Victorian Premier League Round 20 Review

SUNSHINE George Cross moved out of the relegation zone after snapping a nine-game losing run with a late 2-1 win at home to the out of form Oakleigh Cannons, leaving reigning champion Altona Magic in bottom spot after round 20 of the Alanic Victorian Premier League.

The Cannons went ahead through striker Ricky Diaco on 68 minutes after he hammered a 25-yard shot past Martin John in the Georgies goal.

But the Georgies went attacking late on with front man Peter Koutsoupias brought on for his first game of the season after overseas work commitments prevented him from playing earlier.

After being booked, Koutsoupias scored the equalizer on 87 minutes after James Blackburn had cushioned a header down for him.

He received his marching orders for a second yellow card after momentarily removing his shirt in his celebrations.

The Georgies went for the win and were rewarded a penalty in the second minute of stoppage time, when it was adjudged Blackburn was brought down in the area.

Defender Craig Sweeney stepped up and despite the best efforts of Griffin McMaster in the Cannons goal found the net to give his side an important win.

GREEN Gully affirmed itself as a potential title contender with a gutsy come from behind 2-1 win at home to the Dandenong Thunder.

The Cavaliers conceded on 27 minutes after Thunder's Dennis Ukalovski pounced on a loose ball to bury home from the corner of the area.

But after a tight tussle, Gully equalized through young striker Joshua Groenewald on 78 minutes.

Left back Steven Burton pulled a ball back for the unmarked Groenewald to strike into the roof of the net.

As they built the pressure, substitute striker Mathew Sanders sped onto a long ball from Andy Vargas to beat Stuart Webster in a one on one and seal the game with eight minutes to play.

NORTHCOTE City produced another devastating display of attacking football to dispatch of a nine-man Heidelberg United 5-1.

After scoring four times in an hour before its game against Dandenong was abandoned, City made it five with striker and captain Trent Rixon scoring a hat trick to take his season tally to 15.

The Bergers went down to 10 men when Luke Byles was sent off for stomping before coach George Katsakis was also given his marching orders after an alleged altercation with the referee.

City was on the scoresheet midway through the half after Nicholas Curtis was brought down in the area and Rixon converted from the spot.

United was given its third red card and reduced to nine men with striker Saso Alexovski believed to have thrown the ball at the referee after the opener.

Rixon made it two on 29 minutes, sending a curling shot into the top corner of the net from the edge of the area.

But the Bergers showed spirit and a cross-cum-shot from Josip Kosic found the net two minutes later.

Rixon completed his hat trick on 56 minutes, skipping past numerous United defenders and beating Steve Tilovski in the Bergers goal.

Rixon's replacement Stuart Nicholson also found the net and veteran George Papadopoulos sealed the win with his side's fifth in the 84^th minute.

HUME City recorded a comfortable 3-0 win at relegation battler Altona Magic.

Veteran Andy Vlahos gave his side the early advantage, first to react to a rebound off the post for an easy finish.

City hit again on the half hour, striker Zoran Petrevski beating Tomislav Tomich in the Magic goal with a fine strike.

After the interval, Fabio Dilizia made it three with a fine header into the corner of Tomich's net.

RICHMOND fought back from two goals down to keep top spot on the table with a 2-2 draw at South Melbourne.

South started the better of the two teams with dangerous striker Fernando De Moraes tapping in the opener after a quarter of an hour.

They went two ahead before the break when Steven O'Dor headed in a cross from Joe Keenan.

But the Eagles fought back in the second half with Daniel Visevic pulling one back on 68 minutes and midfielder Michael Ferrante scoring a ripper less than 10 minutes later.

MELBOURNE Knights moved to safety after a comfortable 2-0 win at the Bentleigh Greens.

In a relegation decider, a two-minute double salvo gave the Knights a much-needed three points.

The Greens failed to clear a Knights corner on 68 minutes, allowing Thomas Skara to nod home his first goal of the season.

A moment later and another poor clearance fell for Adrian Zahra to send a looping shot into the net and secure the three points.

Ladder (after 20 rounds)

1 - Richmond +5 36 pts

2 - Hume City +11 35 pts

3 - Green Gully +10 33 pts

4 - Oakleigh Cannons +2 30 pts

5 - Northcote City** +12 27 pts

6 - Heidelberg United -1 27 pts

7 - Dandenong Thunder* -2 27 pts