Photo: Mark Avellino

NPL - Round 22

Bentleigh Greens v Pascoe Vale
8:15pm, Friday, July 17, 2015
Kingston Heath Soccer Complex, Cheltenham
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, ‪#‎BGvPV ‪#‎PS4NPLVIC

Last round:
Hume City 3-0 Bentleigh Greens
Pascoe Vale 4-0 Werribee City

Form:
BG: WWLDL
PV: WWWWW
 
Last time they met:
Pascoe Vale 1-1 Bentleigh Greens

One point in three outings is far from the run Bentleigh would've wanted after defeating South Melbourne, but the side now finds itself in a must-win situation against Pascoe Vale if it wants to be assured of top spot.

The Greens will also be without defender Steven Topalovic for the clash after he got sent off late on in the loss to Hume City.

Pascoe Vale meanwhile is in the best form its seen since getting promoted into the top flight, unbeaten in seven, winning five in a row.

Joseph Youssef is banging in the goals, and his brace against Werribee took him to equal second in the top-scorer charts, with 11 strikes.

Bentleigh couldn't have run into Pascoe Vale at a worse time, and with plenty at stake, this could turn out to be a cracker.

Dandenong Thunder v Avondale FC
8:30pm, Friday, July 17, 2015
George Andrews Reserve, Dandenong South
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, ‪#‎DTvAFC #PS4NPLVIC

Last round:
Port Melbourne Sharks 3-0 Dandenong Thunder
Avondale FC 1-2 North Geelong Warriors

Form:
DT: LLLLL
AFC: DWDLL
 
Last time they met:
Avondale FC 3-2 Dandenong Thunder

The brief is simple for Dandenong Thunder, emulate what North Geelong Warriors did to Avondale on the weekend.

Getting the job done will prove difficult for the side though, who has now hit rock bottom, having not won since Round 10 (ANZAC Day).

Avondale's loss will have shuddered the squad slightly, but a nine-point gap to Werribee should be good enough to see the side keep its top-flight status.

Massimo Murdocca scored his first Avondale goal against the Warriors, and the north-western suburbs outfit will need more of that to put away the Thunder.

Thunder needs to win, and this could be its best chance to get off the bottom of the ladder.

North Geelong Warriors v Northcote City
3:00pm, Saturday, July 18, 2015
Elcho Park, Lara         
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #NGWvNC #PS4NPLVIC
 
Last round:
Avondale FC 1-2 North Geelong Warriors
Northcote City 1-1 Oakleigh Cannons

Form:
NGW: WLLLW
NC: LWWWD
 
Last time they met:
Northcote City 2-0 North Geelong Warriors

The win against Avondale has given North Geelong Warriors a new lease of life, and the side is now just one point from 12th, the play-off spot which could save its season.

Gareth Richards got his first goals for the Warriors, and the former Moreland City striker will be looking to add more to his tally this weekend.

Northcote's hopes of finals football fade with each week that goes by, though not through its own doing.

Unbeaten in four, Northcote sits six points off Hume in sixth, but having played a game more.

A win is all that would do for Northcote, though the Warriors may have some momentum heading into this one.

Green Gully v Melbourne Knights
3:00pm, Saturday, July 18, 2015
Green Gully Reserve, Keilor Downs
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #GGvMK #PS4NPLVIC

Last round:
Heidelberg United - Green Gully (washed out)
Melbourne Knights 2-1 South Melbourne

Form:
GG: LWWWL
MK: WWWDW
 
Last time they met:
Melbourne Knights 2-0 Green Gully

The Knights were singing in the rain on Sunday after defeating arch-rivals South Melbourne for the first time in four attempts this season.

Chris May made yet another penalty save to bail his side out of trouble, and could be a key figure again against a raging Gully attack which was kept on the leash in last weekend's washout.

Gully has left its run for finals too late, but has scored an astonishing 14 goals in four games.

Sitting in ninth, Roddy Vargas' men want to finish on a high, and Liam Boland is also in the mix for the league's golden boot, with 10 goals all season (including goals for Oakleigh).

