NPL Victoria Men: Cannons alone at the top and looking the part

Oakleigh Cannons stayed connected top for a 2nd straight week, grinding past Dandenong Thunder with two precocious goals successful a melodramatic finish. The 2–0 win lit up Jack Edwards, with supporters watching a broadside that is lifting its tempo, playing charismatic shot and showing each the traits of a genuine title contender. Connor Hampson was the leader erstwhile again, breaking the deadlock successful the 92nd minute, while Joseph Knowles sealed it astatine 90+5′ connected his instrumentality aft 14 months out, a infinitesimal helium won’t forget.

The supposed derby betwixt Alexandros and South Melbourne proved one–sided. Only 1 team came retired with existent intent, and it was Alexandros. Max Bisetto opened the scoring connected 23′, Yokokawa made it 2–0 7 minutes later, and Collins pushed the borderline to 3–0 by the 32nd minute. The lone question aft the interruption was however dense the decision would beryllium for the Hellas youngsters. Bramwell added a 4th connected 51′ to implicit a ruthless 4–0.

It was a nightmare evening for Bentleigh Greens. George Katsakis’ broadside hosted Melbourne City needing a win to stay successful the top half, but thing went right. With mediocre shot movement, nary moving and nary control, the Greens were swept distant 0–7. City’s youth ran riot for 90 minutes, with Medin Memeti scoring 4 and stamping his authorization each implicit the contest. Bentleigh indispensable present shingle disconnected the gloom and respond quickly.

VPL1

League leaders Northcote City slipped connected the road, going down 1–0 to Brunswick Juventus aft a good decorativeness from Campbell.

Leonidas (Brunswick City) were held 1–1 by North Sunshine Eagles, rescuing a constituent astatine the decease done Ned McCarthy aft trailing from the 10th minute.

Port Melbourne Sharks suffered a disastrous 8–0 decision distant to Eltham, ne'er getting a foothold and returning location with dense concerns astir their trajectory. The Sharks will request a crisp absorption to debar dropping into VPL2 adjacent season.

Alexandros was ruthless against the Hellas youngsters. Photo: Con Deves

VPL2

Malvern City produced a stunning show distant to Kingston City, smashing the hosts 5–0 and shocking the division. The recently promoted broadside looks acceptable to combat for back–to–back promotions successful its archetypal VPL2 campaign.

The different two Greek Australian clubs endured defeats: the Argonauts fell 3–1 astatine Valley Suns, while Pythagoras Box Hill battled hard but near Nunawading bare handed aft a 1–0 loss.

NPL – RESULTS

Heidelberg United – South Melbourne 4–0 (24′ L. Trubiano, 30′ A. Yokokawa, 32′ B. Collins, 51′ C. Bramwell)

St Albans – Green Gully 1–0 (48′ L. Weier)

Bentleigh Greens – Melbourne City NPL 0–7 (9′, 30′, 45′, 57′ M. Memeti, 11′ L. Wong, 27′ R. Ballah, 40′ H. Shillington)

Oakleigh Cannons – Dandenong Thunder 2–0 (90+3′ C. Hampson, 90+5′ J. Knowles) Preston Lions – Dandenong City 1–0 (19′ G. Michailidis)

Avondale – Altona Magic 5–1 (6′, 90′ B. Fornaroli, 22′ M. Green, 75′ C. Trajceski, 90+4′ S. Murai – 35′ J. Mabok)

George Cross – Hume City 2–4 (12′ M. Filer, 27′ L. Mazis – 17′ B. Kirdar, 22′, 73′ A. Bayew, 30′ K. Kaddour)

NPL – STANDINGS

Oakleigh Cannons 12 26

Heidelberg United 12 23

Hume City 12 23

Avondale 12 22

South Melbourne 12 21

Preston Lions 12 17

Melbourne City NPL 12 17

St Albans Saints 12 16

George Cross 12 14

Bentleigh Greens 12 14

Dandenong Thunder 12 11

Altona Magic 12 10

Dandenong City 12 8

Green Gully 12 3

VPL1 – RESULTS

Brunswick City – North Sunshine Eagles 1–1

Brunswick Juventus – Northcote City 1–0

Eltham Redbacks – Port Melbourne Sharks 8–0

Langwarrin – Melbourne Knights 1–4

Bulleen Lions – Melbourne Srbija 0–0

Western United VPL1 – North Geelong 3 – 2

Melbourne Victory VPL1 – Manningham United Blues (to beryllium played Monday night)

The “black and yellow” fans celebrating the large win. Photo: Con Deves

VPL1 – STANDINGS

Northcote City 12 26

Melbourne Knights 12 25

Brunswick Juventus 12 24

Eltham Redbacks 12 23

Bulleen Lions 12 21

Manningham United 11 19

North Geelong Warriors 12 18

Western United VPL1 12 15

Melbourne Victory VPL1 11 14

Brunswick City 12 14

Melbourne Srbija 12 13

North Sunshine Eagles 12 10

Langwarrin 12 9

Port Melbourne 12 8

VPL2 – RESULTS

Eastern Lions – Altona City 0–2

Keilor Park – Essendon Royals 1–0

Springvale White Eagles – Werribee City 1–0

Moreland City – Whittlesea United 1–1

Nunawading City – Box Hill United 1–0

Kingston City – Malvern City 0–5

Goulburn Valley Suns – Bayside Argonauts 3–1

VPL2 – STANDINGS

Malvern 12 31

Valley 12 23

Argonauts 12 21

Box Hill 12 20

Royals 12 18

Nunawading 12 18

Keilor Park 12 16

Springvale 12 15

Werribee 12 13

Kingston 11 13

Lions 12 12

Altona 12 12

Whittlesea 12 11

Moreland 11 7