NPL Victoria wrap: Hume City sack coach, St Albans bounce back, Goal of the Week

There’s been plenty of action on and off the field in NPL Victoria this week with a coach sacked and a 15-year-old scoring a hat-trick on debut. Check out all the news here.

Hume City sacks coach Ersan Gulum.

It’s been another big week on and off-field in NPL Victoria.

The weekend’s action saw some stunning goals, much-needed wins and plenty of drama.

Off field, a second top-flight coach has been given his marching orders.

In NPL2, a 15-year-old scored a hat-trick on debut inspire his team to a come-from-behind win.

And in NPL3, Melbourne Victory’s undefeated start to the season is over.

Check out all the major talking points from the week below.

HUME COACH GONE

A second NPL coach has been sacked inside the first 12 rounds. Hume City announced on Monday night it had parted ways with Ersan Gulum after its 3-0 loss to Port Melbourne Sharks on Saturday. Gulum lasted just 14 games after being appointed late last season. The Turkish international came up through Hume City’s junior ranks but was given little leeway with the club sitting in ninth after a 3-5-4 start. Hume had four different coaches last season as it narrowly escaped relegation but looked to be better placed under Gulum, beating Green Gully and earning draws against South Melbourne and Melbourne Knights. In a short social media post, Hume City announced the move. “Hume City Football Club wish to announce that we have parted ways with Senior Head Coach Ersan Gulum,” the club statement said. “We wish Ersan the best of luck in his future endeavours and thank him for his contribution to the club.” City returns to the field tonight in the Australia Cup with a fifth round clash against State League 4 North club Keilor Wolves at Hume City Stadium.

75:31: GOAL! Oakleigh Cannons FC scores to make it OCFC 4 : NGW 0

Watch live and free on https://t.co/bOA3JNp71S#NPLVIC#OCFCNGWpic.twitter.com/zsPhApOd7R

— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) May 5, 2023

GOAL OF THE WEEK

Four quality contenders this week that are all worthy winners. Joe Guest started the round in style, scoring a banger from long-range to kick start Oakleigh’s 5-0 romp against North Geelong. Cian Cuba’s match-winner for Altona Magic was superb as he danced through two Bentleigh defenders and jinked a third before rocketing a shot across goal and into the bottom right corner. Port Melbourne’s Daniel Edwards won’t forget his first goal of the season in a hurry. After delivering a cross he tracks down the clearance, seemingly harmless at more than 30m out, before stepping into a laser that somehow dips under the crossbar and into the back of the net, leaving the Hume City keeper stunned. However, we’re going back to Friday night and Oakleigh Cannons for the winner. Alex Fiechtner’s stunning goal was reminiscent of James Rodriguez’s 2014 World Cup Goal of the Tournament. The Cannons midfielder controlled a high ball with his chest before hitting the first-time volley into the top right-hand corner.

HEIDELBERG ESCAPE

After being held to 1-all and nil-all draws at Olympic Village by promotion-winners North Geelong and Moreland City in the previous two weeks, the Warriors were desperate for three points against Green Gully. And they duly delivered for the home fans with a 1-0 result. A Kaine Sheppard penalty in the 61st minute secured the much-needed win. His spot kick just wriggled under the arm of Gully keeper Liam Driscoll and over the line, much to the star striker’s relief. The result also moves Heidelberg six points clear of the bottom two relegation zone.

84:51: GOAL! Port Melbourne Sharks SC scores to make it PMSC 3 : HCFC 0

Watch live and free on https://t.co/bOA3JNpERq#NPLVIC#PMSCHCFCpic.twitter.com/WPF1Tcu8DH

— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) May 6, 2023

SHARKS, GULLY LEAD TOP-SIX RACE

Port Melbourne Sharks’ 3-0 win over Hume City moved it level on points with Green Gully in fifth. As the half-way mark of the season approaches there is a long-jam forming in the finals battle. The top-four looks secure, while the Sharks and Gully led the way for a top-six finish. Altona Magic’s comeback win has them just a point behind in seventh, while Hume City, Dandenong Thunder and Heidelberg United are all within striking distance. Just five points and goal difference separates Gully in fifth and Heidelberg in 10th. It should be an enthralling run home.

