Pascoe Vale v South Melbourne

7th v 1st 

7:30pm, Friday August 1, 2014

Hosken Reserve

Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #PVvSM #NPLVIC

 

Last game:

Pascoe Vale 0-2 Werribee City (Round 20)

Northcote City 1-1 South Melbourne (Round 19)

 

Form:

Pascoe Vale: DDDWL

South Melbourne: WWWWD

 

Last time they met:

South Melbourne 1-0 Pascoe Vale, Round 9 2014

 

Pascoe Vale comes into the game with the slight disadvantage of having played, and lost against Werribee in mid-week, a result that was far from favourable for the seventh-placed side.

Still, it has picked up good results against every team above them at some point this season, and the match will no doubt pose as a potential banana skin for South Melbourne.

The league leaders come into the clash having had a full week to prepare for this clash, and will want to put on a better display this time around than they did last week.

South’s gap at the top now sits at seven points, and the side will want to ensure it at least stays that way for another week. 

 

Green Gully v Ballarat Red Devils

8th v 13th

3:00pm, Saturday August 2, 2014

Green Gully Reserve

Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #GGvBRD #NPLVIC

 

Last game:

Green Gully 1-1 Heidelberg United (Round 20)

Port Melbourne 3-1 Ballarat Red Devils (Round 20)

 

Form:

Green Gully: LLLDD

Ballarat Red Devils: LDDWL

 

Last time they met:

Ballarat Red Devils 3-2 Green Gully, Round 9 2014

 

Green Gully has arrested its run of defeats in the past seven days with two draws, but will need to ensure they beat the Red Devils this week.

Form aside, the two sides are evenly matched, give or take a couple of goals for and against.

Ballarat however need to win to stay in touch with the rest of the relegation battlers, and three points for the Red Devils will also drag Green Gully into the fight for survival.

Paul Harvey and Deang Aguek have been hitting the back of the net since arriving, and are part of the reason for Ballarat’s recent revival in form.

There is plenty at stake for this contest, and it could end up being a tense affair.

 

Bentleigh Greens v Goulburn Valley Suns

4th v 14th 

3:00pm, Saturday August 2, 2014

Kingston Heath Soccer Complex

Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #BGvGVS #NPLVIC

 

Last game:

Oakleigh Cannons 2-1 Bentleigh Greens (Round 19)

Goulburn Valley Suns 1-1 Melbourne Knights (Round 19)

 

Form:

Bentleigh Greens: LDWWL

Goulburn Valley Suns: LLLWD

 

Last time they met:

Goulburn Valley Suns 1-1 Bentleigh Greens, Round 9 2014

 

Bentleigh would have been happy to have a whole week to prepare for this fixture, as it embarks on a rigorous playing schedule that sees the side play four games in next two weeks. 

The Greens were unlucky to lose to Oakleigh last time out, and are still in decent form which should help them overcome a revived Goulburn Valley Suns outfit.

David Davkovski has really turned heads since taking charge of the Suns against Port Melbourne, and has picked up four points in three games in charge.

While a lot more is needed to complete a miracle escape, the Suns are not looking like the easy-beats they have been for most of the season and will be a tricky customer for Bentleigh to negotiate.

 

Hume City v Port Melbourne Sharks

5th v 10th

3:00pm, Sunday August 3, 2014

Broadmeadows Valley Park

Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #HCvPM #NPLVIC

 

Last game:

Heidelberg United 2-0 Hume City (Round 19)

Port Melbourne 3-1 Ballarat Red Devils (Round 20)

 

Form:

Hume City: WWLWL
Port Melbourne: LWDDW

 

Last time they met:

Port Melbourne 1-1 Hume City, Round 9 2014

 

While Hume has been on a decent run recently, losing to Heidelberg was a bit of a set back and a mid-week friendly against Melbourne Victory didn’t exactly help it’s cause.

