NPL – Round 17

Bentleigh Greens v Werribee City
4th v 11th          
8.30pm, Friday July 11, 2014
Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #BGvWC #NPLVIC
Highlights to follow on FFV TV

Last round:
Pascoe Vale 0-0 Bentleigh Greens
Werribee City 2-4 Melbourne Knights

Form:
Bentleigh Greens: WWWLD
Werribee City: DWLLL

Last time they met:
Werribee City 0-1 Bentleigh Greens, Round 4 2014

Werribee City is yet to reap any rewards from a busy mid-season transfer period and finds itself just four points clear off the relegation zone.

It’s desperate times now for Nino Ragusa’s new-look squad, which will be desperate to break its three-game losing streak against a Bentleigh outfit which also has some challenges it needs to overcome.

Bentleigh coach John Anastasiadis this week jetted off to Greece to complete his UEFA A Licence, with assistant John Gabrielson taking over as caretaker coach for the next three weeks.

Anastasiadis blamed Pascoe Vale’s pitch for the scoreless draw last week, and the Greens will no doubt appreciate a return to their home turf on Friday night.

Green Gully v Oakleigh Cannons
7th v 2nd          
3.00pm, Saturday July 12, 2014
Green Gully Reserve
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #GGvOC #NPLVIC

Last round:
South Melbourne 1-0 Green Gully
Oakleigh Cannons 4-0 Port Melbourne Sharks

Form:
Green Gully: WLWDL
Oakleigh Cannons: WWWDW

Last time they met:
Oakleigh Cannons 6-1 Green Gully, Round 4 2014

Such is Oakleigh’s depth of attacking stocks that coach Miron Bleiberg joked that he could have signed Besart Berisha but didn’t need to, following the 4-0 win over Port Melbourne.

The Cannons are firing on all cylinders, with four players – Nate Foster, Goran Zoric, Dean Piemonte and Dusan Bosnjak – scoring seven or more goals this campaign.

The defence has been just as impressive too, with Oakleigh having conceded the least goals of any side.

It’s those stats which lead some to believe that Oakleigh will overtake South Melbourne at the top, but first it will have to negotiate a tough away fixture to Green Gully, which has dropped just one point in its past five home games.

Port Melbourne Sharks v Goulburn Valley Suns
12th v 14th            
3.00pm, Saturday July 12, 2014
JL Murphy Reserve
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #PMvGVS #NPLVIC

Last round:
Oakleigh Cannons 4-0 Port Melbourne Sharks
Heidelberg United 5-0 Goulburn Valley Suns

Form:
Port Melbourne Sharks: LLWLL
Goulburn Valley Suns: LDLLL

Last time they met:
Goulburn Valley Suns 1-2 Port Melbourne Sharks, Round 4 2014

Goulburn Valley this week decided to part ways with coach Peter Zois, replacing him with local product David Davkovski.

Davkovski has no senior coaching experience and has coached only in local circles, but the bottom-placed Suns will be hoping that their third coach this season can produce a miracle to avoid relegation.

Port Melbourne is in desperate need of a win too, having tasted victory just once in its past eight outings and sitting two points clear of relegation.

Expect a fierce contest on Saturday, and one which could produce plenty of goals given both sides’ poor defensive records.

Ballarat Red Devils v Heidelberg United
13th v 3rd
3.00pm, Saturday July 12, 2014
Morshead Park Stadium
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #BRDvHU #NPLVIC

Last round:
Ballarat Red Devils 0-1 Northcote City
Heidelberg United 5-0 Goulburn Valley Suns

Form:
Ballarat Red Devils: LLLWL
Heidelberg United: DWLDW

Last time they met:
Heidelberg United 4-2 Ballarat Red Devils, Round 4 2014

Ballarat is rooted in second-last point and needs points at home against an in-form Heidelberg.

Coach James Robinson said his side was unlucky to concede a “pretty soft” penalty in the 1-0 loss to Northcote City, as the Red Devils again left empty-handed despite enjoying spells of dominance.

They face a huge challenge against Heidelberg, which put an ordinary month behind it with a commanding 5-0 win over Goulburn Valley.

With the potential for snow in Ballarat on Saturday, this clash won’t be one for the faint-hearted.

Dandenong Thunder v Melbourne Knights
9th v 10th              
7.00pm, Saturday July 12, 2014
George Andrews Reserve
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #DTvMK #NPLVIC

Last round:
Hume City 1-0 Dandenong Thunder
Werribee City 2-4 Melbourne Knights

Form:
Dandenong Thunder: WLLDL
Melbourne Knights: WLDWW

Last time they met:
Melbourne Knights 1-2 Dandenong Thunder, Round 4 2014

The Knights sit in 10th position but have the form of a top-four side, with back-to-back wins over Pascoe Vale and Werribee City – not to mention the Dockerty cup win over South Melbourne - suggesting that they’re set for a surge up the table.

New signings Stipo Andrijasevic (Goulburn Valley) and Jordan O’Doherty (Adelaide Raiders) have injected new life into the Knights, while star midfielder Marijan Cvitkovic is nearing full fitness and could replace the suspended Tomislav Uskok in the starting line-up.

Dandenong is coming off the worst month of its season, but has a reasonably strong record at home.

It lacked hunger and desire in a disappointing first half against Hume City, but will look to carry the momentum from an impressive second half.

