Victorian Training Centre 0

Bentleigh Greens 1 (Sean McIlroy)

@ Kingston Heath Soccer Complex 

Bentleigh Greens made it two wins from as many starts with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Victorian Training Centre.

The Greens ensured they took six points from opponents they have been expected to beat after their win over Springvale in round one.

Sean McIlroy was on the scoresheet again, capitalizing on an error from VTC keeper Rani Dowisha just before half time.

It was important for Bentleigh to start in winning fashion with games against the more fancied Heidelberg (also round two), followed by meetings with South Melbourne and Oakleigh.

 

Oakleigh Cannons 1 (Bonel Obradovic)

Green Gully Cavaliers 0
@ Jack Edwards Reserve

A first half goal from Bonel Obradovic was enough to give Oakleigh an important 1-0 victory over reigning champions Green Gully Cavaliers.

The youngster curled a shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the area eight minutes before the break.

It was crucial a talented Cannons outfit that begins the season with four home games showed they are genuine contenders in 2011.

Gully remain winless ahead of two local derbies against Melbourne Knights and St Albans Saints.

 

Springvale White Eagles 4 (Goran Zoric (2), Zoran Vukas, Tome Racunica)

South Melbourne 6 (Jesse Krncevic (2), Fernando De Moraes, Kamal Ibrahim, Kliment Taseski, Carl Recchia)
@ White Eagles Stadium

South Melbourne recorded a thrilling 6-4 win at Springvale White Eagles to bring up their first victory of the season.

In an incredible second half, eight goals were scored as South were forced to come from 2-0 down at the break.

The White Eagles outplayed their visitors in the first half and former South player Goran Zoric scored a brace.

Zoric cut inside from the left and buried into the bottom corner on two separate occasions to give the home side a two-goal buffer at the break.

It could have been worse for South but after Zoric had been fouled in the area, the resultant penalty was struck against the woodwork.

But after a couple of tactical changes at the break, South came out dominant and containing Zoric on the left hand side.

First, Fernando De Moraes struck before on-loan Melbourne Heart attacker Kamal Ibrahim capitalized on a goalkeeping error.

His Heart teammate Kliment Taseski gave South the lead with a long-range strike after he had been moved to right back and did a fine job containing Zoric.

But Springvale pulled it back to 3-3 when Zoran Vukas struck from the spot before Carl Recchia regained the lead when he scored from a rebound off the crossbar.

Striker Jesse Krncevic got on the scoresheet to give South a two-goal lead but Tome Racunica pulled one back.

The result was finally assured when Krncevic got his brace to make it a tennis-like 6-4 score line.

The defensive units of both teams will need to improve, more so for the White Eagles who have now conceded 13 goals in three games.

 

Northcote City 1 (Kristian Konstandinidis)

Melbourne Knights 1 (Shaun Romein)

@ John Cain Memorial Park

Northcote City secured a late 1-1 draw in a pulsating finish to their clash with Melbourne Knights.

After a lacklustre opening period in which both teams struggled, the game opened up for the last half hour and the visitors almost took home all three points.

Knights looked more potent in attack and took the lead through Shaun Romein as the substitute found himself free in the area to head home a cross from Mathieu-Luc Welmant.

But City defender Kristian Konstandinidis found an equalizer after poking home a corner.

It may be looked at as three points missed for both sides but the Knights were an improved outfit to the one that struggled at home to Thunder last time out.

 

Dandenong Thunder 5 (Steven Cook (3), Mathew Theodore, Chris Taylor)

St Albans Saints 2 (Tomislav Uskok, Tomi Razov)

@ George Andrews Reserve

Dandenong Thunder romped to a highly entertaining 5-2 victory over a 10-man St Albans Saints to remain unbeaten.

Thunder fell behind early before running hot to finish the first half with three goals in quick succession.

Saints midfielder Tomislav Uskok opened the scoring with a header before Thunder went into the break ahead, mainly thanks to a first half brace from striker Steven Cook.

Cook equalized before young attacking midfielder Mathew Theodore struck with an acrobatic overhead kick to make it 2-1.