Still, Hume City posses a potent forward line, and should keep the Sharks on edge for much of the contest on Sunday.

Port Melbourne meanwhile has turned its fortunes around since beating GV Suns in Round 17, with Eric Vassiliadis’ side starting to pick up valuable points, especially against Ballarat on Wednesday night.

However, the Sharks still remain close to the relegation zone and a loss could see them sucked straight back into the mix.

A win is a must for the Sharks, and Hume will need to be on their game to ensure they do not cause an upset.

 

Werribee City v Dandenong Thunder

12th v 11th 

3:00pm, Sunday August 3, 2014

Galvin Park

Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #WCvDT #NPLVIC

 

Last game:

Pascoe Vale 0-2 Werribee City (Round 20)

Dandenong Thunder 1-1 Northcote City (Round 20)

 

Form:

Werribee City: LLLLW

Dandenong Thunder: LLLLD

 

Last time they met:

Dandenong Thunder 0-3 Werribee City, Round 9 2014

 

Bees’ coach Nino Ragusa responded to those calling for his resignation with a mid-week win against Pascoe Vale, but there remains plenty of work to do to ensure safety.

Losing to Ballarat last week means Werribee remain dangerously close to the dreaded 13th spot, and have played two more games than the Red Devils.

Dandenong Thunder picked up a point in mid-week against Northcote, but is still in free fall and in danger of also getting sucked into the relegation mire. 

There is no debating that this is a must-win clash for both sides and there could be serious ramifications for the losing team.

 

Northcote City v Oakleigh Cannons

6th v 2nd

3:00pm, Sunday August 3, 2014

John Cain Memorial Park

Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #NCvOC #NPLVIC

 

Last round:

Dandenong Thunder 1-1 Northcote City (Round 20)
Oakleigh Cannons 2-1 Bentleigh Greens (Round 19)

 

Form:

Northcote City:WDWDD

Oakleigh Cannons: DWWLW

 

Last time they met:

Oakleigh Cannons 1-1 Northcote City, Round 9 2014

 

Up until Hume City defeated Oakleigh in Round 18, Northcote City was the only side to get any sort of joy from Jack Edwards Reserve.

Goran Lozanovski’s side is on the charge, and is unbeaten in its last seven games.

Having held South Melbourne to a draw last weekend, Northcote will be confident of holding Oakleigh at bay again.

Oakleigh made some important inroads to the huge lead South have at the top of the table last week, and nothing less than a win will suffice for the Cannons.

Time is running out to catch the ladder leaders, and a loss to Northcote will almost certainly end the Cannons' title hopes. 

 

Melbourne Knights v Heidelberg United

9th v 3rd

3:00pm, Sunday August 3, 2014

Knights Stadium

Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #MKvHU #NPLVIC

 

Last game:

Goulburn Valley Suns 1-1 Melbourne Knights (Round 19)

Green Gully 1-1 Heidelberg United (Round 20)

 

Form:

Melbourne Knights: WWWLD

Heidelberg United: WDDWD

 

Last time they met:

Heidelberg United 1-0 Melbourne Knights, Round 9 2014

 

The Knights will be leg weary following their trips to Shepparton, then Brisbane in the past week, and couldn’t have asked for a tougher assignment to bounce back from their Westfield FFA Cup loss to Olympic FC.

Chris May and Jordan O’Doherty were sent off in that clash and will be suspended for the game against Heidelberg, which makes life tougher for the Knights.

The Bergers meanwhile also had a mid-week run out, and were aggrieved to have a seemingly good goal chalked off at the death. 

While Heidelberg’s title chase is over, finishing second is still possible and with a decent run of form behind the side, should be strong enough to defeat the Knights on Sunday.

