National Premier League Victoria: Bentleigh Greens beats Heidelberg United in semi-final

Despite coming from fifth on the ladder, Bentleigh Greens are into the NPLV grand final after beating minor premiers and fierce rivals Heidelberg United.

Tyson Holmes scored the winner for Bentleigh Greens. Picture: Robert Cianflone (Getty Images)

An out of sorts Heidelberg United bowed out of the NPLV finals race with a 2-1 loss to fierce rivals Bentleigh Greens in the semi-final at Port Melbourne’s JL Murphy Reserve on Saturday night.

Though having plenty of the ball, Heidelberg lacked its customary smooth transition and conjured few scoring opportunities.

Heidelberg settled well enough and Tommy Cahill had a chance after just 11 minutes but was unable to control the ball on the bumpy surface close to goal.

Five minutes later a long cross from Sean Ellis was met by the climbing Cahill but his header went wide.

United had a wake up call on 21 minutes when Bentleigh, on the break, had a double chance only to be denied on the line.

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Sean Ellis bobbed up to score Heidelberg United’s equaliser Picture: James Ross

There was to be no escape two minutes later, however, when Velibor Mitrovic split the Heidelberg defence and beat Brendan White in goal.

The Warriors drew level on 35 minutes when Harry Noon drove forward and set up Cahill whose miskick finished with Ellis, who’d timed his run into box perfectly to goal from close quarters.

Soon after, a late challenge on Bentleigh’s Matthew Thurtell triggered some push and shove and the halftime break was needed to cool simmering tempers.

Bentleigh was the more composed outfit in the second half and, though Heidelberg won a string of corners, it couldn’t find the crucial finishing touch.

On the hour, a Bentleigh free kick from just outside the box struck the Heidelberg wall and the loose ball fell to Tyson Holmes who toe-poked the winner through traffic.

The Greens will now play Avondale in the grand final at AAMI Park next Sunday after Avondale beat the Oakleigh Cannons 2-0 in the other semi-final at Avenger Park on Saturday.

Avondale took the lead on eight minutes when a corner was flicked on by Liam Boland at the near post and headed home by Scott Hilliar from close range.

That lead was doubled in the 65th when a long cross from the left from Brandon Lundy was met by Stefan Valentini and headed home.

Heidelberg United is set for an NPL elimination final against Perth SC at Port Melbourne on Sunday, September 22.