NPL Victoria Men’s: On a knife’s edge

Despite attempts by some to write disconnected the NPL, the contention keeps dishing up matchdays packed with heart, blockbuster clashes, and non-stop excitement. The ladder is simply a whirlwind of play astatine the top and bottom.

Heidelberg United are a unit to beryllium reckoned with. John Anastasiadis’ outfit are steamrolling done opponents, dominating astatine Olympic Park and leaving rivals successful their wake. The “yellow and blacks” are connected a jaw-dropping tally of 13 straight wins – a staggering feat that’s got the remainder of the title hopefuls connected edge. This week, they welcome St Albans Saints, a broadside languishing successful 12th. The “Saints” are staring down the barrel, and it’ll take something miraculous to flight Heidelberg’s clutches connected Friday night.

Later that evening, two Greek Australian heavyweights spell head-to-head. Reigning champions Oakleigh Cannons take connected Port Melbourne Sharks, the pridefulness of Melbourne’s port. The opposition couldn’t beryllium starker. Oakleigh are riding precocious adjacent the top, while Port Melbourne are warring tooth and nail to debar the drop. For the Sharks, each constituent is simply a lifeline, adjacent successful a cauldron similar Oakleigh’s ground, where a nonaccomplishment with a decent effort is often arsenic bully arsenic it gets. But who’s going to justice you for falling abbreviated astatine the champions’ home? Still, Port Melbourne’s dire presumption means they can’t conscionable turn up and hope. Their storied past demands they scrap for each ball, nary substance the odds. Oakleigh, connected the different hand, will beryllium gunning for a swift, stress-free win to support the unit connected the ladder leaders. Expect some teams to permission it each connected the tract successful a due battle.

South Melbourne are dreaming of making it two wins connected the trot, hopeless for three points to easiness their relegation fears. Their gritty win implicit Melbourne Knights past week lifted spirits successful a campy that was starting to buckle under the weight of expectation, the menace of the drop, and a consciousness of being deserted by their fans. That victory, paired with a ascent to 11th, brought a glimmer of anticipation to the club. But staying up means much wins, much points, and their showdown with Melbourne Victory couldn’t beryllium amended timed. Both sides are level connected points, making this a monolithic six-pointer. A win for South Melbourne could nudge them up different spot, creating some breathing country from the bottommost and letting them program their adjacent moves with a touch much calmness.

VPL1

Bentleigh Greens look a tough distant time this week. George Katsakis’ broadside are itching for a win to support them blistery connected the heels of ladder-leaders Melbourne City. The “Greens” are having a belter of a play and are determined to support it going. Against Eastern Lions, they’ll beryllium retired to seal the woody aboriginal and dodge the stress of a choky finish. Three points successful the bag, and they’ll beryllium praying for a Melbourne City stumble to occurrence them to the top.

Brunswick City are successful for a stern δοκιμή distant astatine Western United successful what’s shaping up arsenic a derby, with the two sides cervix and cervix successful the table. Brunswick sit sixth with 25 points, conscionable up of Western United successful seventh with 22. Meanwhile, Kingston City caput to Langwarrin for a heated clash. The Greek-Australian broadside are stuck successful 12th with 11 points, while Langwarrin are conscionable beneath successful 13th with 10, making this a fiery encounter.

The Melbourne City-Northcote City clash has been pushed backmost owed to the A-League last and is apt acceptable for July 12.

VPL2

A immense lucifer awaits Box Hill United’s Pythagoras. The Greek-Australian broadside caput to Nunawading for a crippled that could marque oregon interruption their season. A win could spot them soar arsenic galore arsenic six places up the ladder, but a decision mightiness plunge them to 12th, heavy successful the relegation mire.

NPL – Fixtures

Friday 30 May

Heidelberg United-St Albans Saints 7.30pm

Dandenong City-Dandenong Thunder 7.45pm

Oakleigh Cannons-Port Melbourne Sharks 8.15pm

Hume City-Green Gully 8.30pm

Saturday 31 May

Avondale-Melbourne Knights 3pm

Altona Magic-Preston Lions – 3.15pm

Sunday 1 June

South Melbourne-Melbourne Victory 5pm

NPL – Standings

Team Matches Points

1. Heidelberg 15 37

2. Avondale 15 36

3. Oakleigh Cannons 15 31

4. Dandenong Thunder 15 30

5. Preston Lions 15 25

6. Hume City 15 24

7. Dandenong City 15 23

8. Green Gully 15 21

9. Altona Magic 15 17

10. Melbourne Victory 15 12

11. South Melbourne 15 12

12. St Albans Saints 15 11

13. Port Melbourne 15 10

14. Melbourne Knights 15 9

VPL1 – Fixtures

Friday 30 May

Eastern Lions-Bentleigh Greens 7.30pm

Saturday 31 May

Langwarrin-Kingston City 3pm

Caroline Springs George Cross-Bulleen Lions 5.30pm

Melbourne Srbija-Manningham United Blues 6.30pm

Sunday 1 June

Moreland City-North Sunshine Eagles 3pm

Western United-Brunswick City 4pm

Saturday 12 July

Melbourne City-Northcote City 3pm

VPL1 – Standings

Team Matches Points

1. Melbourne City 15 35

2. Bentleigh 15 32

3. George Cross 15 30

4. Northcote 15 25

5. Brunswick 15 25

6. Bulleen Lions 13 23

7. Western United 13 21

8. Manningham 15 21

9. North Sunshine 15 18

10. Melbourne Srbija 15 14

11. Eastern Lions 15 14

12. Kingston City 14 10

13. Langwarrin 14 10

14. Moreland City 15 8