NPL Victoria Talking Points: all the highlights from the weekend’s NPL, VPL action

Talking Points: Green Gully produces stunning upset, more Moreland heartbreak, drought-breaking wins and a must-see Goal of the Week.

Taylor Schrijvers in action for Green Gully. Picture: Mark Avellino Photography

We’re approach the half-way mark of the NPL Victoria and VPL1 seasons.

The genuine contenders are moving away from the pack with impressive performances on a weekly basis.

Meanwhile in VPL2, the ladder is also taking shape with plenty of surprises.

Check out the highlights from the weekend’s action below and some of the fallout.

Plus, a must-see Goal of the Week from a star import.

GULLY STUNNER

Green Gully scored far and away its best win of the NPL season, stunning Avondale at Avengers Park on Saturday. Cavaliers skipper Taylor Schrijvers netted the only goal of the match, heading home from a corner in the 65th minute, to secure three points. After back-to-back defeats and seven games without a win, it’s a significant reversal of form for Gully. It’s also the club’s first clean sheet since its Round 1 win over Moreland City. The loss is Avondale’s second of the season, more than it suffered in the entire campaign last year. After banging in eight goals last week, the Avengers went goalless for the third time in 2024. It was the reigning premier and champion’s third game in the space of a week after an Australia Cup tie against Altona East, which it won 1-0.

01:59: GOAL! Port Melbourne Sharks score to make it PMSC 1 : SMFC 0.

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

— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) April 27, 2024

GOAL OF THE WEEK

There’s a clear standout this week, Eoghan Stokes’ mesmerising free-kick in Port Melbourne’s loss to South Melbourne. The Sharks are awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area in just the second minute of the match at Murphy Reserve. Stokes and Daniel Edwards stand over the ball but it’s left to the Irishman. With little space to get the ball up and over the wall and down under the bar, he hits it perfectly. The free-kick curls over the jumping Hellas defenders and leaves goalkeeper Javi Lopez stunned as it curls into the far corner. Only Heidelberg United’s Asahi Yokokawa came close with a terrific long-range strike.

CANNONS WIN, KNIGHTS SACK COACH

Oakleigh Cannons’ 1-0 win over Melbourne Knights at Knights Stadium was the end of the road for Ben Surey. A third straight defeat saw the Knights part ways with its former captain on Saturday. Jacob Eliopoulos scored his first NPL goal since 2015 – when with Northcote City – to secure victory for the Cannons. The veteran lost his marker and headed home with aplomb from a pin-point Joe Guest cross in the 15th minute and it proved the match-winner. The result sees Oakleigh keep pace with the league leaders, sitting fifth a point behind Heidelberg United in second, while the Knights drop to ninth.

MORELAND HEARTS BROKEN AGAIN

You’ve got to feel for Moreland City. The club remains winless this NPL season but certainly not through lack of effort. For the third time in four matches, City suffered a 3-2 defeat, losing in the final minutes. When Jose Sanz scored in the 75th minute at CB Smith Reserve at Altona Magic, it looked like this could be the match. However, the Magic charged straight down the other end and, the match-winning hero last week, Darcy Anastovski equalised less than a minute later. The visitors then snatched all three points as Jewad Rezai found himself all alone to tap home at the far post in the 83rd minute. The win is Altona’s third in a row and sees the club jump to eighth. Moreland remains on the bottom of the ladder and will need to find points soon if it is to avoid a wooden spoon, now seven points behind St Albans.

CITY WINS PROMOTION REMATCH

They went toe-to-toe for the VPL1 premiership last season and again Dandenong City has had the better of Manningham United. Hadjuk claimed a tense 3-2 win at Pettys Reserve, surviving a late Blues push. George Lambadaridis opened the scoring for the visitors in just the fourth minute of the match and skipper Jack Webster doubled the lead on the half-hour mark. Ben Everson responded just minutes later to make it a 2-1 game at half-time. However, Lambadaridis’ second goal of the match restored the two-goal buffer in the 63rd minute and it proved the match-winner. Everson scored a 76th minute penalty but Manningham couldn’t find a late equaliser. City is now seventh, just three points outside the top-six, while Manningham is 12th.

84:10: GOAL! Heidelberg United score to make it HCFC 1 : HUFC 2.

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

— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) April 27, 2024

HEAVYWEIGHTS ALL SQUARE

There was plenty of late drama at Broadmeadows Stadium as Hume City and Heidelberg United played out a scintillating 2-2 draw on Saturday night. United looked to be charging toward victory as Asahi Yokokawa scored a wonderful long-range goal in the 85th minute. The Japanese import took the ball 30m from goal and unleashed an unstoppable pile-driver into the left corner. However, the lead wouldn’t last as Josh Gulevski bundled the ball home from a corner in the 90th minute to ensure a share of the points. Ben Collins had given Heidelberg a lead just four minutes into the match, while Josh Bingham scored a spectacular equaliser in the 65th minute, rising highest to head home a corner with authority. Heidelberg sits second on the NPL ladder, equal on points but ahead on goal difference of Avondale and Hume.

THUNDER BOUNCES BACK

After conceding eight goals to Avondale last week, Dandenong Thunder responded strongly on Saturday. The Thunder dominated St Albans and recorded a 3-0 win at George Andrews Reserve. Mersim Memeti got the scoring started in the 12th minute and Wade Dekker doubled the lead just four minutes later to put the home team in a commanding position. Thunder captain Ali Sulemani then put a bow on the win with a 91st minute strike. The win sees Thunder move to 3-2-6 on the season and sit 11th, equal on points with Melbourne Knights and Green Gully.