SOUTH DEFENSIVE MASTERCLASS

As we covered on Monday, South Melbourne showcased all its premiership credentials in quelling a red-hot Avondale. A defensive masterclass secured a 3-0 win, snapping the Avengers undefeated start to the season and holding them goalless for the first time. Ajak Riak was superb for South, having a hand in all three goals. He won the penalty that opened the scoring in the first half, his ricocheted shot resulted in an own goal to double the home side’s lead and then his wrapped up the three points with a nice step inside and shot across the keeper.

LIONS UPSET LIONS

Walking out of BT Connor Reserve with three points is a rare achievement in recent seasons. A dramatic late penalty secured Eastern Lions a huge win over Preston Lions on Friday night, ending Preston’s 11-game unbeaten run. Tom Golding gave Eastern a lead in the 15th minute before Delarno Pharoe equalised in the 38th to send the teams to half-time level. The decisive moment came in the 79th minute as Eastern was awarded a penalty and Carter Ramsay duly converted to send the visitors home happy. Preston remains on top of the NPL2 ladder, a point ahead of Kingston City, while Western United and Eastern are two points further back in a tight promotion race.

VITAL THREE POINTS FOR BRUNSWICK

Brunswick City’s fight to avoid relegation received a huge boost on Friday night with a critical 1-0 win over Pascoe Vale. The Rams had been reduced to 10-men when Liam Kielty received a straight red in the 26th minute. City capitalised soon after when William Tsiamis scored the match-winner in the 36th minute. The three points lifts Brunswick to 11th, four points ahead of Bulleen in second last. Meanwhile, it continues a worrying trend for Pascoe Vale, which is winless in its past five games with three defeats and two draws. After being on top of the table earlier in the season the Rams have now slid to ninth.

SAINTS BOUNCE BACK AT HOME

St Albans ended a record six-game losing streak on Sunday after defeating Moreland City 3-0 in their first game back at Churchill Rserve after a renovation kept them off the pitch for five weeks. While the return to home gave the Saints an advantage, their football on the pitch also lifted. Joseph Colina opened the scoring account in the 14th minute to give the Saints the first horah. Then a purple patch arrived in the 7oth minute of the game where the Saints put through two goals in four minutes to take a 3-0 win from the match.

NORTHCOTE STUN UNITED

It’s been a big fortnight for Northcote City, knocking off Dandenong City last week and backing it up with an upset win over Western United on Sunday. Steve Sokol was the hero, scoring the match-winner in the 69th minute to secure a 1-0 result at City Vista. The back-to-back wins has seen City jump up the NPL2 ladder, now sixth with a 6-1-5 record, and just two points behind United in third.

MEMETI HAT-TRICK ON DEBUT

A hat-trick, a match-winning hat-trick, on debut, at 15 years old. It’s the story that just keeps getting better. Medin Memeti lived the dream on Sunday. The Dandenong Thunder product made his senior debut for Melbourne City’s NPL2 team, coming on as a substitute in the 55th minute with his team trailing 0-2. The young gun proceeded to then score all three goals – in the 70th, 86th and 89th minute – as City produced a stunning comeback to deny last-placed Brunswick Juventus a vital win. It’s the second week in a row an academy rising star has scored a hat-trick after Young Socceroos representative Raphael Borges Rodrigues netted four times against Langwarrin.

MAGIC, KNIGHTS SCORE HANDY WINS

Altona Magic bounced back into form with a come-from-behind 2-1 win on Saturday after suffering two-straight losses leading into the match. Two goals in three minutes in the second half to go from 1-nil down to 2-1 up led magic to the strong victory away from home. Knights picked up a steady 1-nil win away from home to Dandenong Thunder. The win keeps them two points Oakleigh Cannons who also won on the weekend.

NUNAWADING ENDS VICTORY STREAK

Melbourne Victory’s undefeated start to the NPL3 season is over after Nunawading City produced a come-from-behind victory at Olympic Village on Saturday. Adem Duratovic had given the Victory the lead in the 27th minute but scores were level again just eight minutes later thanks to Alexander Dimitriou. A dramatic last-gasp penalty, scored by Michael Romas, then put Nunawading in front to seal all three points. A Kasey Bos red card in the 93rd minute added to a dirty day for Melbourne. Victory remains on top of the ladder, while City jump up to second just two points behind.