Cook then slotted from the penalty spot to give Thunder an unlikely 3-1 lead heading into the interval.

But the Saints didn’t give in and the provider of the first goal Tomi Razov pulled one back early in the second half.

Cook completed his hat trick and Razov was given his marching orders before round one hero Chris Taylor scored Thunder’s fifth.

Thunder could be a threat in 2011 if Cook can be a regular scorer as their midfield diamond of Theodore, Taylor, Luke Sherbon and Acim Tomic is one of the best in the league.

 

Hume City 2 (Ross Thompson (2))

Richmond 2 (Michael Ferrante, Chris O’Hare)

@ Broadmeadows Valley Park

Hume City and Richmond played out an action-packed 2-2 draw as both of last year’s preliminary finalists finished their clash with 10 men.

City midfielder Ross Thompson scored a first half brace for the home side before two sending offs in the second period.

Hume captain-coach Andy Vlahos set up Thompson for the opener early on before Michael Ferrante struck a brilliant equalizer.

Thompson scored moments before the interval with the game taking two twists in the second half as Vlahos got his marching orders.

Vlahos picked up to cautions in the space of five minutes but Richmond’s man advantage lasted barely 10 minutes when Mitchell Bissinger also saw red.

But the Eagles would pick up their first point of the season thanks to an equalizer from Chris O’Hare.

 

Heidelberg United 1 (Osagie Ederaro)

Bentleigh Greens 1 (Scott Bulloch)

@ Olympic Park (Village)

Heidelberg United scored a last-gap equalizer to take a point in a 1-1 draw at home to a 10-man Bentleigh Greens.

Greens keeper Peter Gavalas was sent off midway through the first half for an off the ball incident.

But the visitors went ahead five minutes later when Scott Bulloch struck from a tight angle.

The home fans had to last for the last kick of the game to see their side grab a point as Osagie Ederaro placed home from a goalmouth scramble following a corner.

It would have been three out of three for Bentleigh and an incredible start to their season but a draw is a decent result away to the Bergers.

 

Round Three:

Wednesday (8.30pm): South Melbourne v Victorian Training Centre Football @ Kingston Heath Soccer Complex

Friday (8.30pm): Oakleigh Cannons v Springvale White Eagles @ Jack Edwards Reserve

Friday (8.30pm): Melbourne Knights v Green Gully Cavaliers @ Knights Stadium

Sunday (3pm): Richmond v Dandenong Thunder @ Kevin Bartlett Reserve

Sunday (3pm): Hume City v Heidelberg United @ Broadmeadows Valley Park

Sunday (5pm): South Melbourne v Bentleigh Greens @ John Cain Memorial Park

Sunday (5pm): St Albans Saints v Northcote City @ Churchill Reserve

 

Alanic Victorian Premier League 2011 – League Table

Team

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1

Bentleigh Greens

3

2

1

0

5

1

+4

7

2

Dandenong Thunder

2

2

0

0

6

2

+4

6

3

Oakleigh Cannons

2

2

0

0

4

2

+2

6

4

South Melbourne

2

1

1

0

7

5

+2

4

5

Heidelberg United

2

1

1

0

2

1

+1

4

 

Victorian Training Centre

2

1

0

1

4

2

+2

3

6

Hume City

2

0

2

0

3

3

0

2

7

Northcote City

2

0

1

1

3

4

-1

1

8

Richmond

2

0

1

1

2

3

-1

1

9

Green Gully Cavaliers

2

0

1

1

1

2

-1

1

10

Melbourne Knights

2

0

1

1

1

2

-1

1

11

St Albans Saints

2

0

1

1

3

6

-3

1

12

Springvale White Eagles

3

0

0

3

5

13

-8

0

* 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

3 – Steven COOK (Dandenong Thunder), Jesse KRNCEVIC (South Melbourne), Ross THOMPSON (Hume City)

2 – Sam TORRENS (Northcote City), Hayden DOYLE (Bentleigh Greens), Sean MCILROY (Bentleigh Greens), Goran ZORIC (Springvale White Eagles), Tome RACUNICA (Springvale White Eagles), Chris TAYLOR (Dandenong Thunder)