Hume, Northcote Big Winners

St Albans Saints 6 (Matthew Demo (3), Daniel Visevic (2), Louis Fenton)
Victorian Training Centre 2 (Alon Blumgart, John Reale)
@ Knights Stadium

ST Albans made it three-straight wins with a 6-2 thumping of the Victorian Training Centre.

The Saints kept their faint safety hopes alive as Matthew Demo struck a hat-trick to move top of the club’s scoring charts despite joining mid-season.

VTC did not go down without a fight though as Alon Blumgart and John Reale struck in the first half, cancelling out Daniel Visevic’s opener to give them a 2-1 lead after 33 minutes.

But Demo hit back on the stroke of half time and the second 45 was one-way traffic, culminating in the completion of his treble, Visevic’s brace and a goal from Louis Fenton.
 

Oakleigh Cannons 1 (Hayden Doyle)
Heidelberg United 0
@ Jack Edwards Reserve

OAKLEIGH once again underlined their title credentials with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Heidelberg United.

A 55th-minute strike from Hayden Doyle was enough to secure the Cannons an important three points.

It was an opportunity missed for United to consolidate their spot in the top five, keeping them on the edge and in danger of missing out on a finals berth.

Dandenong Thunder 0
Northcote City 6 (James Kalifatidis (3), Gianni De Nittis (2), Trent Rixon)
@ George Andrews Reserve

NORTHCOTE City were in fine form as they handed Dandenong Thunder a 6-0 belting in a match played behind closed doors.

Expected to be a tight encounter between two teams competing for a finals spot, City produced one of their finest displays of the season as fans were locked out after Thunder were handed the penalty after indiscretions during their round nine game.

In-form forward James Kalifatidis hit a hat-trick, second-half substitute Gianni De Nittis found the net twice in his 20 minutes on the park and star striker Trent Rixon was also on the scoresheet.

A Kalifatidis strike separated the teams at the break, but he and Rixon made it 3-0 before the hour mark.

De Nittis came on in the 70th minute and scored twice before man of the moment Kalifatidis hit his third as Dandenong suffered a horror defeat.

Hume City 4 (Richard Cardozo (3), Zoran Petrevski)
Green Gully Cavaliers 0
@ Broadmeadows Valley Park

HUME City extended their unbeaten run to nine with a 4-0 win over a Green Gully side that had been in form.

Both teams entered the clash on an eight-game unbeaten run but it was Hume who showed they were arguably title favourites.

A Richard Cardozo hat-trick extended his lead atop the golden boot standings as City belted a helpless Cavaliers outfit.

He struck midway through the first half before adding to his tally in the 59th and 63rd minutes with two fine goals.

Fellow attacker Zoran Petrevski completed the rout as Hume maintained top spot.

Richmond 2 (Nicholas Marinos, Michael Catalano)
Springvale White Eagles 0
@ Kevin Bartlett Reserve

RICHMOND piled further misery on the Springvale White Eagles with a 2-0 home win.

The Eagles, along with St Albans, are destined for the drop as they suffered their fifth-straight defeat.

First-half goals from Nicholas Marinos and Michael Catalano gave Richmond victory, moving them nine points clear of the relegation zone.

St Albans Saints 0
Bentleigh Greens 2 (Scott Bulloch, Ryan De Vries)
@ Churchill Reserve

BENTLEIGH maintained their spot in the top five with a comfortable 2-0 win over the St Albans Saints.

The Greens have won four of their last five and goals from Scott Bulloch and Ryan De Vries ensured there would be no upset at Churchill Reserve.

St Albans are in the bottom two and with little hope of avoiding the drop after both Richmond and the Melbourne Knights recorded round 17 wins.

Melbourne Knights 1 (Craig Sweeney)
South Melbourne 0
@ Knights Stadium

A brilliant strike from Craig Sweeney gave the Melbourne Knights a 1-0 win over a disappointing South Melbourne outfit.

The old foes went at it again and Sweeney’s goal gave the Knights their first win over their arch rivals since April 2008.

He struck on 31 minutes, driving home from the edge of the area as his shot hit the top corner after a deflection inside the box.

Despite their inconsistent form, South remain in third.
 

Round 18:
Tuesday (8.30pm): Victorian Training Centre v Richmond @ Knights Stadium
Friday (8.15pm): Bentleigh Greens v Richmond @ Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
Friday (8.30pm): Oakleigh Cannons v Melbourne Knights @ Jack Edwards Reserve
Saturday (3pm): Green Gully Cavaliers v Dandenong Thunder @ Green Gully Reserve
Sunday (3pm): South Melbourne v St Albans Saints @ John Cain Memorial Park
Sunday (3pm): Springvale White Eagles v Hume City @ White Eagles Stadium
Sunday (6pm): Heidelberg United v Northcote City @ Olympic Park (Village)

Alanic Victorian Premier League 2011 – League Table

* Please note Victorian Training Centre games are for points but the team cannot play finals or be relegated.
* Round Three: Heidelberg United docked three points for incidents stemming from their clash with Hume City.
* Round Nine: Dandenong Thunder deducted six points for incidents stemming from their meeting with Bentleigh Greens.

Alanic Victorian Premier League 2011 - Leading Goal-Scorers
14 – Richard CARDOZO (Hume City)

10 – Osagie EDERARO (Heidelberg United, Saso ALEXOVSKI (Heidelberg United), Trent RIXON (Northcote City)

8 – James KALIFATIDIS (Northcote City)

7 – Steven WEIR (South Melbourne/Hume City), Evan CHRISTODOULOU (Heidelberg United), Mathew SANDERS (Green Gully Cavaliers), Jason HAYNE (Green Gully Cavaliers), Michael FERRANTE (Richmond)