NPL – Round 15

Bentleigh Greens v Northcote City
4th v 10th        
8.30pm, Friday June 27, 2014
Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #BGvNC #NPLVIC

Last round:
Ballarat Red Devils 2-3 Bentleigh Greens
Northcote City 1-1 Melbourne Knights

Form:
Bentleigh Greens: LWWWW
Northcote City: WDLLD
Last time they met: Northcote City 2-3 Bentleigh Greens, Round 2 2014

With the top-of-the-table South Melbourne dropping points in recent weeks, the title race is wide open again, with Bentleigh one of those teams making a serious challenge for the top prize.

The Greens have had a super month and will be searching for their fifth successive win against the side it lost to in the 2013 Victorian Premier League Grand Final, though that may seem like a distant memory after they disposed of Northcote City in the two sides’ first meeting in the NPL back in Round 2.

Northcote City is stuck in a rut – it hasn’t won since Round 10 – and needs to take a big scalp to boost its confidence.

Ballarat Red Devils v Goulburn Valley Suns
13th v 14th        
5.45pm, Saturday June 28, 2014
Morshead Park Stadium
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #BRDvGVS #NPLVIC

Last round:
Ballarat Red Devils 2-3 Bentleigh Greens
Oakleigh Cannons 4-1 Goulburn Valley Suns

Form:
Ballarat Red Devils: LLLLL
Goulburn Valley Suns: LLLDL
Last time they met: Goulburn Valley Suns 2-3 Ballarat Red Devils, Round 2 2014

The NPL’s two regional clubs produced a classic when they met in Round 2, with Ballarat scoring in the final 10 seconds to cancel out Kristian Sarkies’ (now at FC Bulleen Lions) equaliser in the 90th minute.

A lot has changed since that night though, as both sides have regenerated their lists in a bid to escape relegation.

Green Gully recruit Brian Vanega was brilliant for the Suns last week, and will be relied upon to fill the void left by talented striker Stipo Andrijasevic’s departure to Melbourne Knights.

Simon Colosimo could make his debut for the Suns after signing from Dempo SC in India, while Ballarat will be looking for another stellar performance from striker Deang Aguek, who scored a brace in his club debut last week.

Hume City v Werribee City
8th v 9th          
3.00pm, Sunday June 29, 2014
Broadmeadows Valley Park
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #HCvWC #NPLVIC

Last round:
Pascoe Vale 4-2 Hume City
Werribee City 0-3 Green Gully

Form:
Hume City: LWLWL
Werribee City: LLDWL
Last time they met: Werribee City 2-1 Hume City, Round 2 2014

Werribee City has somewhat raided Hume City in the transfer window, luring Devon Bonne and Jose Guerrero.

Coach Nino Ragusa will be picking the brains of his Hume City recruits, as his side looks to bounce back from a disappointing home loss to Green Gully.

Hume City has been crippled by inconsistency too, making this contest a very tough one to predict.

Green Gully v Dandenong Thunder
6th v 7th
3.00pm, Sunday June 29, 2014
Green Gully Reserve
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #GGvDT #NPLVIC

Last round:
Werribee City 0-3 Green Gully
Dandenong Thunder 1-3 Port Melbourne Sharks

Form:
Green Gully: WWWLW
Dandenong Thunder: WLWLL
Last time they met: Dandenong Thunder 1-0 Green Gully, Round 2 2014

It has been a typical season for Green Gully so far; a slow start followed by a mid-season resurgence.

Four wins in its past five outings prove that Green Gully – the only side to not have drawn a match this season – is back to its best despite so many changes in its playing and coaching stocks this season.

The youthful Thunder doesn’t boast the experience of Green Gully but is unpredictable. Its coach Dean Hennessey will return to his old club on Sunday and will no doubt be keen to grab the points against the side which sacked him last year.

Melbourne Knights v Pascoe Vale
12th v 5th             
3.00pm, Sunday June 29, 2014
Knights Stadium
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #MKvPV #NPLVIC

Last round:
Northcote City 1-1 Melbourne Knights
Pascoe Vale 4-2 Hume City

Form:
Melbourne Knights: WLWLD
Pascoe Vale: WWWWW
Last time they met: Pascoe Vale 0-2 Melbourne Knights, Round 2 2014

It promises to be one of the matches of the round, with the Knights buoyed by their Dockerty Cup quarter-final win and Pascoe Vale on a remarkable run of five consecutive wins.

The home side handed new signing Stipo Andrijasevic a starting berth in the midweek cup fixture, and he didn’t disappoint with a performance that caused South Melbourne’s defence plenty of headaches.

Then there was the return of 2013 VPL Gold Medallist Marijan Cvitkovic, who came off the bench for his first appearance in over 10 matches.