This local derby between two big clubs should be an entertaining affair.

Werribee City v Port Melbourne Sharks
3:00pm, Sunday, July 19, 2015
Galvin Park, Werribee
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, ‪#‎WCvPM #PS4NPLVIC

Last round:
Pascoe Vale 4-0 Werribee City
Port Melbourne Sharks 3-0 Dandenong Thunder

Form:
WC: LLLLL
PM: LLLDW
 
Last time they met:
Port Melbourne Sharks 0-0 Werribee City

A win for Port Melbourne Sharks over Dandenong Thunder last week has alleviated fears of relegation this season.

It can confirm its top-flight spot this weekend against Werribee City, who has plenty of work to turn its fortunes around.

New coach Tony Trifunov had a baptism of fire last weekend against Pascoe Vale, and this is a big chance for his side to grab three points.

Six games remain for Werribee City, and it needs to stop its bad run of results or face playing NPL1 football next season.

Heidelberg United v Oakleigh Cannons
4:00pm, Sunday, July 19, 2015
Olympic Village, Heidelberg West
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, ‪#HUvOC #PS4NPLVIC

Last round:
Heidelberg United - Green Gully (washed out)
Northcote City 1-1 Oakleigh Cannons
                                     
Form:
HU: WLDWL
OC: WLLDD 

Last time they met:
Oakleigh Cannons 0-1 Heidelberg United

It hasn't been a great week for Heidelberg United, with its game against Green Gully washed out, and a mid-week Dockerty Cup loss to rivals South Melbourne.

The Warriors spurned its chance to go top with a loss to Northcote City in its last league fixture, and now sits four points behind Bentleigh, albeit with a game in hand.

Oakleigh Cannons won through to the final of the Dockerty Cup in mid-week, defeating Hume City 2-0 thanks to goals from Lambros Honos and Mirjan Pavlovic.

Arthur Papas' men are a long way off a finals place however, but could affect the title race with a result at Olympic Village

The game could go either way, and Heidelberg will need its strike force to be on song.

South Melbourne v Hume City has been re-scheduled for 8:30pm, August 19.
  
NPL 1 - Round 21 (Crossover)
Sunshine George Cross v Murray United
3:00pm, Saturday, July 18, 2015
Chaplin Reserve, Sunshine
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, ‪#SGCvMU #PS4NPLVIC
                                              
Brunswick City v Springvale White Eagles
3:00pm, Saturday, July 18, 2015
Dunstan Reserve, Brunswick West
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, ‪#BCvSWE #PS4NPLVIC

Whittlesea Ranges v Nunawading City
3:00pm, Saturday, July 18, 2015
Epping Stadium, Epping
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, ‪#‎WRvNU #PS4NPLVIC
                                                              
Dandenong City v FC Bulleen Lions
3:00pm, Saturday, July 18, 2015
Frank Holohan Reserve, Endeavour Hills
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, ‪#‎DCvBL #PS4NPLVIC

Eastern Lions v Melbourne City
3:00pm, Saturday, July 18, 2015
Gardiners Creek Reserve, Burwood
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, ‪#ELvMCY #PS4NPLVIC
 
Ballarat Red Devils v Richmond
3:00pm, Saturday, July 18, 2015
Morshead Park, Redan
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, ‪#BRDvRSC #PS4NPLVIC

Box Hill United v Bendigo City FC
3:15pm, Saturday, July 18, 2015
Wembley Park, Box Hill
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, ‪#BHUvBFC #PS4NPLVIC
                                              
Goulburn Valley Suns v Moreland City
6:30pm, Saturday, July 18, 2015
McEwen Reserve, Shepparton
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, ‪#GVSvMC #PS4NPLVIC

Melbourne Victory v St Albans Saints
3:00pm, Sunday, July 19, 2015
Churchill Reserve, St Albans
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #MVCvSAS #PS4NPLVIC

Kingston City  v Moreland Zebras
8:30pm, Monday, July 20, 2015
The Grange Reserve, Clayton South
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #KCvMZ #PS4NPLVIC