Check out all the weekend’s NPL and VPL highlights and our Goal of the Week

TALKING POINTS: Oakleigh Cannons humble a premiership rival, a sickening injury sees Pascoe Vale’s match called off and Green Gully seeks a new coach.

Alex Salmon celebrates a goal for Oakleigh Cannons.

Things are getting interesting as the NPL and VPL seasons heat up.

The NPL and VPL1 campaigns are charging towards finals, while the VPL2 year has officially hit the half-way mark.

The leading contenders in each are starting to separate themselves from the chasing pack.

Meanwhile, a horror injury saw a match called off in VPL2 but another coach sacking in the NPL couldn’t inspire a victory.

And a brilliant piece of athleticism and technique claims our Goal of the Week.

Alex Salmon in action for Oakleigh Cannons.

CANNONS SOUND WARNING

Here come Oakleigh Cannons. A commanding 3-0 win over premiership rival Heidelberg United on Sunday night sees the club riding a six-game league winning streak and are eight games unbeaten including the Australia Cup. Only a defeat to Avondale blemishes the 2022 champion’s season record so far. Alex Salmon continued his outstanding form, scoring his 11th goal of the campaign in the 34th minute to open the Cannons’ account. The star striker has now found the back of the net in four straight games. Having provided the assist Stefan Valentini then got his name on the scoreboard five minutes later to double the lead. In the second half, towering defender Connor Hampson put his height to good use, heading home a corner in the 56th minute to seal all three points. The win ends Heidelberg’s undefeated start to the season and keeps Oakleigh four points behind ladder-leader South Melbourne. It also moves the Cannons four points clear of Heidelberg and Hume City.

05:01: GOAL! Dandenong City score to make it AMSC 0 : DCSC 1.

Watch live and free at https://t.co/h6s3fuVIqL#NPLMVICpic.twitter.com/77O8WQaa9O

— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) May 25, 2024

GOAL OF THE WEEK

We’re usually a sucker for a good free-kick, over the wall and under the bar, goal and Manningham United’s Tom Golding did just that on Saturday. However, Will Bower’s thumping goal takes this week’s nomination. The Dandenong City midfielder picks up the ball in midfield with what first appeared a heavy touch taking him into open space. The Altona defence backs off and Bower unleashes an unstoppable bullet into the top of the net. A fantastic display of athleticism and technique.

HORROR INJURY, GAME CALLED OFF

The VPL2 clash between Doveton and Pascoe Vale was abandoned on Sunday after a Rams player suffered a sickening broken leg. The incident happened in just the 10th minute of the match and with the player unable to be moved due to the seriousness of the injury, the game was called off. An ambulance was called and the player taken to hospital where he underwent surgery. Out of respect for their teammate, Pascoe Vale did not want to release his name, with the injury said to have left both teams visibly distressed. An investigation will likely be launched into the incident. Dandenong Thunder’s Jordan Smylie was handed a nine-game ban for a tackle that left Avondale’s Kristian Trajceski with a broken ankle earlier this season.

CITY AT THE DEATH

After parting ways with coach Stephen Downes just two days prior, Green Gully suffered a heart-breaking 2-1 defeat to Hume City on Saturday. After six years in charge, Downes was relieved of his duties on Thursday with Michael O’Rourke appointed caretaker coach. The Cavaliers made a strong start with 17-year-old wonderkid Shifa Ahmed finding the back of the net for the fourth game in a row. Hume were level on the hour mark as Mikael Platt’s overhead kick was contentiously judged to have crossed the line. Then, with the final whistle not far away, it all went pear-shaped for the hosts. Luca Tevere was shown a straight red card for a clash with Hume keeper Michael Weier and four minutes later Hume skipper Josh Bingham scored the match-winner with a bullet header from an Aamir Abdullah cross. Gully had the ball in the back of the net 60 seconds later but Adolph Koudakpo was off-side. To twist the knife further, Jamie Latham was shown a second yellow in the dying seconds. Gully is expected to announce its new coach this week.

MORELAND PUSH HELLAS TO LIMIT

For the second time this season, cellar-dweller Moreland City gave ladder-leader South Melbourne all it could handle. In Round 2, Hellas escaped with a 1-0 win with a late penalty, while on Sunday they snared a 4-2 win at Lakeside Stadium. Moreland stunned the premiership favourite, opening the scoring in the 28th minute. A lucky bounce off keeper Will Lejeune left Matt Sporle all alone to tap home his first goal of the season. However, the joy didn’t last long as South equalised through Max Mikkola and took the lead thanks to Nahuel Bonada just 10 minutes later. When Bonada scored his second in the 71st minute the match looked over but it was game on again in the 85th minute as Jose Sanz finished through traffic. As he’s done so often this since, skipper Harrison Sawyer made the points safe, thumping home a volley in the 92nd minute. South Melbourne remains three points clear on top of the ladder.