It’s all clicking again for the Knights after their wretched run of injuries, but will their best be good enough to knock off a rampant Pascoe Vale?

Sunday’s fixture will also be the final match for Pascoe Vale star and reigning NPL Player of the Month Davey van’t Schip, who will depart for Holland to play for JOS Watergraafsmeer and complete his studies.

South Melbourne v Port Melbourne Sharks
1st v 11th
5.00pm, Sunday June 29, 2014
Lakeside Stadium
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #SMvPM #NPLVIC

Last round:
South Melbourne 3-0 Heidelberg United
Dandenong Thunder 1-3 Port Melbourne Sharks

Form:
South Melbourne: WWLDW
Port Melbourne Sharks: LLLLW
Last time they met: Port Melbourne Sharks 2-3 South Melbourne, Round 2 2014

South Melbourne couldn’t break down a resolute Knights defence in the Dockerty Cup quarter final on Wednesday night, and seemed to lack a spark.

The league leader was impressive in the 3-0 win against Heidelberg United, but has had a flat month overall. When Milos Lujic fires, so does South, but the star striker has been kept quiet recently and couldn’t make an impact in the loss to the Knights.

Port Melbourne finally got back on the winners list last week, but has a tendency to back up wins with poor showings in what has been the story of its season. Can the Sharks buck the trend, or will South find its groove again?

Heidelberg United v Oakleigh Cannons
3rd v 2nd
5.00pm, Sunday June 29, 2014
Olympic Village
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #HUvOC #NPLVIC

Last round:
South Melbourne 3-0 Heidelberg United
Oakleigh Cannons 4-1 Goulburn Valley Suns

Form:
Heidelberg United: WDDWL
Oakleigh Cannons: LWWWW
Last time they met: Oakleigh Cannons 2-1 Heidelberg United, Round 2 2014

A Dusan Bosnjak free kick in the final minute of injury time was all that separated these two sides in Round 2.

Thirteen weeks later, they meet in the most anticipated match of the round and arguably the most important.

A loss to Heidelberg United would see it fall 10 points behind the Cannons, while the latter could move to within one point of top position if results fall their way.

The Bergers haven’t lost at home since Round 1 and will again need to make the most of their home advantage if they’re to mount a challenge for the title.

Leading goalscorers:

12 – Daniel Heffernan (Heidelberg United)
11 - Milos Lujic (South Melbourne)
9 – Craig Carley (Goulburn Valley Suns), Brent McGrath (Bentleigh Greens)
8 – Matthew Sanders (Green Gully), Kaine Sheppard (Heidelberg United)
7 – Nate Foster (Oakleigh Cannons), Dusan Bosnjak (Oakleigh Cannons),
6 – Jamie Reed (South Melbourne), Dean Piemonte (Oakleigh Cannons), Goran Zoric (Oakleigh Cannons),
5 – Jake Nakic (Dandenong Thunder), Osagie Ederaro (Green Gully), Trent Rixon (Northcote City), Kevin Braniff (Port Melbourne Sharks), Jason Hayne (Green Gully)
4 – Dom Swinton (Ballarat Red Devils), David Stirton (Bentleigh Greens), Nick Hegarty (Hume City), Jacob Colosimo (Melbourne Knights), Joseph Youssef (Pascoe Vale), Nicholas Krousoratis (Port Melbourne Sharks), Leigh Minopoulos (South Melbourne), Steven Cudrig (Werribee City), Jack Petrie (Heidelberg United), Lambros Honos (Port Melbourne Sharks)

NPL 1 – Round 14

Brunswick City v Sunshine George Cross
14th v 6th   
3.00pm, Saturday June 28, 2014
Dunstan Reserve
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #BCvSGC #NPLVIC

North Geelong Warriors v Dandenong City
8th v 12th         
3.00pm, Saturday June 28, 2014
Elcho Park
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #NGWvDC #NPLVIC

Box Hill United v Richmond
3rd v 4th            
3.15pm, Saturday June 28, 2014
Wembley Park
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #BHUvRSC #NPLVIC

FC Bendigo v Avondale Heights
10th v 1st    
6.00pm, Saturday June 28, 2014
Tom Flood Sports Centre
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #FCBvAH #NPLVIC

Moreland Zebras v FC Bulleen Lions
9th v 2nd          
3.00pm, Sunday June 29, 2014
B.T Connor Reserve
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #MZvBL #NPLVIC

St Albans Saints v Springvale White Eagles
5th v 11th  
3.00pm, Sunday June 29, 2014
Churchill Reserve
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #SASvSWE #NPLVIC

Kingston City v Whittlesea Ranges
7th v 13th
8.30pm, Monday June 30, 2014
The Grange Reserve
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #KCvWR #NPLVIC

Image credit: Graeme Furlong