In 28 games this season, the net has been found 96 times at an average of 3.4 goals per game.

Oakleigh Cannons 3 (James Robinson (2), Anthony Bran)
Victorian Training Centre 0
@ Jack Edwards Reserve 

A BRACE from James Robinson helped Oakleigh Cannons to a comprehensive 3-0 win over Victorian Training Centre.

The former A-League journeyman opened the scoring in the 34th minute before doubling his tally and his team’s advantage on the hour mark.

Defender Anthony Bran guaranteed the result with another two minutes before the end.

The Cannons have made an impressive start to the season while VTC are likely to drop out of the top five for the first time.

 

Bentleigh Greens 1 (Scott Bulloch)
Oakleigh Cannons 3 (Frankie Lagana, Ricky Diaco, Billy Damianos)
@ Jack Edwards Reserve 

OAKLEIGH Cannons maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 3-1 win at Bentleigh Greens.

First half goals from Frankie Lagana, his third in the last two weeks, and Ricky Diaco set up the victory.

Lagana struck with a free kick while Diaco finished off some fine build up play and despite Scott Bulloch scoring to pull one back early in the second half, the Greens were left rueing their first half concessions.

Substitute Billy Damianos sealed the points with a late third as the Cannons remained top of the table, while the Greens fell to a second-straight loss after a bright start to the season.

 

Green Gully Cavaliers 3 (Cameron Drake, Andy Vargas, Brent Fisher)
St Albans Saints 2 (Maks Cuze, Josip Loncaric)
@ Green Gully Reserve 

 REIGNING champions Green Gully Cavaliers scored their first win of the season with a 3-2 derby victory over St Albans.

The Cavaliers fell behind early when Saints defender Maks Cuze scored the opener but a strong half an hour gave them a lead at the break.

Cameron Drake scrambled home the equalizer from a Graham Hockless corner before Andy Vargas gave Gully the lead.

He was offered too much space just outside the area and buried his low shot into the bottom corner.

Striker Brent Fisher scored early in the second half when he smashed a left-footed volley past Antony Loncaric in the Saints goal.

The visitors had some life when Josip Loncaric converted a penalty but Gully deservedly took their first three points of the season.

 

Northcote City 5 (Trent Rixon (2), James Kalifatidis (2), Jason Trifiro)
Richmond 2 (Evan Batsis, Antun Kovacic)
@ John Cain Memorial Reserve

NORTHCOTE City registered an entertaining 5-2 win over Richmond thanks to doubles from strike duo Trent Rixon and James Kalifatidis.

A brilliant start put City in the box seat from the get-go and they didn’t look back thanks to timely strikes from their front two.

Recruit Jason Trifiro gave the hosts a perfect start when he opened the scoring in the third minute.

But the Eagles should have been on level terms soon after when Chris O’Hare had the opportunity to score from the spot.

He hit his shot off the crossbar and Michael Catalano’s follow up effort was ruled offside.

City doubled their lead before the interval when Rixon finished some good build up work to ensure he was on the scoresheet for the second week in a row.

After the break, Kalifatidis scored in his return from injury before Richmond substitute Evan Batsis pulled a goal back.

Rixon ensured the Eagles wouldn’t get a sniff with his second and despite Antun Kovacic pulling another back, Kalifatidis completed his brace in stoppage time.

Northcote have made a superb start to the season but the same can’t be said for the Eagles, who are languishing in the relegation zone.

 

Dandenong Thunder 2 (Steven Cook, Nathan Knox)
Hume City 1 (Ross Thompson)
@ George Andrews Reserve

SUBSTITUTE Nathan Knox ensured Dandenong’s perfect start to the season continued with a late winner in their 2-1 triumph over Hume City.

Knox was the hero for the home side as he scored their second minutes before the final whistle.

Thunder deservedly went into the break a goal up through Steven Cook’s opener but the visitors fought their way back.

Ross Thompson converted from the penalty spot in the second half to take his season tally to four goals.

But Knox popped up to give Thunder four wins from as many outings and inflict Hume’s first loss of the season.

 

Springvale White Eagles 1 (Gordan Mrdic)
Melbourne Knights 1 (Jean-Charles Dubois)
@ White Eagles Stadium

SPRINGVALE White Eagles moved out of the relegation zone after managing a point in a 1-1 draw at home to Melbourne Knights.

Although the White Eagles remain winless, they moved out of the bottom two with their second draw of the season.

Gordan Mrdic opened the scoring three minutes before half time but Knights striker Jean-Charles Dubois equalized in the 67th minute.

It wasn’t an ideal result for the Knights who are trying to chase a top five spot but the newly-promoted Springvale will be glad to climb out of the bottom two early in the season.

 

Heidelberg United 2 (Saso Alexovski, Osagie Ederaro)
South Melbourne 2 (Jesse Krncevic, Marinos Gasparis)
@ Olympic Park (Village)

SOUTH Melbourne pinched a late 2-2 draw in their derby clash against Heidelberg United.

South were behind until stoppage time when Marinos Gasparis popped up to find a late equalizer.

Saso Alexovski gave United a first half lead when he finished off some good work from Osagie Ederaro but South drew parity soon after.

In-form forward Jesse Krncevic continued his hot streak in front of goal when he buried a low shot into the bottom corner.

Ederaro was on the scoresheet himself in the second half but the Bergers couldn’t hold off their arch rivals.

South have made a strong start to the season while United are still trying to build some form early on.

 

Round Five:
Wednesday (8.30pm): Melbourne Knights v Victorian Training Centre @ Knights Stadium
Friday (8.30pm): Oakleigh Cannons v South Melbourne @ Jack Edwards Reserve
Saturday (7pm): Dandenong Thunder v Heidelberg United @ George Andrews Reserve
Sunday (3pm): Richmond v Green Gully Cavaliers @ Kevin Bartlett Reserve
Sunday (3pm): Hume City v Northcote City @ Broadmeadows Valley Park
Sunday (5pm): St Albans Saints v Springvale White Eagles @ Churchill Reserve
Sunday (6pm): Melbourne Knights v Bentleigh Greens @ Knights Stadium

 

Alanic Victorian Premier League 2011 – League Table

Team

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1

Oakleigh Cannons

5

4

1

0

12

5

7

13

2

Dandenong Thunder

4

4

0

0

11

3

8

12

3

South Melbourne

5

2

2

1

13

11

2

8

4

Northcote City

4

2

1

1

9

6

3

7

5

Bentleigh Greens

5

2

1

2

7

6

1

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Victorian Training Centre

4

2

0

2

7

7

0

6

6

Hume City

4

1

2

1

6

6

0

5

7

Heidelberg United

4

1

2

1

5

5

0

5

8

Melbourne Knights

4

1

2

1

4

4

0

5

9

Green Gully Cavaliers

4

1

1

2

5

6

-1

4

10

Springvale White Eagles

5

0

2

3

8

16

-8

2

11

St Albans Saints

4

0

1

3

5

10

-5

1

12

Richmond

4

0

1

3

4

11

-7

1

* Please note Victorian Training Centre games are for points but the team cannot play finals or be relegated.

 

Alanic Victorian Premier League 2011 - Leading Goal-Scorers
4 – Ross THOMPSON (Hume City), Steven COOK (Dandenong Thunder), Jesse KRNCEVIC (South Melbourne)

3 – Damir LOKVANCIC (Victorian Training Centre), Sean McILROY (Bentleigh Greens), James ROBINSON (Oakleigh Cannons), Frankie LAGANA (Oakleigh Cannons), Trent RIXON (Northcote City)