By Jason Turner (@jaseangelo)

Oakleigh’s four-goal first half set up a 4-1 win over Bentleigh Greens on Friday night to keep its championship hopes alive.

The win also kept intact Oakleigh's incredible record against Bentleigh - it has not lost to the Greens in 10 and a half years.

With both sides in good form, a tight encounter was predicted, however the visitors stunned the crowd at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex with four goals within the first half hour.

Goals to John Black, Nate Foster and a Dean Piemonte brace secured Oakleigh’s fifth-straight victory.

Bentleigh’s Jack Webster first-half header turned out to be a consolation goal and not the kick-start to a second-half comeback.

Knowing defeat against the third-placed Greens would allow league leader South Melbourne the chance to secure the inaugural NPL title this weekend, Oakleigh quickly found its rhythm.

Overcommitting in attack, Bentleigh was exposed when Ari Ritz found an unmarked Piemonte, who managed to slice his shot right over Alastair Bray.

Five minutes later, it was a similar story with Foster exchanging quick passes with Goran Zoric against a retreating Bentleigh defence, before the Canadian star finished.

The result was sealed soon after, when the pace and strength of Foster proved too much for Thomas Matthews, who crudely brought down Foster in the penalty area.

The Cannons’ leading scorer Piemonte calmly dispatched his spot kick straight down the middle and out of reach of a diving Bray.

Scrappy defending led to Oakleigh’s fourth. After having several opportunities to clear a corner and a reflex save from Bray, a bouncing ball eventually dropped to defender Black, who smashed home to silence the home crowd.

Bentleigh’s faint comeback hopes were given a small lift when Webster latched onto a rebound seconds after Liam McCormick’s header was saved.

Following the interval, the visitors appeared to take their foot off the throttle, allowing the Greens more possession, but Cannons ‘keeper John Honos wasn’t heavily tested.

His biggest test came when he played sweeper to clear the ball ahead of an oncoming Ryan De Vries.

Despite calls that Honos had handballed the ball outside his area, the threat was quelled.

Bentleigh was enjoying one of its better spells, as De Vries drew another save from Honos minutes later and Mathews threatened with a close-range header.

But the improved Greens couldn’t breach the league’s best defence again.

Oakleigh coach Miron Bleiberg understood why his side appeared to take the pressure off in the second period.

“We knew that we’re strong enough not to concede three goals and we played accordingly. But the first half, it was the real Oakleigh - a massacre,” Bleiberg said.

The result puts Oakleigh four points behind South Melbourne, but with a game in hand. Both sides meet in the next round at Lakeside Stadium, in a blockbuster which could ultimately decide the title winner.

“We do our job and we play every game as it’s a final...We’re doing it but unfortunately fate is not in our hands,” Bleiberg said.

Bentleigh coach John Anastasiadis said the focus had turned to the Westfield FFA Cup after recently drawing Sydney Olympic in the Round of 16.

"We want to do as well as we can in the last three remaining [NPL] games but we've got a lot of boys who've played all season and I'm just hoping tiredness doesn't set in ...We want to be as fresh as we can for the FFA Cup,” Anastasiadis said.

"I was pleased not to get an A-League team. But Sydney Olympic, I'd put on the same par as Blacktown. It’s exciting for us but it's going to be another tough day at the office."

Bentleigh hosts Ballarat Red Devils next weekend as part of the catch-up round.

MATCH DETAILS

Bentleigh Greens 1 (Webster 37’) defeated by Oakleigh Cannons 4 (Piemonte 9’ 26’, Foster 14’, Black 30’) at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex [HT: 1-4]

Bentleigh Greens: 21. Alastair BRAY (GK), 2. Thomas MATTHEWS, 3. James CUMMING, 5. Jack WEBSTER (22. Lewis FOSTER 81’), 8. Wayne WALLACE, 7. Jamie DE ABREU, 20. Davide CARDAMONE (15. Christian CAVALLO 46’), 14. Ryan DE VRIES, 19. Liam McCORMICK 12. Luke GALLO (16. Nicholas TEICHMAN 69'), 24. Luke PILKINGTON.

Unused Subs: 1. Lajos HUN, 4. Patrick AVICE

Yellow Cards: Webster 77’

Red Cards: None

Oakleigh Cannons: 1. John HONOS (GK), 7. Bonel OBRADOVIC, 18. Adam LE CORNU, 5. Aron WILFORD, 3. John BLACK (21. Andreas GOVAS 63’), 2. Thomas LAKIC, 23. Dominic D’ANGELO, 14. Nate FOSTER (15. Omar AMMACHE 66’), 19. Goran ZORIC, 17. Dean PIEMONTE (12. Tremayne SADLER 63’), 16. Ari RITZ.

Unused Subs: 35. Harry RAWORTH, 10. Veton KORCARI.

Yellow Cards: None

Red Cards: None