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

TALKING POINTS: Has Dandenong City’s shock win over Oakleigh Cannons reduced the NPL premiership race to two contenders? Check out all the weekend’s highlights.

Tim Atherinos in action for Dandenong City. Picture: Brendan Beckett

There’s never a shortage of drama in a weekend of NPL and VPL action.

From big upsets to late goals and worldies, there’s plenty of highlights.

With the big guns clearing out in all three premiership races, who can turn their season around and make a late play for silverware?

Plus, check out a stunning Goal of the Week contender.

George Lambadaridis in action for Dandenong City. Picture: Brendan Beckett

CITY QUIETENS CANNONS

Certainly the biggest win this season and one of Dandenong City’s best in recent history. Hadjuk travelled to Jack Edwards Reserve on Monday night, one of the most daunting road trips in the NPL, and went home with a 2-0 win over Oakleigh Cannons. First half strikes from George Lambadaridis and Tim Atherinos were enough to get the job done. Atherinos’ strike a trademark piledriver from distance. The win could be critical for City’s finals hopes too, the win moving the club within three points of sixth-placed Port Melbourne. It’s been a strong bounce back since relegation in 2022, winning the VPL1 premiership and now contending for NPL finals. City signalled its potential, pushing Avondale to 4-3 in Round 1 and drew with Oakleigh 1-1 in Round 3. After three mid-season defeats in a row to Port Melbourne, Heidelberg United and the Avengers, Dandy is now on a three-game winning run – keeping clean sheets in each. Now it faces Melbourne Knights at home, Dandenong Thunder and Moreland City (home) in the next three weeks.

RACE IN TWO?

Is the NPL premiership down to a two-horse race already? South Melbourne is charging clear at the top of the table, dropping just seven points all season, to be five points ahead of Avondale and seven clear of Oakleigh. With the Cannons’ shock loss to Dandenong City on Monday night, the 2022 champions will need something special to catch up with the ladder leaders. Hellas was too strong for Manningham United at Lakeside Stadium on Friday night, avoiding the scare from earlier in the year when forced to come from two goals down to win. Mihailo Marinkovic scored his maiden NPL goal with a Max Mikkola long throw again causing havoc. Andy Brennan then wrapped up the points just after the hour mark, finishing first time after a Harrison Sawyer lay-off. Meanwhile, Avondale looks the only team that stands between South and the Premiers’ Plate after a dominant 5-1 win over Moreland City. Sebastian Vargas, Yitay Towns, Blake Carpenter, Alessio Centaro and George Ott all finding the back of the net.

84:26: GOAL! Altona Magic score to make it DTFC 0 : AMSC 4.

Watch live and free at https://t.co/h6s3fuVIqL#NPLMVICpic.twitter.com/R5dAFD69qS

— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) June 8, 2024

GOAL OF THE WEEK

There were a number of bangers over the weekend. Tim Atherinos does what he does best, scoring with a long-range bullet, while Stephen Lawless unleashed a perfectly timed volley for Altona Magic. However, we’re going with his Magic teammate Saad Moukachar brilliant solo effort in the commanding 4-0 win over Dandenong Thunder. The Altona midfielder takes the ball in midfield and jinks around one defender. He appears to run into a cul-de-sac but a touch to the right opens up a shooting lane and he curls the ball perfectly into the far corner, despite a hand from Thunder keeper Pierce Clark. It capped a perfect night for the visiting Magic at George Andrews Reserve.

GULLY SHOCKS WARRIORS

Green Gully picked up its first win under new manager Ramon Falzon on Saturday, stunning high-flying Heidelberg United 2-0 at Gully Reserve. After a 1-1 draw with Manningham United in his first game, Falzon secured one of the biggest scalps in NPL football as his first victory. Wonderkid Shifa Ahmed opened the scoring and Adolph Koudakpo wrapped up the three points with second-half goals. United’s hopes hampered by a straight red card to Jamal Ali in just the 23rd minute after pulling back Koudakpo and adjudged the last man. Ahmed, meanwhile, is one of the hottest scorers in the competition, the 17-year-old making it five goals in his last six matches.

69:19: GOAL! Altona Magic score to make it DTFC 0 : AMSC 3.

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

— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) June 8, 2024

MAGIC ROAD SUCCESS

Altona Magic certainly haven’t minded going on the road this season. Four of the club’s six wins have come away from home with another two draws also on the road. The latest, arguably the club’s best this season, a 4-0 drubbing of Dandenong Thunder at George Andrews Reserve on Saturday night. Stephen Lawless scored a brace, while Bul Juach continued his fine season and Saad Moukachar scored a worldie. Lawless and Moukachar’s goals were worthy of any highlights reel, adding to the dominance of the performance. The result also keeps Altona in the hunt for a top-six finish, now sitting eighth, eight points behind sixth-placed Port Melbourne.

KNIGHTS MAKING TURNAROUND

After holding reigning premier and champion Avondale to a 1-1 draw last week, Melbourne Knights picked up a critical 2-1 win over St Albans at Churchill Reserve. Ciaran Bramwell and Mitch Hore put the visitors two goals to the good in the second half before the Saints scored a late penalty through Michael Grgic to make a game of it in the final minutes. The club has winnable games in the next month, facing Dandenong City (away), Moreland City, Hume City (away) and Manningham United in a stretch that could make or break its slim finals hopes.