SHARKS SOLIDIFY SIXTH

Quietly going about its business, Port Melbourne secured its eighth win in 15 matches this season with a 2-0 victory over Melbourne Knights. The victory cements the Sharks in sixth and in a strong position to play finals, sitting eight points clear of Dandenong City in seventh. Eoghan Stokes continued his strong form with his fourth goal in three matches, a deflected shot finally breaking the deadlock in the 86th minute. A slice of luck then sealed the three points in the 89th minute. Lucas Byrns’ effort was denied by Chris Oldfield one-on-one but the rebound bounced off Joseph Franjic’s head and into the net, ending a dirty night for the Knights. The Sharks will look to carry on their form with the chance to move up the ladder too, with behind Hume City and Heidelberg United just three points ahead.

JUST DANDY

For the second time this season both Dandenong club have won on the same weekend. On Saturday, Dandenong Thunder pipped Manningham United 2-1 at George Andrews Reserve, while on the same night, Dandenong City was too good for Altona City 2-0 at Paisley Park. Wade Dekker put Thunder in front only to see a wonderful free-kick from Tom Golding level the scores. However, the home team wouldn’t be denied as skipper Ali Sulemani scored the winner in the 79th minute. Across town, Kenny Athiu and Will Bower found the back of the net to power City to victory. The wins see City sitting in seventh, eight points out of the finals places, and Thunder in 11th on goal difference, level on points with ninth-placed Melbourne Knights.

70:27: GOAL! Manningham United Blues score to make it DTFC 1 : MUFC 1.

Watch live and free at https://t.co/h6s3fuVIqL#NPLMVICpic.twitter.com/2yugwb0s2O

— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) May 25, 2024

WARRIORS STUN BRUNSWICK

It’s been a season to forget for North Geelong but on Saturday the club secured its second win of the year. The Warriors stunned Brunswick City 2-0 at Dunstan Reserve. The club lost coach Joey Didulica a fortnight ago and the win is a massive boost for assistants Stuart Begg and Sean Mahon, not to mention the club’s hopes of avoiding the wooden spoon. After scoring his first goal last week against Werribee City, Sonny Brimmer netted both goals in the win to mark his first start of the campaign. The win sees North Geelong close to within five points of Werribee City.

THREE STOPPAGE TIME GOALS IN INCREDIBLE DRAW

Western United and Northcote City played out one of the more incredible matches of the VPL1 season on Sunday. In a critical third v fourth clash at Galvin Park, it finished in a thrilling 3-3 draw. United burst out of the blocks with Oliver Lavale heading home in the seventh and 15th minute. Northcote hit back in the fourth minute of the second half through Michael Domfeh. Then as second half stoppage time began all hell broke loose. Alun Webb found an equaliser in the 91st minute, somehow squeezing between defender and goalkeeper to poke the ball home. Yuki Uchinda then sent the travelling fans into delirium in the 97th minute, pouncing on a spilled save to put City in front. However, the joy was short-lived as Abel Walatee curled home a classy goal from the edge of the area in the 100th minute to split the points. On Monday night, ladder-leader Melbourne Victory hosts second-placed Preston Lions at John Cain Reserve.

LADDER MERRY-GO-ROUND

Altona City is back on top of the VPL2 ladder after a 1-nil win over Nunawading City on Saturday. A first-half strike from Rin Takagi snared all three points for City on the road at Mahoneys Reserve. Altona remains undefeated this season with seven wins and four draws. Meanwhile, FC Melbourne continued its fine season with a 2-1 win over Essendon Royals. Marko Basic struck either side of half-time to knock off a promotion rival and cement Srbija in the top-four. In a near-weekly change in top spot, Altona City now sits at 25 points, two points clear of North Sunshine, FC Melbourne and Brunswick Juventus all locked together on 23. The top four has separated itself from the competition with Pascoe Vale – with a game in hand – and Essendon Royals and Boroondara-Carey on 15 points.

EAGLES, SUNS IN EIGHT-GOAL FEST

Any neutral fans at Larissa Reserve were treated to one of the games of the season on Sunday. When VPL2 ladder-leader North Sunshine took a 4-2 in the 78th minute the match looked to be in safe keeping. A stunning bicycle kick goal from Redouane Sarakh looked to have put a cherry on top for the hosts. However, the Suns would not be denied. Down to 10 men since half-time after Laywi Niyonkuru was sent off for a crude two-footed tackle, Goulburn Valley rallied. Callum Schorah pounced on a rebound in the 81st minute to make it 4-3 and just four minutes later it was all square. Goalkeeper Niki Kitabatake launched a long ball forward and Riade Mouyette needlessly dragged back Schorah, gifting the Suns a penalty. To add insult to injury, Mouyette was shown a straight red card. Sean Grant converted the penalty to snatch a late point. While still undefeated, the result sees North Sunshine fall off the top of the ladder to second, two points behind Altona City.