Players and coaches speak to the FFV Podcast presented by Sportsmart every week - Click Here to subscribe in iTunes. See media links to photo galleries, video and match reports via the NPL Victoria Facebook page.

PS4 NPL Victoria

By Damir Kulas

Bentleigh Greens 3 (Webster 42' Lucas 45' Paczkowski 90+3') 0 Melbourne Victory

The Bentleigh Greens temporarily jumped to outright top spot on the ladder after opening the round with a dominant 3-0 victory against Melbourne Victory.

The Greens hit the post three times inside the opening twenty minutes as Troy Ruthven was denied twice by the woodwork before Jack Webster saw his effort strike the woodwork.

There was to be no denying Webster a second time around as his headed past Lucas Spinella in the 42nd minute after a pin-point cross from Luke Pilkington.

Chris Lucas scored on the stroke of half-time to take his season tally to up to five goals following a through ball from strike-partner Matt Thurtell.

Substitute Ryan Paczkowski rounded of the scoring with the final kick of the night as the 2015 Champions look forward to a mouth-watering Grand Final rematch against South Melbourne next week.

Avondale 1 (Towns 36') 1 Oakleigh Cannons 1 (Hatzimouratis 27')

Avondale’s winless start to the season continued despite an improved showing in a 1-1 draw against the Oakleigh Cannons at Knights Stadium on Friday night.

The visitors opened the scoring just before the half hour when Dimitri Hatzimouratis marked his return to Sunshine with his third goal of the season.

Anthony Barbieri’s found themselves level soon after through a fantastic strike from the boot of Tasmanian midfielder of Yitay Towns which bounced in off the crossbar.

The Avengers were then presented the perfect opportunity to take the lead in the 72nd minute only for Alex Khrapko’s penalty to be saved by the in-form John Honos.

The Ukrainian-born striker was once more in the thick of it as he was brought down when running goal wards by Abdalla Okud who was subsequently sent off but despite the numerical advantage, the Cannons held on for a point to remain unbeaten in their last four.

Pascoe Vale 0-1 Bulleen Lions (Nour 62')

The Bulleen Lions condemned Pascoe Vale to their four successive game without a win after a hard-fought 1-0 victory at CB Smith Reserve on Friday evening.

A cagey opening half saw both sides struggle to create many clear-cut goalscoring opportunities in front of an expectant home crowd.

The game was brought alight just past the hour mark when Sami Nour claimed his third goal of the season to put the visitors ahead.

Pascoe Vale captain Joseph Youssef hit the woodwork before an alert Griffin McMaster denied teenager Matthew Conversano and Youssef in quick succession.

But it wasn’t to be as Dominic Barba’s men came away from the clash with their second win of the season but face a nervous wait on the status of their goalscorer who was taken to hospital with a suspected ankle injury.

Richmond 1 (Barker-Daish 7') 1 Melbourne Knights (Purcell 21')

A Richmond old boy came back to haunt his former employers as the Melbourne Knights came away from their clash at Kevin Bartlett Reserve on Friday night with a 1-1 draw.

The in-form Jake Barker-Daish opened the scorer with a superb goal in the seventh minute to continue his rich vein of goalscoring form by claiming his fourth goal of the season.

However the lead didn’t last long as former Richmond midfielder scored his first goal in Knights colours half way through the opening 45 and against the club where he spent four and a half seasons at.

Gian Tapia was forced into making a sharp save to deny Jason Hicks a second successive strike before the hosts piled on plenty of late pressure at Knights goal only for the resolute guests to hold firm in a result which sees Richmond entrenched in twelfth place on the competition standings.

Northcote City 1 (Bounas pen 56') Heidelberg United 6 (Pace 8' Ellis 11' Way pen 67' pen 86', 90+1' Kanakaris 90+4')

A dominant final half hour from Heidelberg United saw them dismantle near neighbours Northcote City 6-1 at John Cain Memorial Reserve on Saturday afternoon.

The Bergers took an early 2-0 lead thanks to a goals from Steven Pace and Sean Ellis – the latter being a sensational free-kick which bounded in off the underside of the crossbar.