FLAG FANCIES ALL SQUARE

Northcote City and Preston Lions put their VPL1 premiership hopes on the line at John Cain Reserve on Friday night and came away with a share of the points. Neither side could take advantage of a chance to move clear of their rival and keep pace with Melbourne Victory.

Connor Bell opened the scoring for Preston before Jacob Lever equalised before half-time. The result sees both teams fall six points behind Victory in the premiership race.

VICTORY SKIPS AWAY

A strong 3-1 win on the road over Eastern Lions and a draw between rivals Preston Lions and Northcote City has seen Melbourne Victory again skip clear at the top of the VPL1 ladder. The A-League academy is now five points ahead on top after an impressive performance at Egan Lee Reserve. Jesse Hoey, Tommaso Minutoli and Adem Duratovic all found the back of the net in the win, while Jack Pope scored a consolation goal for the Lions. Victory would fancy their chances of making it 12 wins for the season when they travel to bottom-placed North Geelong on Saturday.

CONTE SAVES LIONS

What a time to score your first goal of the season. Dante Conte popped up at the perfect time to clinch a hard-fought 1-0 win for Bulleen Lions over North Geelong at the Veneto Club on Saturday. In the 75th minute, Conte finally broke through the resolute Warriors defence, rising highest from a Mark Kurita corner to head home. The crucial win keeps Bulleen within striking distance of the top-four and possible promotion, sitting sixth, now eight points behind fourth-placed Northcote City.

WESTERN THUMPS GREENS

The A-League academies are taking over the VPL1 season with Western United now up to second, behind ladder-leaders Melbourne Victory. United smashed pre-season promotion contender Bentleigh Greens 4-1 at Ironbark Fields on Saturday. Abel Walatee continued his red-hot form, finding the back of the net for the third game in a row, while Max Bisetto made it two games on the trot and Oscar Tanic and Mark Leonard also hit the scoreboard. The win takes Western to a league-leading 55 goals. Despite the loss, Bentleigh remains only seven points adrift of the top-four with a blockbuster clash with fourth-placed Northcote City on Friday, following an Australia Cup clash with Heidelberg United on Tuesday.

EAGLES LEAD THE WAY

A 93rd minute winner has put North Sunshine on top of the VPL2 ladder. The Eagles needed every last second to snatch a thrilling 2-1 win over Box Hill United at Wembley Park on Friday night. Goals from United’s Luke Pickett and Eagle Ndue Mujeci looked to have been enough to secure both sides a share of the points but the premiership contenders would not be denied. Mujeci floated cross was controlled beautifully by Nick Epifano, opening up the space to unleash a right-foot strike from the edge of the area. The result sees North Sunshine on top of the league, goal difference ahead of FC Melbourne.

SRBIJA TOPS CITY

A season-defining month of football has seen FC Melbourne move to the top of the VPL2 ladder. The reigning State League South-East premier is now eyeing off back-to-back titles and also remains alive in the Australia Cup. A 1-0 win over premiership rival Altona City on Saturday sees Srbija joint ladder-leader with North Sunshine but second on goal difference. A 66th minute Ryan Brown strike was enough to settle Saturday’s clash at Kevin Bartlett Reserve. A pin-point cross from Marko Basic found Brown at the back post and his effort was bundled into the net by Altona opponent Chris Kikidis

ROYALS DENY DOVES UPSETS

Essendon Royals players would have been well advised to head out and buy lottery tickets after a massive slice of luck earned them a 2-2 draw with VPL2 struggler Doveton. Trailing 2-1 in the 96th minute, William Thomason’s shot took a wicked deflection into the top corner. It was almost the last kick of the game and denied the Doves an almighty upset after being 2-0 ahead with just 10 minutes remaining. Dean Clarke scored in the 85th minute before Doveton’s Sonny Klarica was sent off for a second yellow card and Thomason’s popped up for the late, late winner. The result sees the Royals keep their promotion hopes alive, sitting fifth, now seven points outside the top four.

PACCO KEEPS TOUCH

Pascoe Vale came from two goals down to deny Beaumaris a huge upset on Saturday. The Sharks held a 2-0 lead at half-time thanks to goals from Patrick Bayne and Matt Hughes but it all went pear-shaped in the second half for the VPL2 strugglers. Pascoe Vale roared home to snatch a 3-2 triumph at Beaumaris Reserve with goals from Nick Hatzigeorgiou, Eyob Zewdie and Tom Alisandratos. The result sees Beaumaris remain on the bottom of the ladder, while in contrast, the Rams keep their promotion hopes alive. Pascoe Vale sits seventh, now eight points outside the top-four.

WHO’S COMING UP?

We’ve hit the half-way mark in the State Leagues with the race for promotion to VPL2 incredibly tight. In the North-West, Whittlesea United is leading the way with a chasing pack not far behind. Westgate, Ballarat City and Brimbank Stallions are all level, five points behind, while Geelong is a further two points back. Ballarat and Geelong looking to respond after relegation last season. Meanwhile in the South-East, Eltham Redbacks and Banyule City are locked on 28 points apiece, five points clear of Springvale White Eagles. South Springvale is also in contention depending on how many clubs get the call up.