 

NPL leading goalscorers:

15 – Daniel Heffernan (Heidelberg United), Milos Lujic (South Melbourne)

11 – Dean Piemonte (Oakleigh Cannons)

10 – Brent McGrath (Bentleigh Greens), Dusan Bosnjak (Oakleigh Cannons) Goran Zoric (Oakleigh Cannons), Craig Carley (Goulburn Valley Suns)

9 – Kaine Sheppard (Heidelberg United)

8 – Mathew Sanders (Green Gully)  Osagie Ederaro (Green Gully), David Stirton (Bentleigh Greens), Jamie Reed (South Melbourne), Nate Foster (Oakleigh Cannons)

7 – Jason Hayne (Green Gully), Jake Nakic (Pascoe Vale)

6 – Wade Dekker (Northcote City)

5 – Deang Aguek (Ballarat Red Devils), Daniel O’Donnell (Ballarat Red Devils), Daniel Vasilevski (Heidelberg United), Jack Petrie (Heidelberg United), Daniel Visevic (Melbourne Knights), Jonathon Munoz (Northcote City), Trent Rixon (Northcote City), Kevin Braniff (Port Melbourne), Lambros Honos (Port Melbourne), Luca Santilli (Pascoe Vale), Mathew Theodore (South Melbourne), Steven Cudrig (Werribee City)

 

NPL 1 – Round 19

Whittlesea Ranges v Moreland Zebras

13th v 7th 

8:30pm, Friday August 1, 2014

Epping Stadium

Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #WRvMZ #NPLVIC

 

Avondale Heights v St Albans Saints

1st v 4th

3:00pm, Saturday August 2, 2014

Avondale Heights Reserve

Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #AHvSAS #NPLVIC

 

Sunshine George Cross v Richmond SC

8th v 5th

3:00pm, Saturday August 2, 2014

Chaplin Reserve

Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #SGCvRSC #NPLVIC

 

FC Bendigo v North Geelong Warriors

11th v 3rd

3:00pm, Saturday August 2, 2014

Truscott Reserve

Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #FCBvNGW #NPLVIC

 

Springvale White Eagles v Brunswick City

12th v 14th

3:00pm, Saturday August 2, 2014

White Eagles Stadium

Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #SWEvBC #NPLVIC

 

Kingston City v Dandenong City

9th v 10th

8:30pm, Monday August 4, 2014

The Grange Reserve

Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #KCvDC #NPLVIC

 

FC Bulleen Lions v Box Hill United

6th v 2nd

8:30pm, Monday August 4, 2014

Veneto Club

Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #BLvBHU #NPLVIC

 

NPL 1 leading goalscorers:

18 – Joseph Katebian (FC Bulleen Lions)

17 – Tom Cahill (Richmond)

12 – Rinor Muriqi (Box Hill United)

11 – Kenny Athiu (Box Hill United), Max Etheridge (Kingston City)

10 – Oleksiy Khrapko (Avondale Heights),, Nick Symeoy (Moreland Zebras)

9 – Gino Defeo (Kingston City), Juso Julardzija (North Geelong Warriors, St Albans Saints)

8 – Andrew Le Page (Avondale Heights), Hamlet Armenian (Richmond) Reardo Luka (North Geelong Warriors), Mark Paleka (North Geelong Warriors)

7 – Dario Matkovic (Dandenong Cit), Kliment Dimitrieski (Whittlesea Ranges), Vojislav Milojevic (Springvale White Eagles), Manuell Sadik (Sunshine George Cross), George Slefendorfas (FC Bendigo)

6 – Matthew Breeze (FC Bendigo), Jamie De Smit (Springvale White Eagles), Barry Devlin (St Albans Saints), Goran Jozeljic (Dandenong City), Velibor Mitrovic (Kingston City), Jason Principato (Avondale Heights)

5 – Ryan Don Paul (Springvale White Eagles), Matthew Iuliano (Whittlesea Ranges), Sean McIlroy (St Albans Saints), Delfin Mosibe (Sunshine George Cross), Stjepan Trbuhovic (Whittlesea Ranges)

 

IMAGE CREDIT: Mark Avelino