Speaking to HUFC TV after the team’s most recent loss to the Cannons, coach Katsakis commented, “We’ve lost our level of intensity that we apply to teams. We’re not creating many chances and going forward, we need to vary it up a little bit. Kenny’s one that has been found out a little bit. People have sort of noticed how to play that sort of formation. I think we need to change it up a little. Playing out of thirds and trying to avoid the long ball to Kenny (Athiu).”

The last meeting between Gully and the Bergers featured a memorable late comeback by the Bergers to win 3-2 after trailing 2-0.

Bentleigh Greens travel to bottom placed St Albans Saints this Sunday to play a team destined for relegation after just one season in NPL 1. The Greens lost skipper Jack Webster to a red card in the loss to Pascoe Vale last week.

This Monday evening at the Grange, it will be Kingston City’s turn to take on the sixth placed Pascoe Vale. Eleventh placed Kingston has just one win from its last nine matches and will be desperate to pick up points to steer clear of the relegation play offs.

NPL 2 W Rd 20 action this Saturday features the Greek derby between fifth placed Brunswick City and league leader Northcote City. The first meeting between the two featured a thrilling 2-1 win to Northcote which scored twice in injury time to turn defeat into victory.

Saturday’s fixture marks the first return to Dunstan Reserve of former Brunswick striker Adam Wright who switched clubs to Northcote in the recent transfer window. The Welsh sharpshooter is the league’s leading goal scorer and last week opened his account for new club Northcote in the 3-0 home win against Springvale White Eagles. Wright will probably follow the present code amongst players keeping a lid on celebrations, should he happen to score against his former club.