NPL Victoria Men: Heavyweights collide as league heats up

Two of the league’s astir seasoned managers conscionable again, successful a lucifer loaded with consequence. Katsakis’ Bentleigh Greens big Anastasiadis’ Heidelberg United astatine Cheltenham connected Friday night, some men singularly focused connected 1 thing: starring their broadside to victory.

Bentleigh are hopeless to rebound aft past week’s 7–0 illness to Melbourne City. Heidelberg, meanwhile, pursuit three points to stay within touching region of leaders Oakleigh Cannons and to support the momentum built from past Friday’s win implicit South Melbourne.

Oakleigh mean to stay top for different week. The Cannons were pushed hard by Dandenong Thunder but escaped with a tense win, and present look Dandenong City with the aforesaid objectives: enforce Chris Taylor’s football, support with discipline, and cod the points that support them first. City whitethorn sit 2nd bottom, but Tolios broadside will fight, and the lucifer promises strength and bite.

The circular for the Greek assemblage clubs closes Monday night, when South Melbourne big recently promoted George Cross. South person been stretched thin, travel, dual squads, and a relentless docket person near the nine and its supporters guessing from week to week. Their performances fluctuate wildly, a nonstop effect of fielding two antithetic line–ups. Against George Cross, they’ll try to asseverate themselves, power the match, and unafraid a win that keeps them wrong the top six. The visitors, however, will get astatine Lakeside intent connected causing damage.

Bentleigh are hopeless to rebound aft past week’s 7–0 illness to Melbourne City. Photo: Con Deves

VPL1

A tricky acceptable of fixtures awaits the Greek assemblage sides.

Leaders Northcote City purpose to stay top when they big Bulleen Lions connected Friday night. On Saturday, a disappointing Nea Hellas welcome Melbourne Victory’s youthful VPL1 squad, needing a win to reconstruct belief. Brunswick City decorativeness the weekend’s enactment with a tough trip to Melbourne Srbija, sitting astatine a crossroads: win and propulsion toward the top half, oregon suffer and slide into a survival battle.

VPL2

Malvern City look to support their promotion imagination live when they visit Werribee City connected Friday.

Fifteen minutes earlier, Clarinda big Eastern Lions successful a indispensable win lucifer for a broadside hopeless to debar precocious play trouble.

On Saturday, Bayside Argonauts, 1 of the year’s surprise packets, big White Eagles with their eyes fixed connected different vital three points.

At the aforesaid time, Box Hill United conscionable Goulburn Valley Suns successful a clash betwixt two strong campaigns: Box Hill wrong the top six and playing charismatic football, Suns sitting 2nd and travelling with intent.

South Melbourne this week big recently promoted George Cross. Photo: Con Deves

NPL – FIXTURES

Friday, 15 May

Green Gully – Melbourne City NPL 7.30pm

Dandenong City – Oakleigh Cannons 7.45pm

Bentleigh Greens – Heidelberg United 8.30pm

Saturday, 16 May

Hume City – Avondale 2pm

Dandenong Thunder – St Albans 5pm

Altona Magic – Preston Lions 6.15pm

Monday, 18 May

South Melbourne – George Cross 7.30pm

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 – FIXTURES

Friday, 15 May

Northcote City – Bulleen Lions 8.30pm

Melbourne Knights – Eltham Redbacks 8.30pm

Saturday, 16 May

Port Melbourne Sharks – Melbourne Victory VPL1 2pm

North Sunshine Eagles – Western United VPL1 3pm

Manningham United – Brunswick Juventus 3.15pm

North Geelong – Langwarrin 5pm

Melbourne Srbija – Brunswick City 6.15pm

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 – FIXTURES

Friday, 15 May

Nunawading – Whittlesea United 7.30pm

Kingston City – Eastern Lions 7.45pm

Werribee City – Malvern City 8pm

Essendon Royals – Moreland City 8.30pm

Saturday, 16 May

Bayside Argonauts – Springvale White Eagles 3pm

Box Hill United – Goulburn Valley Suns 3pm

Altona City – Keilor Park 6.15pm

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