WARRIORS ON THE BOARD

North Geelong’s 17-game winless run is over. The Warriors recorded its first win of the Victorian Premier League 1 season on Saturday, defeating Kingston City 2-1 in a pulsating clash at Elcho Park. Anthony Leban was the hero, scoring both goals, the second a rasping, pile-driving half volley which cleaned out the cobwebs in the net. The victory was the club’s first since Round 19 last season, a 1-0 win over Moreland City on June 26. Having suffered relegation back to VPL1, North Geelong lost the opening nine games of the season.

LIONS’ HIGH FIVE

Last week we said Preston Lions had found their mojo and they certainly backed that up on Friday night with a dominant 5-0 win over Werribee City at BT Connor Reserve. After a scoreless first half and maybe some home truths from coach Louis Acevski, the Lions delivered a masterclass in the second. Connor Bell finished with a brace and Wes Jobello, Matt Whelan and Will Baynham all found the back of the net in a whirlwind 45 minutes. The victory is the club’s fourth on the trot and sees it sit third on the VPL1 ladder.

NORTHCOTE CLAIMS BELL STREET BRAGGING RIGHTS

In a battle of two of the VPL1’s best strikers, Terry Skapetis and Dylan Allshorn both found the back of the net but it was Northcote City that claimed a 2-1 win over Brunswick City at John Cain Park. Skapetis and Allshorn both have a league-leading seven goals this season – joint with Western United’s Nick Koek – and delivered on the pre-season hype. Brunswick keeper Nikola Kostadinoski denied Skapetis a penalty in the opening minutes but was at fault for the Hercules striker’s opener. Beaten to a loose ball Kostadinoski could only watch as Skapetis found the top corner. Allshorn equalised as he pounced on a short back pass from Joseph Tweats, rounding Brandon Cuminao and sliding home. However, it was the home side that would snatch all three points as a perfect Alun Webb cross found Michael Domfeh to head home.

VICTORY ROLLS ON

Melbourne Victory has taken a stranglehold on the VPL1 premiership race, now seven points clear on top of the ladder. The A-League academy team hammered Bulleen Lions 5-2 on Saturday at the Home of the Matildas in Bundoora. Victory held a two-goal advantage at half-time and while the Lions battled back, couldn’t stop the home team running away with a comprehensive win. Tommaso Minutoli scored a brace and Adem Duratovic, Luka Kolic and Eli Adams all found the back of the net. Dennis Menelaou and Mark Kurita scored Bulleen’s goals.

LIONS SNATCH WIN

Deandre Vollenhoven doesn’t get a stat but it was his determined, skilful run that helped Eastern Lions secure a much-needed victory over Caroline Springs George Cross. Vollenhoven’s effort led to Nathan Stamatelos’ match-winning goal in the 80th minute at Jack Edwards Reserve. Vollenhoven also set up Eastern’s opener, winning a penalty in the 48th minute, which Omani Leacock duly converted. The lead didn’t last long though as keeper Keegan Coulter spilt a routine save from a corner and Morgan Filer was Johnny on the spot to tap home an equaliser. The Lions captain no doubt will owe Stamatelos a drink as he popped up to score the late winner.

WESTERN HAMMERS LANGWARRIN

After losing its opening three matches, Western United has found its range and is reaping the benefits. The A-League Academy team now has 35 goals this season, six more than any other club, after a 7-0 smashing of Langwarrin on Sunday. It’s the club’s second seven-goal haul of the VPL1 campaign and sees the club climb to fourth, leap-frogging the Lions. Max Bisetto and Luke Vickery both scored braces, while Young Socceroo Campbell Dovison, joint league-leading goalscorer Nick Koek and Obiora Eze also found the back of the net. United led 4-0 at half-time and Langwarrin couldn’t stem the flow of goals in the second half either.

ROYALS COMEBACK COMPLETE

It was all going wrong for Essendon Royals early in its clash against Nunawading City. Davey Van’t Schip saw a straight red card for an ugly tackle in the 12th minute and conceded a penalty soon after. Alex Kubenko duly converted to give City the lead. However, as they have done several times already this VPL2 season, the Royals pulled a result out of the fire. Graham Kelly equalised in the 38th minute, heading home from a centimetre perfect Jordan Adeyemi cross. Essendon keeper Andre Russo made a string of fine saves to keep his team in the contest and William Thomason pinched all three points in the 75th minute. Adeyemi and Kelly combined again in the build up before Kelly slid a perfect through ball to Thomason to finish.

CITY TAKES TOP SPOT, PACCO SLIDES

Eerily reminiscent of last season, Pascoe Vale suffered a fourth straight loss on Saturday as the club’s goalscoring dries up. After winning its opening three matches, the club is in desperate need of a win – and goals – to reserect its campaign. Altona City claimed a 1-0 win at CB Smith Reserve and, in stark contrast, the State League 1 North-West premier is now on top of the VPL2 ladder. Jayson Ziro’s first-half strike was enough to claim a critical three points. Pascoe Vale’s night was further soured when Will Roberts was shown a straight red card. The Rams are now eighth, eight points behind City.

SUNS FINALLY SHINE

It look seven games but Goulburn Valley is finally on the board in 2024. The Suns claimed their first win of the VPL2 season with a 3-0 win over bottom-placed Doveton at John McEwen Reserve. After a scoreless first half, the home team burst to life in the second 45. Justin Riescher scored a brace and an own goal put the cherry on top. The Doves, making one of the longest road trips in community sport in Victoria, remain on the bottom of the ladder after a seventh straight loss.

EAGLES CLIP ZEBRAS

In a battle between two premiership contenders, North Sunshine came away with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Brunswick Juventus at Larissa Reserve. Star striker Redouane Sarakh was the Eagles’ hero, scoring the lone goal. The loss breaks Juventus’ five-game winning run, which had seen it sitting on top of the table heading into the match. The win sees North Sunshine leap-frog the Zebras into second, equal on points, but with a superior goal difference.