Hume Strike, Gully Continue On

Bentleigh Greens 3 (Wayne Wallace, Adam Fadljevic, Alex Rojas)
Victorian Training Centre 2 (Paulo Retre, David Stirton)
@ Kingston Heath Soccer Complex 

BENTLEIGH Greens have edged past Victorian Training Centre 3-2 in an important win mid-week.

 The Greens were expected to beat an out-of-form VTC outfit, but they left it late to produce.

The youngsters, who came into the match on a seven-game losing run, had a 2-1 lead midway through the first half after a frantic four minutes.

Paulo Retre and David Stirton scored either side of a Wayne Wallace equaliser with all three goals scored between the 19 and 22-minute marks.

The lead lasted until the 68th minute when Greens attacker Adam Fadljevic levelled the game for a second time.

Returning midfielder Alex Rojas scored the winner with a free-kick eight minutes from time as the Greens maintained their unbeaten run under coach John Anastasiadis.

Bentleigh Greens 1 (Wayne Wallace)
South Melbourne 0
@ Kingston Heath Soccer Complex

BENTLEIGH Greens have displayed their finals credentials with a 1-0 win over South Melbourne.

Coach John Anastasiadis, who replaced Andy O’Dell, has now taken his team on an eight-game unbeaten run and into finals contention.

Wayne Wallace struck with a header on the half hour mark to knock South Melbourne out of the top five.

South have struggled in recent weeks, but have a chance to return to winning ways when they meet Victorian Training Centre in round 15.

Green Gully Cavaliers 2 (Simon Storey, Graham Hockless)
Melbourne Knights 0
@ Green Gully Reserve

REIGNING Champions Green Gully edged closed to the top five after a 2-0 over the Melbourne Knights.

The Knights had their chances but goals from Simon Storey and Graham Hockless were enough to move the Cavaliers within three points of the top five.

Storey opened the scoring inside two minutes when he struck into the top corner from the edge of the area.

He went off injured in the ninth minute before his replacement, Hockless, found the net when his in-swinging free-kick from the left evaded everyone and nested into the bottom corner.

The Knights remain narrowly outside of the relegation zone on the back of an eight-game winless run, while the Cavaliers are now unbeaten in six games.

Northcote City 2 (Trent Rixon, Dean Piemonte)
St Albans Saints 0
@ John Cain Memorial Park

NORTHCOTE City consolidated their spot in the top five with a 2-0 win over St Albans.

In a more even than expected fair, City went ahead thanks to striker Trent Rixon and sealed the points late on.

Rixon, who is equal atop the Golden Boot standings, was sent off late in the game.

His goal was followed by an 87th-minute strike from Dean Piemonte in a fiery affair between the two sides.

A relatively new-look Saints side remains winless.

Dandenong Thunder 1 (Liam Kearney)
Richmond 2 (Michael Ferrante, Devon Bonne)
@ George Andrews Reserve

RICHMOND kept their faint finals hopes alive with an upset 2-1 win over Dandenong Thunder.

Two first-half goals gave the Eagles a surprise lead and they held on despite conceding a late penalty.

Michael Ferrante continued his goalscoring form with a 20th-minute free kick and new signing Devon Bonne doubled Richmond’s advantage a minute before the interval.

Thunder midfielder Liam Kearney struck from the penalty spot late on but Dandenong slumped to just their second loss of the season.

It was a must-win game for the Eagles, who are now seven points out of the top five, while Thunder narrowly hang onto fifth spot.

Springvale White Eagles 0
Oakleigh Cannons 1 (James Robinson)
@ White Eagles Stadium

A second-half goal from James Robinson was enough to give Oakleigh a hard-fought 1-0 win over Springvale White Eagles.

Robinson tapped in after 73 minutes as the Cannons maintained top spot.

It would have been a crucial point for the White Eagles but they remain in the relegation zone because of goal difference, while Oakleigh are a point clear in first.

Heidelberg United 0
Hume City 3 (Richard Cardozo, Atilla Ofli, Pece Siveski)
@ Olympic Park (Village)

HUME City struck a decisive blow in the title race with a 3-0 win over Heidelberg United.

A clash between two of the league’s top sides was expected to be closer than a comfortable City victory.

Richard Cardozo found the net for the ninth time this season with the opener, while forward Atilla Ofli continued his goal-scoring form with the second.

Former Altona Magic forward Pece Siveski wrapped up the points with a third nine minutes from the end.

City are a point off top spot, while United are third – four points adrift of Hume.

Round 15:
Tuesday (8.30pm): Victorian Training Centre v South Melbourne @ SS Anderson Reserve
Saturday (3pm): Hume City v Dandenong Thunder @ Broadmeadows Valley Park
Saturday (3pm): Richmond v Northcote City @ Kevin Bartlett Reserve
Sunday (3pm): St Albans Saints v Green Gully Cavaliers @ Churchill Reserve
Sunday (3pm): South Melbourne v Heidelberg United @ John Cain Memorial Park
Sunday (3pm): Melbourne Knights v Springvale White Eagles @ Knights Stadium

Catch-up/Break weekend
June 8 (8.30pm): Victorian Training Centre v Oakleigh Cannons @ Jack Edwards Reserve
June 12 (3pm): St Albans Saints v Victorian Training Centre @ Churchill Reserve
June 13 (4pm): Oakleigh Cannons v Bentleigh Greens @ Jack Edwards Reserve

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 (appeal pending).

Alanic Victorian Premier League 2011 - Leading Goal-Scorers
9 – Osagie EDERARO (Heidelberg United), Trent RIXON (Northcote City), Richard CARDOZO (Hume City)

8 – Saso ALEXOVSKI (Heidelberg United)

7 – Steven WEIR (Hume City), Evan CHRISTODOULOU (Heidelberg United)

6 – Hamid BASMA (Green Gully Cavaliers), Luke SHERBON (Dandenong Thunder), Jesse KRNCEVIC (South Melbourne), Michael FERRANTE (Richmond)