Northcote reduced the deficit eleven minutes into the second half through a Jonathan Bounas penalty before young striker Aron Handakas was sent off for the second time in his senior career.

Reuben Way restored Heidelberg’s two goal advantage soon after via the penalty spot before converting another penalty late after Peter Gavalas had been adjudged to have brought down Andrew Cartanos – earning himself a red card in the process.

Way completed his hat-trick in stoppage time to move clear on top of the league goalscoring charts with six goals for the season as Kostas Kanakaris completed the scoring.

Green Gully 0 Port Melbourne Sharks 2 (Goodwin 45' 63')

Port Melbourne's climb up the table is no longer under the radar after a statement win away at Green Gully Reserve.

The home team had half chances sprayed high and wide through the first 45 beofre Port Melbourne struck on the stroke of half time through Alec Goodwin.

Jamie de Abreu's run down the right and square to the top of the box found the unchecked run of Goodwin, who netted in the bottom left corner after having the time to steady and pick his spot.

Goodwin made it 2-0 in the 63rd minute when he followed in a Rani Dowisha parry and hit a well-timed volley into the top left corner.

Hume City 1 (Franjic 77') South Melbourne 2 (Millar 40' 62')

A hotly disputed red card was the turning point as Ramazan Tavsancioglu's dismissal in the 38th minute was followed by the opening goal from the resulting free kick.

Matt Millar's looping header caught Chris Oldfield out, the Hume 'keeper lost his crossbar and goal line as he back-tracked, missing the ball as it fell in.

Millar then knocked in a second in the 62nd minute before Joe Franjic pegged a goal back for Hume by heading in Nick Hegarty's cross.

South's defence held firm though, the 2-1 win keeping South top of the league from Bentleigh Greens on goals scored.

PS4 NPL Victoria Women's

Players and coaches speak to the FFV Podcast presented by Sportsmart every week - Click Here to subscribe in iTunes. See media links to photo galleries, video and match reports via the NPLW Victoria Facebook page.

By Marc Sudholz

Alamein 8 (Keane 17' 36' 45' Parikis 34' Runnalls 50' Thomas 55' 75' 90') Southern United 0

Alamein FC was a convincing 8-0 winner in a one-sided contest against Southern United at HA Smith Reserve.

Hannah Keane was the star of the show, netting a first-half hattrick, whilst also laying on two assists for teammates.

After a slow start to the game, it was Keane who broke the deadlock, firing past Jaye Todd to make it 1-0.

Southern had a chance to equalise, first through Shauna Murray, whose cross-shot hit the crossbar, and then Saphri Lines, who forced Melissa Maizels into a good save.

Defender Maria Patrikis then made it two in the 33^rd minute,  with a stunning, curling left-footed strike from 20 yards

Keane added another two before the break to complete her hat trick. Her second goal was the pick of the goals, beating two defenders before unleashing a left-footed thunderbolt, with her third being scored on her right foot into the top left corner.

Following the break, Emma Runnals capitalised on a mistake from substitute keeper Jeune Jiew, before substitute Brittany Thomas stole the show for the home side, netting a quick fire hat trick.

All three of her goals were nearly identical, being played through twice by Keane, and once by Ayres, before firing with aplomb across Jiew into the bottom left corner of the goal.

Southern’s best chance of the game came with 10 minutes remaining, but Saphri Lines was denied brilliantly by the feet of Melissa Maizels in the Alamein goals.

Heidelberg United 0 FC Bulleen Lions 1 (Boudreau 75')

Taryne Boudreau's second-half goal was enough to keep Bulleen perfect and top of the league with five wins from five.

Boudreau knocked in Alex Natoli's cross with 15 minutes remaining to secure victory.

Boudreau had earlier narrowly missed a lobbed attempt, while a number of Bulleen's best half-chances fell to Lia Privitelli.

Geelong Galaxy United 1 (White 25') Box Hill United 0

Geelong Galaxy United bounced back from a mid-week defeat to NTC with Kariah White's goal the difference against Box Hill United.