Northcote City v Pascoe Vale
8th v 6th
3.00pm, Sunday July 13, 2014
John Cain Memorial Park
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #NCvPV #NPLVIC

Last round:
Ballarat Red Devils 0-1 Northcote City
Pascoe Vale 0-0 Bentleigh Greens

Form:
Northcote City: LLDWW
Pascoe Vale: WWWLD

Last time they met:
Pascoe Vale 0-1 Northcote City, Round 4 2014

In what has been an inconsistent 2014, Northcote City this week has the chance to equal its longest winning streak (three games) this season in what shapes as a tricky encounter against Pascoe Vale.

The form is on its side, and coach Goran Lozanovski will be looking for his players to show the physicality and endeavour which has seen them defeat Bentleigh and Ballarat in the past fortnight.

A low-scoring, tight affair was played out when these two sides last met in Round 4. Northcote City got the better of Pascoe Vale that night, but this is a Pascoe Vale side which has vastly improved since then.

South Melbourne v Hume City
1st v 5th
5.00pm, Sunday July 13, 2014
Lakeside Stadium
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #SMvHC #NPLVIC

Last round:
South Melbourne 1-0 Green Gully
Hume City 1-0 Dandenong Thunder

Form:
South Melbourne: LDWWW
Hume City: LWLWW

Last time they met:
Hume City 0-3 South Melbourne, Round 4 2014

A tantalising contest looms on Sunday, with South Melbourne looking to maintain its six-point lead at the top and the likes of Oakleigh and Heidelberg hoping that Hume City can cut that lead.

The latter will fancy its chances of an upset after wins against Dandenong Thunder and Werribee City, but South Melbourne is at full strength and has found its rhythm again.

This fixture, along with its meeting with Oakleigh next week, will be a litmus test for the in-form Hume City.

NPL leading goalscorers:

12 – Daniel Heffernan (Heidelberg United), Milos Lujic (South Melbourne)
10 – Brent McGrath (Bentleigh Greens), Dean Piemonte (Oakleigh Cannons), Goran Zoric (Oakleigh Cannons)
9 – Craig Carley (Goulburn Valley Suns), Kaine Sheppard (Heidelberg United)
8 – Mathew Sanders (Green Gully), Dusan Bosnjak (Oakleigh Cannons)
7 – Nate Foster (Oakleigh Cannons), Jamie Reed (South Melbourne)
6 – Jason Hayne (Green Gully), Osagie Ederaro (Green Gully), Daniel Visevic (Melbourne Knights), Daniel Vasilevski (Heidelberg United)
5 – Jake Nakic (Pascoe Vale), Trent Rixon (Northcote City), Mathew Theodore (South Melbourne)

NPL 1 – Round 16

Whittlesea Ranges v Sunshine George Cross
13th v 6th   
8.30pm, Friday July 11, 2014
Epping Stadium
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #WRvSGC #NPLVIC

Richmond v FC Bulleen Lions
4th v 2nd          
8.30pm, Friday July 11, 2014
Kevin Bartlett Reserve
Radio: Listen LIVE on NPL VIC Live (also streamed via TuneIn app – search ‘LiveCast’)
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #RSCvFCB #NPLVIC

Brunswick City v Avondale Heights
14th v 1st
3.00pm, Saturday July 12, 2014
Dunstan Reserve
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #BCvAH #NPLVIC

North Geelong Warriors v Springvale White Eagles
7th v 11th
3.00pm, Saturday July 12, 2014
Elcho Park
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #NGWvSWE #NPLVIC

Dandenong City v Box Hill United
12th v 3rd            
3.00pm, Saturday July 12, 2014
Frank Holohan Soccer Complex
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #DCvBHU #NPLVIC

St Albans Saints v Kingston City
5th v 9th
3.00pm, Sunday July 13, 2014
Churchill Reserve
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #SASvKC #NPLVIC

Moreland Zebras v FC Bendigo
8th v 10th  
3.00pm, Sunday July 13, 2014
De Chene Reserve
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #MZvFCB #NPLVIC

NPL 1 leading goalscorers:

15 – Joseph Katebian (FC Bulleen Lions)
11 – Kenjok Athiu (Box Hill United), Tom Cahill (Richmond)
10 – Oleksiy Khrapko (Avondale Heights)
9 – Gino Defeo (Kingston City), Rinor Muriqi (Box Hill United)
8 – Max Etheridge (Kingston City), Nick Symeoy (Moreland Zebras)
7 – Hamlet Armenian (Richmond), Andrew Le Page (Avondale Heights), Reardo Luka (North Geelong Warriors)
6 – Jamie De Smit (Springvale White Eagles), Barry Devlin (St Albans Saints), Kliment Dimitrieski (Whittlesea Ranges), Goran Jozeljic (Dandenong City), Juso Julardzija (North Geelong Warriors), Dario Matkovic (Dandenong City), Jason Principato (Avondale Heights)
5 – Matthew Breeze (FC Bendigo), Matthew Iuliano (Whittlesea Ranges), Vojislav Milojevic (Springvale White Eagles), Velibor Mitrovic (Kingston City), Manuell Sadik (Sunshine George Cross), George Slefendorfas (FC Bendigo)

Image credit: Cindy Nitsos