NPL Victoria wrap: key wins for Pascoe Vale, Caroline Springs, Beaumaris, Ballarat City

It’s the business end of the NPL Victoria season and several clubs produced stunning wins. Plus, a Goal of the Week that needs to be seen to be believed.

Ethan Brooks in action for Pascoe Vale. Picture: The Man In The Stands

Seasons are on the line in the final five weeks of the NPL Victoria season.

The likes of Pascoe Vale, Caroline Springs George Cross, Ballarat City and Beaumaris secured results that could define their seasons.

In the NPL, Oakleigh Cannons, Port Melbourne and Altona Magic are all on the up.

Plus, a Goal of the Week that needs to be seen to be believed.

Check out all the key talking points from the weekend below.

PACO STUNNER

For the first time this season we’re leading with a NPL2 result … and what a result. Coming into the weekend in last place Pascoe Vale facing the daunting trip to The Grange to face ladder-leader Kingston City. And 90 minutes later the Rams travelled home with arguable the biggest upset of the season, a commanding 3-1 win, breathing life back into their season. Aydin Mustedanagic returned to the club mid-season and produced a match-winning display, scoring a quick-fire brace to put the visitors 2-0 up just past the half-hour mark. Ethan Brooks then all but sealed the win with his first goal of the campaign in the 53rd minute. Sayed Fatemi netted a goal for City in the 59th minute but couldn’t spark a comeback.

The win snaps a four-game losing streak and is the Rams’ second win in their last 14 matches. After a positive start to the season the club’s struggles has seen it plummet down the ladder and part ways with coach Alex Cobo and appoint former Young Socceroo and NSL legend Ante Moric. While the struggles have continued, Moric has guided the club to upset wins over Western United, when it was on top of the ladder, and now Kingston City.

Pascoe Vale remains in 14th but is now equal on points with Brunswick City and just two points behind Brunswick Juventus and safety. Bulleen Lions and Werribee City are just three points ahead with the relegation battle expected to go down to the last game of the season. The Rams hold their fate in their hands with a – on paper – favourable draw. They face ninth-placed Northcote City, Bulleen Lions (10th), Eastern Lions (6th), Brunswick City (13th) and Werribee City (11th).

In the words of Shaq: "Ivan Grgic, I was not familiar with your game." @NickDurbano_ and I in DISBELIEF as the towering @FCBulleenLions centre back scores at outrageous solo goal 🤯 pic.twitter.com/m9pKFPUaRg

— Josh Parish (@joshparish_) July 10, 2023

GOAL OF THE WEEK

Continuing the trend of moving away from the top flight, this week’s Goal of the Week also comes from NPL2. Bulleen Lions defender Ivan Grgic left a number of Eastern Lions defenders in his wake with a stunning run from his own half to score a memorable goal. The centre back takes a back pass before jinking around one opponent, playing a one-two with teammate Stefan Ristic to go past a second and gets a lucky deflection to beat a third defender and get through on goal. While the deflection took him wide, he stepped back inside, past a fourth Lions player, before a deft finish with the outside of his right foot to surprise keeper Keegan Coulter and beat him at the near post. In the NPL, long-range strikes from Dandenong Thunder’s Jay Davies, Altona Magic’s Cian Cuba and Hume City’s Josh Gulevski were certainly eye-catching but Grgic’s amazing run and finish is hard to top.

SHARKS CEMENT FINALS SPOT

Port Melbourne’s 2-0 win over St Albans on Saturday night saw cement itself in the top six. The Sharks are now six points clear of Green Gully in seventh with five games remaining and the best goal difference (+17) of the four contenders. Port struck quickly to take out the crowd at Churchill Reserve as Luca Tevere opened the scoring in the seventh minute and Chris Duggan doubled the lead in the 20th minute from the penalty spot. The spot kick was Duggan’s 10th of the season, which has him in joint fourth on the league goalscoring charts.

