After a week off for the State Knockout cup, the Victorian Premier League resumed with some surprise results.
After five rounds, Northcote City are the surprise leaders having not dropped a point and building a three point gap on the chasing pack. South Melbourne head the peloton after their come from behind win.
At the other end of the table Richmond are in real trouble having not got on the board yet. Hopefully former Melbourne Victory star Grant Brebner’s appointment at the helm will lead Richmond to some better results.
Bentleigh Greens 1 (Wilford 64′)
Oakleigh Cannons 1 (Diaco 90′)
Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
Oakleigh captain Ricky Diaco was the Cannons hero as his 90th minute toe poke earned a point away against the high flying Bentleigh Greens. Aron Wilford had earlier drifted forward to establish the initial lead. Perth Glory back-up keeper Lewis Italiano was superb for Oakleigh.
Bentleigh will feel they have the easier game next week although it’s always hard to win at Pascoe Vale. Oakleigh have the much anticipated Grand Final rematch against Dandenong at home.
Port Melbourne Sharks 0
Northcote City 2 (Catalano 8’ Kalifatidis 85’)
JL Murphy Reserve
Northcote City remain undefeated and the runaway leader of the VPL with another solid win, this time against promoted Port Melbourne. The Sharks had been holding their own in the premier league but ran into a red hot Northcote outfit. At this early stage of the competition it is very hard to see where Northcote’s first loss is going to come from.
Northcote host Green Gully next week in a mouth-watering fixture. Port Melbourne travel to the pointless Richmond.
Dandenong Thunder 4 (Topalovic 36’ Hopper 63’ 67′ Foster 90’)
Hume City 0
George Andrews Reserve
Dandenong Thunder are starting to flex their muscle with their third win in a row, this time against Hume City. Thunder, who are still playing behind closed doors, have been a delight to watch over the past two weeks scoring seven goals and keeping clean sheets in both. Nate Foster and Luke Hopper are on the score-sheet for the second week running.
Dandenong travel to Oakliegh next week in the Grand Final rematch in what will be a belter of a contest. Hume City host second placed South Melbourne and need to get some points sooner rather than later if they want to stay in the finals race.
Green Gully Cavaliers 1 (Sanders 57′)
Melbourne Knights 1 (Fraser 58′)
Green Gully Reserve
The local derby between the Knights and Green Gully ended in a draw after the Cavaliers held the lead for only one minute. The old adage that you are most vulnerable straight after you’ve scored was proven correct as Matthew Sanders 57th minute header was cancelled out as Thomas Fraser equalised from the kick-off. Fraser would turn villain though as he missed a 93rd minute penalty which would have sealed all three points and put the Knights into the top three.
Green Gully visit the flying Northcote City next week, if you go to one VPL game this season make sure this is it. Melbourne Knight host the struggling Southern Stars.
Southern Stars 1 (Sadler OG 20′)
Pascoe Vale 3 (Santilli 28′ 76′ Milardovic 86′ (pen))
Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
Pascoe Vale celebrated their first ever away win in the Victorian Premier League with a 3-1 result over the lowly Southern Stars. The score could have been more as the game was end to end stuff and Pascoe Vale had a penalty saved. Stars felt aggrieved with some of the refereeing decisions but need to put that behind them and concentrate on their own performances before they truly get out of touch with the finals pack.
Pascoe Vale have Bentleigh at Hosken reserve and the Stars travel to Sommers St to face the Knights.
South Melbourne 3 (Holmes 49′ 69′ Meredith 73′)
Richmond FC 2 (Taseski 45’+2 Groenewald 47′)
Lakeside Stadium
South Melbourne came from behind to steal the win against the battling Richmond. Not even former Melbourne Victory star Grant Brebner’s appointment to the helm was enough to give Richmond their first points of the season. South Melbourne leap to second spot on the table and look like this might be the season that they play at the level many have expected for a few years.
Richmond are in real trouble and desperatly need points starting next week with a home game aganist Port Melbourne. South Melbourne head north to Broadmeadows Valley park to play Hume City.
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northcote City SC | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 15 | 15 |
| 2 | South Melbourne FC | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 12 |
| 3 | Bentleigh Greens SC | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 10 |
| 4 | Melbourne Knights FC | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 8 |
| 5 | Dandenong Thunder SC | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 7 |
| 6 | Port Melbourne Sharks SC | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 7 |
| 7 | Pascoe Vale SC | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 6 |
| 8 | Hume City FC | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 13 | -8 | 6 |
| 9 | Oakleigh Cannons FC | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | -4 | 5 |
| 10 | Green Gully Cavaliers SC | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 8 | -2 | 4 |
| 11 | Southern Stars FC | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 9 | -6 | 2 |
| 12 | Richmond FC | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 18 | -12 | 0 |
Round Six Fixtures
Pascoe Vale v Bentleigh Greens, 8:30pm Friday 17 May, Hosken Reserve
Oakleigh Cannons v Dandenong Thunder, 8:30pm Friday 17 May, Jack Edwards Reserve
Hume City v South Melbourne, 3pm Sunday 19 May, Broadmeadows Valley Park
Northcote City v Green Gully Cavaliers, 3pm Sunday 19 May, John Cain Memorial Park
Melbourne Knights v Southern Stars, 3pm Sunday 19 May, Knights Stadium
Richmond v Port Melbourne Sharks, 7pm Sunday 19 May, Kevin Bartlett Reserve
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