Check out all the weekend’s highlights from around the NPL and VPL

TALKING POINTS: Avondale and Preston Lions snatch late wins, North Sunshine goes top and Moreland City goes back-to-back. Plus, an Irish gun’s stunning Goal of the Week.

Preston Lions celebrate Matt Whelan's late winner. Picture: Matt Johnson.

The NPL and VPL action never fails to disappoint.

The weekend saw another batch of thrilling matches, stunning goals and drama.

Avondale and Preston Lions pinched late, late wins, while North Sunshine moved to the top of the pile in the VPL2.

Plus, another cracking goal from an Irish import wins Goal of the Week.

Check out all the highlights below.

George Mells provided Avondale a late, late winner. Picture: Josh Chadwick

AT THE DEATH

There’s late and then there’s George Mells’ match-winning strike for Avondale. With almost the last kick of the game the star midfielder secured the Avengers a heart-stopping 1-0 win over Dandenong City at Frank Holohan Reserve on Friday night. In the 97th minute, Mells’ original shot is blocked but the rebound cames straight back to his left boot and he finds the top corner to send Avondale players and supporters into hysterics. Mells has had to bide his time this season, coming off the bench most weeks. He was only introduced on Friday night with 10 minutes remaining but made the most of his opportunity. It’s the star midfielder’s first goal of the club after arriving mid-season from Port Melbourne last year. The win sees Avondale go second on the NPL ladder, three points behind South Melbourne and a point ahead of Oakleigh. Meanwhile, Dandenong’s finals hopes suffered a significant blow as it falls eight points behind Port Melbourne in sixth.

AT THE DEATH II

Across town there were similar scenes as Preston Lions snatched a nail-biting win over Bulleen Lions. Matt Whelan produced a 95th minute moment of magic to spark pandemonium at BT Connor Reserve. With the match deadlocked at 2-2, Adrian Valenti delivered a pin-point free-kick for Whelan to head home from close range. It capped a thrilling match that saw the clubs trade goals throughout the night. Connor Bell and Wes Jobello had earlier scored for Preston, while Luke Lofts broke a six-game drought with a double for Bulleen. The strike was Whelan’s fifth in the last three games, underlining his red-hot form. The goal became even more valuable on Sunday as Northcote City stunned ladder-leader Melbourne Victory, handing it its first loss of the campaign, and bringing Preston to within three points of top spot.

47:42: GOAL! Port Melbourne Sharks score to make it SASC 2 : PMSC 4.

Watch live and free at https://t.co/h6s3fuVIqL#NPLMVICpic.twitter.com/85WQzEmmSo

— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) May 18, 2024

GOAL OF THE WEEK

George Mells’ late, late winner for Avondale was a peach, finding the top corner with ultimately the last kick of the game. However, for sheer brilliance it’s hard to go past Port Melbourne import Eoghan Stokes. For the second time this season the Irishman has scored with a sublime free-kick. On the stroke of half-time, Stokes curls the ball over the St Albans’ wall and past a diving goalkeeper. The Saints knew what was coming and still could stop it. It proved the match-winner too as the Sharks claimed a 5-3 goal-fest.

ORIGINAL DERBY GOES SOUTH

For the second time this season South Melbourne claimed the original derby with a tense 1-0 win over Melbourne Knights. For the second time this season, a Max Mikkola long throw sowed chaos in the Knights defence. On Friday night, Mikkola’s rocket throw found the head of Lucas Inglese and he powered the header past Chris Oldfield. The Knights certainly made South work harder for the win than in Round 1 with Inglese’s strike coming in the 71st minute of the match at Knights Stadium. The centre-back had only come into the game five minutes earlier but quickly left his mark. The win keeps South three points clear at the top of the table. Meanwhile, Knights sit in ninth, nine points outside the top-six.