AVONDALE STRETCHES LEAD

The Avengers and Thunder travelled to Bendigo on Saturday and the “home team” came back to Melbourne with three points. Dandenong’s long round trip certainly made it difficult on the “visitors” and Avondale cruised to a 5-1 victory at Epsom Huntly Reserve. Stef Zinni scored a double and Kristian Trajceski, Yusef Ahmed and George Ott all found the back of the net. After replacing Liam Boland in the 70th minute, Ott’s strike in the 89th minute was his first goal for his new club after joining in the mid-season transfer window. Meanwhile, Zinni has 11 goals for the season and sits third on the league goalscoring charts. Thunder did score a consolation goal through mid-season recruit Jay Davies, who thundered in a terrific volley from outside the area.

MORELAND’S EARN POINT BUT LET TWO SLIP

Desperate for points as it battles for survival, Moreland City was mere seconds away from a stunning upset over Green Gully. However, Gully snatched a point with a 93rd minute equaliser through Jordan Lampard. It was perfect timing for Lampard to score his first goal of the campaign as he volleyed home at the back post. However, it would be gutting for City, which took the lead through skipper Chris Thomas in the 67th minute. Thomas poked home the opener after being brilliantly set up by Kur Arob. Moreland remains in the relegation zone, moving up to 13th with 13 points, ahead of North Geelong on goal difference. It is just one point behind Bentleigh Greens in safety and three points behind St Albans.

HUME HOLDS HELLAS

A late Max Mikkola strike saved South Melbourne’s blushes as it shared the points with Hume City at Yarraville’s McIvor Reserve. Jack Painter-Andrews opened the scoring for Hellas in just the fifth minute, showcasing his speed to catch the Hume defence napping, but the teams went into half-time level as Birhan Elibol scored his first goal for Hume. Josh Gulevski then put the visitors in front with an outstanding long-range strike in the 56th minute. For Elibol and Gulevski, it’s an instant impact after joining in the mid-season transfer window. Elibol returned to Hume from Moreland City, while Gulevski arrived from Brindabella Blues. Mikkola claimed a share of the points in the 85th minute to keep South Melbourne in the premiership race, with the club now six points behind Avondale but with a game in hand.

OAKLEIGH MOVING UP

Six straight wins and 10 games unbeaten has Oakleigh firmly back in the NPL premiership race. After knocking off South Melbourne last week, the Cannons eased to a 3-1 win over relegation threatened Bentleigh Greens at Kington Heath on Saturday to capitalise on Hellas’ draw with Hume City and move into second spot on the ladder – albeit South does have a game in hand. Oakleigh is five points behind ladder-leader Avondale in the premiership race with five games remaining in the home-and-away season. Stef Valentini wasted little time putting the visitors on top, scoring in just the fourth minute, and Alex Salmon doubled the lead just after the half-hour mark. Scott Hilliar got Bentleigh back in the contest in the 67th minute but Dan Clark sealed the three points four minutes from time. Oakleigh faces Port Melbourne and Altona Magic before a potentially season-defining clash with Avondale.

MAGIC INTO THE SIX

Altona Magic’s hot run of form has seen it jump into the NPL top-six. The Magic have won three games on the trot and five of their past six and move into sixth spot. A thrilling 3-2 triumph over Heidelberg United at Paisley Park sees Altona jump above Green Gully with five games remaining in the home-and-away season. Cian Cuba continued his outstanding season with a brilliant goal – firing past Warriors gloveman Pierce Clark with a looping, long-range effort. However, Heidelberg quickly hit back as Anthony Theodoropoulos converted a penalty in 33rd minute to equalise and Sean Ellis put the visitors in front in the 67th. As he’s done all season, Jonas Markovski rose to the occasion. Having provided the assist for Cuba, the league-leading goalscorer got his name on the scoresheet with his 17th goal of the campaign in the 76th minute. Darcy Anastovski then pinched all three points with his first goal of the campaign, turning beautifully before firing past Clark at the near post.