The win lifted Geelong back into the top four and ahead of the count with three wins an two defeats, albeit still with a negative goal difference.

Bayside United 1 (James 57') Calder United 2 (Alonso 23' Newman 32')

Calder made hard work of a 2-1 win, seemingly in control of the match at half time before a spirited Bayside comeback.

Rachel Alonso netted the opener when Stacey Papadopoulos played her through with a well-timed pass. Aliesha Newman doubled the advantage when Jess Pitts produced a defence-splitting pass in the 32nd minute and Newman powered in the shot at the near (right) post.

Bayside took the momentum in the second half however, with substitute Bronte James knocking in a goal in the 57th minute after she was first to a parry by Calder goalkeeper Bethany Mason-Jones.

Mason-Jones was on hand to foil James with further attacks as Calder stood up to Bayside's challenge and held on for a 2-1 win.

PS4 NPL Victoria NPL 2 - Cross-Over Round

Players and coaches speak to the FFV Podcast presented by Sportsmart every week - Click Here to subscribe in iTunes. See media links to photo galleries, video and match reports via the NPL Victoria Facebook page.

By Matthew Conversano

Moreland City 2 (Rixon 34' Kurucu 80') Murray United 3 (Dunne 5' Walker 24' Lino 53')

Murray United earned their first league win of the season as they held firm against a resurgent Moreland City outfit on Saturday afternoon at Campbell Reserve.

Two goals within the first 25 minutes from Ashley Dunne and Zac Walker respectively put Moreland on the back foot.

It took an emphatic finish from Trent Rixon in the 34th minute to restore hope of a fightback from the home side.

A goal early in the second half to Murray's Geoffrey Lino allowed the visitors to sit off and hold onto their lead for the remainder of the match; albeit with a scare in the form of a Mo Kurucu goal with 10 minutes remaining.

Sunshine George Cross 1 (Grossman 6') drew with Springvale White Eagles 1 (Louziotis 90+1')

A draw did no favours to either side climbing the ladder as they finished Round 6 second last in their respective conferences.

The home side made an ideal start when Chris Grossman curled in the opener after Ayodeji Omoboye had knocked down a cross from the left to sit up in Grossman's path.

Jack Louziotis earned a draw for Springvale in stoppage time when he controlled a free kick hit to the top of the area, turned and lashed in a left-footed shot that went across the 'keeper and into the top-right corner.

Brunswick City 3 (Principato 18' Turgut 30' Vithoulkas 83') Melbourne City FC 0

Brunswick capitalised on a solid start when Nathan Fox's ball down the left set Dimi Vithoulaks through an attacking channel to square for Jason Principato.

The early goal buoyed Brunswick who doubled their advantage on the half hour when Ali Turgut let fly a spectacular strike from some 20m outside the penalty area.

The wind may have played a minor role in swerving the ball, but for the most part the shot was hit true and picked out the top left corner.

Brunswick withstood a goal-mouth scramble early in the second half after chaos at the fall of a Phil Petreski free kick. Goalkeeper Wes Coles then denied Yusuf Ahmed one-on-one as Melbourne City tried to launch a comeback.

The points were secured with seven minutes left when a shanked defensive clearance sat up perfectly for Vithoulkas to volley in Brunswick's third.

Dandenong City 4 (Cattermole 42' Matkovic pen 69' Antoniadis 84' 90+1) Ballarat Red Devils 1 (Swinton 60')

Dom Swinton's equaliser had Ballarat Red Devils hopeful of mounting a challenge on the road, but Dandenong City powered away with three goals in the last 21 minutes of the contest.

Ash Cattermole had sent City to the break up 1-0 before a late Chris Antoniadis double gave the home team a valubale boost to the goal difference.

Eastern Lions 4 (Burfoot 45+1' Ellis 56' Neales 75' 79') Werribee City 0

Werribee City's return to the second tier of Victorian football continues to falter after a comprehensive defeat away at Eastern Lions.

Sam Burfoot's goal on the stroke of half time set the tone for the second half, with Cameron Neales' quick-fire double ensuring a comfortable last 10 minutes for the home side.