MORELAND GOES BACK-TO-BACK

Forced to wait 13 rounds to claim its first win of the NPL season, Moreland City wasted no time doubling up its win tally. A come-from-behind 2-1 win over Green Gully at CB Smith Reserve on Friday night was the perfect sequel to last week’s 4-0 win over Dandenong Thunder. Gully sensation Shifa Ahmed had put the Cavaliers in front after 16 minutes. It’s the young gun’s third goal in three matches. However, just before half-time, Moreland levelled the scores as Apai Ukuno converted from the penalty spot. Then, with 10 minutes remaining, a defensive error set Jose Sanz free and he found Fletcher Fulton for the classy finish. The win sees Moreland move within a point of St Albans in the battle for the wooden spoon. The club will look to make it three in a row but travel to Lakeside Stadium to face South Melbourne on Sunday.

SHARKS WIN EIGHT-GOAL THRILLER

There was entertainment aplenty at Churchill Reserve on Saturday. St Albans and Port Melbourne combined for eight goals, six of them in the first half, as the Sharks came away with a 5-3 win and a hard-fought three points. It looked like Port by how far early as they opened up a 3-0 lead inside 23 minutes. However, launched back into the contest with a quick-fire double just before half-time. However, the fireworks weren’t over as Eoghan Stokes scored a marvellous free-kick to snatch back momentum, 4-2, at the break. Scott Bakkour made a game of it in the 72nd minute, reducing the margin to one goal and the Saints threw everything – including the goalkeeper – forward to try and snatch a point. However, the move backfired and in the final seconds Andrew Mesourouni hit the empty net to seal victory. Stokes scored a brace, while Jackson Courtney-Perkins and Emmanuel Peters also scored for Port, while Bakkor scored twice and Brian Summerskill once for St Albans.

WARRIORS’ DENIED LATE WINNER

Eoin Ashton was Heidelberg United’s saviour on Sunday night. Just minutes after coming on as a substitute in the 80th minute, Ashton found himself all alone at the back post to finish Josh Pin’s inviting cut-back. The 83rd minute strike rescued a point for the Warriors and denied Altona Magic a stunning upset win in Goran Lozanovski’s return to Olympic Village. However, it could have been more for Heidelberg had Kaine Sheppard’s 88th minute effort not been ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper. Coach John Anastasiadis expressed his displeasure to the club’s social media. Bul Juach had given the Magic the lead in the 14th minute of the match, his eighth goal of the season. A Ismail Haji through ball found a charging Juach and he made no mistake firing across Yaren Sozer. The result sees Heidelberg drop to fourth on the NPL ladder, now five points behind leader South Melbourne. Altona Magic sit seventh, seven points outside the top-six.

LANGY SWEEPS GREENS

What better way to end an eight-game winless drought by knocking off the neighbouring rival? Langwarrin did just that on Friday night, a 2-1 victory completing a VPL1 season sweep of Bentleigh Greens at Kingston Heath. The win also rekindles the Lions promotion hopes, jumping to sixth on the ladder now just two points behind Bentleigh Greens and five points from third-placed Western United. Brad Blumenthal gave the visitors a half-time lead and Joe O’Brien looked have wrapped up the three points with an 89th minute goal. However, in an intense finish, Bentleigh struck back in the 92nd minute through Riki Foster-Hosoai but couldn’t find a late equaliser.

NORTHCOTE ENDS VICTORY RUN

Melbourne Victory’s undefeated start to the season has come to an end at 13 games. Northcote City claimed a shock 2-1 win at Epping Stadium on Saturday to hand the VPL1 ladder-leader its first loss of the campaign. Zac Bates opened the scoring in just the eighth minute with a beautifully taken goal, cutting inside two defenders before slotting past Ahmad Taleb. Jesse Hoey squared the match shortly after, his sixth goal of the season. However, the match took another dramatic turn when striker Luka Kolic was sent off in the 20th minute. Kolic denied Northcote a goal with a handball on the line and was given his marching orders. Trent Skapetis converted from the subsequent penalty and the half-time score became the full-time score. The win sees Northcote City in outright third place, just three points behind Preston Lions and now six behind Victory on top.

