By Sean Ellicott

Bentleigh Greens has finished the 2015 Playstation 4 NPL Victoria season in second place following a 3-2 victory over Oakleigh Cannons on Sunday afternoon at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex.
 
John Anastasiadis’ side entered the final day of the season with a chance of taking out the 2015 premiership but South Melbourne’s 3-0 win over Northcote City ensured the title returned to Lakeside Stadium.
 
Requiring at least a draw to remain in contention, Chris Lucas handed the Greens a dream start with two goals inside the opening 20 minutes.
 
Dean Piemonte then leveled the scores with a second half brace before Luke Pilkington nodded home an 85th minute header to seal the result.
 
A lively start saw Bentleigh capitalize with the game’s first after a quarter-of-an-hour.
 
Setting himself up with a delicate flick on the end of Tyson Holmes’ pass, Lucas buried his effort past Cannons custodian Lajos Hun with his second touch.
 
Less than two minutes latter, Lucas then found his second.
 
An errant back-pass forced Hun to rush off his line, bringing down the closing Lucas inside the area.
 
The 23-year-old then assumed the responsibilities from the spot, placing his attempt into the bottom corner.
 
Lucas then had an opportunity to close out the half with a hat-trick but instead guided his shot into the ‘keeper after a sharp tiki-taka build up from the Greens.
 
An hour into the contest, Piemonte drew one back for Arthur Pappas’ side with a stunning free-kick.
 
Standing all but 25-yards out from goal, the attacker’s strike cannoned onto the under-side of Alastair Bray’s crossbar, before bouncing over the touchline.
 
Piemonte then completed his double 16 minutes from time.
 
Combining with Sean Rooney on the edge of the area, the number 10 slotted his second across the face of goal into the bottom corner.
 
The Greens though found netted the winner ten minutes later.
 
Rising highest, Pilkington nodded on Daniel Visevic’s corner past Hun to give his side the advantage with only five minutes remaining.
 
The visitors almost snatched a draw with the last kick of the game barring for some last ditch heroics from Bray between the posts.
 
The shot-stopper bought the Kingston Heath crowd to its feet, executing a sensational point blank save to deny Rooney who only had the ‘keeper to beat.
 
Bentleigh’s will enjoy a week’s rest before facing the highest seeded team from next weekend’s elimination final.
 
Oakleigh finishes the season in 11th place but will look forward to its Round of 16 FFA Cup clash against Metro Stars on September 1st.

MATCH DETAILS
 
Bentleigh Greens 3 (Lucas 15’, 17’, Pilkington 85’) defeated Oakleigh Cannons 2 (Piemonte 60’, 74’) at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex [HT: 2-0] (U20s 1-0).
 
Bentleigh Greens: 21. Alastair BRAY (GK), 4. Troy RUTHVEN, 5. Jack WEBSTER, 6. Liam McCORMICK, 7. Jamie DE ABREU, 8. Wayne WALLACE, 9. Chris LUCAS, 10. Tyson HOLMES, 19. Daniel VISEVIC, 24. Luke PILKINGTON, 36. Steven TOPALOVIC.
 
Substitutes: 1. Ryan SCOTT (GK), 11. Dion KIRK, 17. Ryan LOVE, 22. Austin WONG.

 
Oakleigh Cannons: 76. Lajos HUN (GK), 4. Theo PAPAGEORGIO, 18. Adam LE CORNU, 6. Steve PANTELIDIS, 12. Trenayne SADLER, 22. Matthew FOSCHINI, 26. Lambros HONOS, 21. Jacob WILLIAMS, 14. Mirjan PAVLOVIC, 16. Sean ROONEY, 10. Dean PIEMONTE.
 
Substitutes: 35. Evan KRALOGLOV (GK), 8. Dusan BOSNJAK, 5. Aron WILFORD, 11. Kofi DANNING, 23. Stephen FRANTZEKAKIS.