NPL Victoria Talking Points: Oakleigh, Dandenong sanctioned, Heidelberg turns on the style
Talking Points: Oakleigh and Dandenong Thunder learn their fate over last month’s fan fight, while Heidelberg turns on the style. Plus, a stunning Goal of the Week winner.
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There were some stunning results and eye-catching performances across the top tiers of Victorian football.
Off the field, Football Victoria confirmed sanctions for Oakleigh Cannons and Dandenong Thunder, almost a month after the incident.
Plus, the draw for Round 5 of the Australia Cup preliminaries is in.
Check out our nominee for Goal of the Week, with some very unlucky strikes missing out.
SANCTIONS HANDED OUT
It has been almost a month since the March 8 Oakleigh Cannons-Dandenong Thunder game was called off due to fan violence. Football Victoria finally confirmed sanctions handed out on Friday, April 5. In that time, Oakleigh’s Stef Valentini served a two-game ban that was never publicly announced. The clubs believed there would be little punishment given the incident was largely out of their control and their co-operation with FV’s investigation. However, they have now been hit with $7500 fines and two-year suspended three-point deductions. Oakleigh was forced to play its following home match, against Altona Magic on March 11, behind closed doors and the Round 18 Dandenong v Oakleigh match at George Andrews Reserve on June 15 will also see fans locked out. Four individuals have been cited over the brawl but penalties are still to be confirmed.
52:22: GOAL! Melbourne Knights score to make it MUFC 1 : MKFC 2.
— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) April 6, 2024
Watch live and free at https://t.co/h6s3fuVIqL#NPLMVICpic.twitter.com/5SEiNKQXwC
GOAL OF THE WEEK
Some sensational goals in the NPL’s return to action over the weekend. Stef Valentini’s turn and chip from an impossible angle for Oakleigh, Kaine Sheppard inch-perfect lob and Stef Zinni’s run and finish were all quality goals. However, it’s hard to go past Ciaran Bramwell’s stunning match-winner for Melbourne Knights against Manningham United. The Knights striker controls a difficult pass from Temmy Semmy, which sits up invitingly, and unleashes an unstoppable volley from the right corner of the penalty box. It was Bramwell’s second of the game and would secure all three points.
WARRIORS HIT SIX
It was a dream for Heidelberg United but nightmare for St Albans. The Warriors were at their clinical best at Olympic Village to claim a dominant 6-0 win. Skipper Kaine Sheppard scored a hat-trick, Josh Pin added a double and Leo Mazis scored his first goal for the club in a standout performance. Mazis got the scoring started in just the second minute of the match, cleaning up the rebound from a Pin shot. Sheppard and Pin made it 3-0 before 20 minutes had elapsed. The Saints’ night only got worse when Scott Bakkor received a second yellow card to earn an early shower. Pin slotted a penalty minutes into the second half. Sheppard then added some razzle-dazzle to the night with an audacious lob with his back turned to goal, finding the far corner perfectly and the star striker made it three just before the hour mark, getting on the end of a delightful Mazis cross to head home. Heidelberg sit fourth with a 4-4-0 record, while St Albans are 11th.
54:51: GOAL! Heidelberg United score to make it HUFC 5 : SASC 0.
— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) April 5, 2024
Watch live and free at https://t.co/h6s3fuVIqL#NPLMVICpic.twitter.com/mWlpcaqdMI
AVONDALE RETURNS TO FORM
It had been nearly a month since the Avengers picked up three points after a shock loss to Manningham United, draw with Heidelberg United and the Easter break. However, the 2023 double-winners bounced back with a comfortable 4-0 win over Altona Magic on Saturday at Avengers Park. Stef Zinni scored a brace, including a Goal of the Week contender, book-ended by Kur Kur and Liston Diaz goals. The win keeps Avondale within three points of league-leader South Melbourne, while the Magic are in the relegation zone, sitting 13th.
THE LATE, LATE SHOW
Green Gully were quite literally seconds away from an invaluable three points on the road against Dandenong City. However, the home team conjured a 97th minute equaliser to break Cavalier hearts and share the points. The visitors had led for almost 90 minutes after Mo Adam opened the scoring in just the eighth minute of the match at Frank Holohan Reserve. With time running out, City launched one final attack. Skipper Jack Webster launched a long ball forward to target man Kenny Athiu. The ball fell at the feet of Tom Giannakopoulos and he fired a rocket past a diving Liam Driscoll.
96:48: GOAL! Dandenong City score to make it DCSC 1 : GGSC 1.
— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) April 5, 2024
Watch live and free at https://t.co/h6s3fuVIqL#NPLMVICpic.twitter.com/3g0BfWUBHf
COME-FROM-BEHIND POINTS
Melbourne Knights and South Melbourne both had to come-from-behind to secure 2-1 wins and three points on Saturday, while Hume City were given an almighty scare in a 3-2 win over Moreland City. Knights fell behind as Junya Kada put Manningham United on top at Pettys Reserve before Ciaran Bramwell scored two highlight-reel goals to save the day. Meanwhile, at George Andrews Reserve, Deri Corfe gave Dandenong Thunder an early lead only to see Harrison Sawyer equalise from the penalty spot and then Ross Archibald pinch the win with 10 minutes remaining. Finally, at Broadmeadows Stadium, Moreland City showed it will be a challenge to beat, scoring two beautifully made goals. However, Hume did enough to secure the win as star striker Lloyd Isgrove scored two goals, including the match-winning penalty, and NPL Player of the Month Aamir Abdullah continued his fine goalscoring form.
VICTORY CRUISES
Melbourne Victory could be as many as five points clear on top of the VPL1 ladder after a dominant 4-1 win over Werribee City on Friday night. Second placed Langwarrin travels to Kingston City on Monday night, looking to keep pace. Victory secured their sixth win in eight matches at Galvin Park. After scoring in the season-opener Luka Kolic ended his goal drought, while Adem Duratovic netted his fourth of the campaign and Eli Adams and Marc Petheriotis also found the back of the net. Werribee’s night turned into a nightmare as three players were shown red cards in the final minutes – Michael Eagar, Abias Bukuru and second-half substitute Milos Marinkovic.
EASTERN SHOCKS GREENS
Bentleigh Greens’ honeymoon under new coach George Katsakis lasted all of one match. The Greens were stunned by second-last Eastern Lions 3-1 at Kingston Heath on Friday night. The Lions took a surprise 1-nil lead into half-time and sealed a critical win as Jorge Akers, Omani Leacock and Jack Pope all hit the back of the net. Anton Kinnander got a consolation goal for Bentleigh and the night only got worse as Jackson Morgan was shown a straight red card. The win lifts Eastern out of the bottom two, while Bentleigh sits ninth.
SPARTANS RISING
There’s been no shortage of goals for Brunswick City this season, it has 17 through eight matches. The Spartans now sit on the edge of the promotion places after a 3-1 win over Bulleen Lions on Friday at Dunstan Reserve. Disappointingly, however, three days later the club still hasn’t updated its results online or published any details on its social media.
GOALS GALORE IN ACADEMY DERBY
Melbourne City and Western United played out one of the crazier matches we’re likely to see this VPL1 season. City took a 1-0 lead into half-time before all hell broke loose and the match finished in a 3-3 draw. Alessandro Lopane, Medin Memeti and Kavian Rahmani all scored for City, while Nic Koek scored a brace and Noah Spaseski the third for Western. Neither club has published any details about the match.
EAGLES ON TOP
North Sunshine sit atop the VPL2 ladder after a clinical 2-0 win over Pascoe Vale. In a blockbuster top-of-the-table clash at Larissa Reserve, the Eagles extinguished the previously red-hot Rams’ offence to remain undefeated. Ndue Mujeci continued his impressive goalscoring form as keeper Rory Brian kept a clean sheet, holding a Pascoe Vale side that had scored 16 goals in three matches at bay. The Rams’ hopes took a hit when they were reduced to 10 men just after the half-time break as Max Naveiro was shown a straight red card for a behind the ball incident. Farah Farah then sealed the three points.
THREE STILL UNDEFEATED
Along with North Sunshine, Altona City and Essendon Royals also remain undefeated in VPL2. State League 1 North-West premier Altona City sits level on points with the Eagles after a 2-1 away win over Doveton at Waratah Reserve. In his first appearances of the season, Altona’s Rin Takagi had a mixed night, scoring before being sent off for a straight red card. Jayson Ziro scored Altona’s other goal, while Josh Frame was on the board for the Doves. Essendon, meanwhile, secured a 3-1 away win over Beaumaris. The Royals took a 2-1 lead into half-time and finished the job, despite Phil Riccobene’s straight red card. Jordan Adeyemi scored twice and Ethan Georgopoulos once for the visitors, while Adam Hester was the sole goalscorer for the Sharks.
BUT SRBIJA’S RUN ENDS
FC Melbourne came into the weekend with an unblemished record but was upset by Nunawading City, 2-1, at Bartlett Reserve. Srbija took a 1-0 half-time lead as boom recruit Luka Ninkovic scored his fourth goal of the campaign. However, Nunawading City stormed home to snatch the three points – despite a red card to Marcelo Arapis – thanks to goals from Alex Dimitriou and Miki Gamo. The result sees City leap-frog Melbourne into seventh.
AUSTRALIA CUP DRAW
The latest round of the Australia Cup preliminaries will see some big names go head-to-head. Here are some of the highlights as we get closer to the national stages.
Altona Magic (NPL) v Northcote City (VPL1)
Heidelberg United (NPL) v Brunswick Juventus (VPL2)
Hume City (NPL) v Brunswick City (VPL1)
Essendon Royals (VPL2) v Bulleen Lions (VPL1)
South Melbourne (NPL) v Eastern Lions (VPL1)
Altona City (VPL2) v Manningham United (NPL)
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