WERRIBEE CONTINUES NORTH GEELONG WOES

Werribee City’s turnaround under new coach Craig Moore continued, while North Geelong’s struggled continued in caretaker coaches Stuart Begg and Sean Mahon’s first game in charge. The Bees opened the scoring in the fifth minute of the match through Ali Dulleh. Sonny Brimmer equalised for North Geelong but Dulleh popped up again to score the match-winner in the 80th minute. Werribee travelling back up the highway with all three points. Both of Werribee’s wins this season have come against North Geelong and it sees them move seven points clear of the Warriors at the bottom of the table and within three points of Kingston City in 12th.

DOVETON WINS BOTTOM BATTLE

Doveton took a major step towards avoiding the dreaded VPL2 wooden spoon with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Beaumaris at Waratah Reserve on Saturday. Goals from Lavdim Memedovski and Aguer Manyiel secured a critical three points. It’s the Doves second win in three matches after opening their account against Nunawading in Round 8. It was soured somewhat by a late red card to Matthew-Michael Gyarmati. The Sharks were coming off their first win of the season last week but couldn’t make it back-to-back victories. Tom Richards was the visitors’ scorer. The result sees Doveton jump off the bottom of the ladder, moving two points ahead of Beaumaris.

EAGLES GRAB COMEBACK WIN

In a see-sawing clash Boroondara-Carey outlasted Essendon Royals to claim a 3-2 victory at Wilcox Field. The Eagles opening the scoring through Lachlan Nicholls only to see the Royals draw level thanks to a Jordan Adeyemi penalty, sending the teams into half-time 1-1. The Royals took the lead thanks to Ethan Georgopoulos. However, it only served to spark Boroondara-Carey into action. Yudai Kumasaka equalised and Josh Stadnicki snatched a late winner to send the home fans into raptures. The defeat sees Essendon drop to sixth, while the Eagles jump to seventh just a point behind.

NORTH STUNS SRBIJA

North Sunshine has jumped to the top of the VPL2 ladder after an impressive 2-1 win over title contender FC Melbourne at Kevin Bartlett Reserve. The Eagles lead a three-way tie on goal difference, ahead of Brunswick Juventus and Altona City, while FC Melbourne is a further two points back. Star striker Redouane Sarakh put North Sunshine on top in the 18th minute, the Eagles taking the lead into half-time. Ndue Mujeci doubled the lead just three minutes into the second half. Srbija made a game of it in the 66th minute through Ryan Brown but couldn’t find an equaliser as the Eagles’ defence held firm.

TOP-OF-THE-TABLE DEADLOCK

Brunswick Juventus and Altona City couldn’t be separated in a top-of-the-table stalemate. Lucas Oliveira gave the Zebras a half-time lead at McIvor Reserve. However, the home team fought back in the second half thanks to Adam Oddo to share the points. The result continues Altona City’s undefeated start to the season, while Juventus is three games unbeaten. The result sees the teams remain level on 22 points but slide back behind North Sunshine on goal difference. Altona is on the road in Round 11, facing Nunawading, while Brunswick Juventus is at home against Boroondara-Carey.

THIS IS GOING TO BE HUGE

A crowd of approximately 4000 is expected to descend on BT Connor Reserve on Tuesday night for what promising to be one of the biggest local football matches in recent history. Preston Lions hosts South Melbourne, two of Melbourne’s biggest supporter bases, in an Australia Cup Round 6 fixture, the winner moving onto the national stage. Spectators are being urged to arrive early with limited car parking available around the venue. FC Melbourne is the first Victorian club through to the Round of 32 against a 5-0 win over Hoppers Crossing last week. Also on Tuesday night, St Albans and Green Gully square off in an all-NPL battle, VPL2 leader North Sunshine hosts Avondale, Moreland City takes on Oakleigh Cannons and Essendon Royals tackles Bentleigh Greens.