Moreland Zebras 2 (Yousif 30' Sabidussi 90') Nunawading City 0

Bagio Yousif capitalised on loose checking in the Nunawading defence to send the home team to the break with a 1-0 lead.

A cross in from the left was parried initially but the follow-up had Yousif unmarked to roll in the opening goal.

The Zebras had to wait until the final minute to make the game safe, Josh Sabidussi running onto an errant backpass to finish.

Kingston City 2 (Vranesevic 7' Droutsas 90') North Geelong Warriors 2 (Anderson 69' Thorne 79')

Kostas Droutsas saved Kingston City from a first defeat of the season when his stoppage-time equaliser earned a 2-2 draw with North Geelong Warriors.

Slaven Vranesevic had put Kingston into an early lead but the Warriors hit back with Michael Anderson and Matt Thorne scoring late in the second half.

Goulburn Valley Suns 2 (Gaillard 31' Carley 53') Bendigo City FC 0

The Suns' imports ensured Bendigo City's time on the winners list was a short one.

Frenchman Gaillard netted just after the half-hour while the prolific Carley scored ealry in the second half to set Goulburn Valley on course for victory.

Box Hill United 2 (Schroen 34' Boahene 44') Whittlesea Ranges 4 (Slefendorfas 4' 48' Ofli 16' 89')

Box Hill survived an early scare with Keegan Coulter saving well from Matt Iuliano, but Whittlesea would net the opener soon after with George Slefendorfas running onto a throw from the left and putting his finish into the opposite corner.

Atilla Ofli then doubled the advantage when he ran onto an Iuliano through ball, held it up to draw the 'keeper, then wheeled onto his right to finish.

Box Hill hit back with Alex Schroen sliding in a shot on a tight angle from the right after running down a diagonal ball.

Box Hill would head to half time level when Kobbie Boahene rose highest at a corner to nod in.

But Whittlesea was back on top just three minutes into the second half when Ofli played through Slefendorfas to finish from a central position.

Ofli made the game safe in the 89th minute when he controlled Liam Newman's cross from the right and put the finish into the bottom left corner.

St Albans Saints 0 Dandenong Thunder 1 (Barnes 75')

By Damir Kulas

The Dandenong Thunder continued their 100% start to the season after a hard-thought 1-0 victory away to the St Albans Saints on Sunday afternoon.

A moment of superb individual brilliance from English striker Brandon Barnes fifteen minutes from time was the game’s decisive moment as the visitors came away from their visit to Churchill Reserve with all three points.

Each side forced efforts wide into the side netting in the opening ten minutes of the contest through the boots of in-form duo Amir Osmancevic and Joseph Monek.

The hosts had a shot cleared off the line as George Tsiakalakis’ goal bound effort was punted out by the alert Brendan Elmazovski on the Thunder goal line.

Tsiakalakis then did well to deflect a Simon Colosimo header over the bar with the top of his left shoulder after the Socceroo managed to get clean contact on the ball.

Tedros Yabio had the home side’s best chance of the opening half late on when Monek cut the ball back across the box to find the forward whose fierce shot flashed agonisingly wide off the post.

Osmancevic then pounced upon a defensive slip-up in the Saints back four only to fire his half volley over the bar as the two sides headed into the break scoreless.

Dinamo came out of the interval the better of the two teams and had two half chances fall to the feet Yabio in quick succession, the first of those scrambled away by Fraser Maclaren in Thunder goals.

Osmancevic then broke free from the right side of play, cut inside and beat two players but was unable to trouble Alex Baird who was untroubled by his low shot at goal.

The breakthrough then arrived in the 75th minute when the Thunder broke free via Dylan Facci who launched a long ball into the feet of Barnes who turned Shaper, before beating Tsiakalakis and unleashing past Baird who got his fingertips onto the ball but was unable to prevent the ball from entering the back of the net.

The home side almost secured a dramatic equaliser as Ryan McGuffie’s last-minute header bounced back off the crossbar and fell into the path of Monek who blazed over from close range in what was the game’s final genuine chance before the full-time whistle brought an end to proceedings.