CITY TAKES A-LEAGUE DERBY

Melbourne City has put a major dent in A-League rival Western United’s premiership and promotion push with a strong 3-1 win at City Vista on Saturday. Giorgio Serdenes got the visitors off to a quick start with the opening goal in the 11th minute. Harrison Shillington doubled the lead in the 75th minute and it looked like City had three points wrapped up until Tom Alisandratos got United back in the contest four minutes later. However, City quickly restored the two-goal cushion thanks to Marcus Humbert’s 87th minute strike and seal victory. Western United sits third, just two points off top spot, thankful Kingston City also suffered a surprise loss and Preston Lions were held to a draw.

BRUNSWICK, PRESTON DERBY ALL SQUARE

Preston Lions penchant for draws is threatening to derail its NPL2 season. The Lions have now shared the points in five straight game, the latest a nil-all draw with strugglers Brunswick Juventus at CB Smith Reserve on Friday night. Preston now has eight draws this season, equal most with Manningham United, to go with nine wins. However, it remains firmly in the premiership and promotion hunt. The Lions sit fourth with 35 points, just two points off top spot after Kingston City’s slip up against Pascoe Vale and a point behind Dandenong City in second. On the other side, every point for Juventus is critical has it fights for survival. The Zebras are a single points above Brunswick City and Pascoe Vale in the relegation zone but do have a superior goal difference.

GEORGE CROSS REOPENS FLAG RACE

The NPL2 premiership is alive again. Melbourne Victory seemed to be running away with the flag but Caroline Springs George Cross’s 2-0 win at Epping Stadium on Saturday has thrown it wide open. Caroline Springs is now four points behind Victory and has a game in hand against Nunawading City – win that and it’s only a one-point margin. Josh Whiteley opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 30th minute and Otman Benhaddou doubled the lead 11 minutes later. It was all George Cross needed. It was just the second time Victory has been kept scoreless and first time in 11 outings. The challenges keep coming for Caroline Springs with third-placed Goulburn Valley Suns coming into City Vista on Saturday. The Suns are just three points behind Caroline Springs in the race for automatic promotion.

BEAUY BACK ON WINNERS’ LIST

Winless in its last five and in the relegation zone, Beaumaris needed something to turn its season around. That something may have arrived on Saturday when the Sharks secured a critical 3-1 win over Essendon Royals to jump back up the ladder and into safety. The Royals opened the scoring through Dean Clarke on the stroke of half-time. However, it was all Beaumaris in the second half. Alan Sheehan got the home team back on level terms in the 58th minute and the game looked like heading for a draw entering the final 10 minutes. However, Will Ellis put the Sharks in front in the 84th minute and Jon Creamer added a cherry with a 95th minute strike to wrap up the three points. Beaumaris leap-frogs Essendon into ninth, now two points clear of Geelong in the drop zone.

HAT-TRICK FOR BALLARAT CITY

Could the impossible happen? Ballarat City requires a miracle to survive relegation back to State League but a third win on the trot has at least given the club life. City made the long trek to Doveton’s Waratah Reserve on Saturday and a 92nd minute winner snatched an unbelievable 2-1 win. Ballarat actually scored all three goals in the game. Unfortunately for Xagai Douhadji the first goal of the game was an own goal, putting the home team in front in the 15th minute. Daniel Angeleski got the visitors back level in the 35th minute with his first goal of the campaign. Then Kenta Futami pinched all three points with his nine goal of the season – and sixth in the last five outings – with almost the last kick of the game. Ballarat now has 11 points and is six points behind Essendon Royals in safety. It would be a remarkable effort but nothing is impossible.

DOCKERTY CUP SEMI-FINALS

The chance for a shot at the season’s first silverware is this week. It begins tonight in Shepparton as Goulburn Valley hosts Heidelberg United at John McEwan Reserve. The Suns, contending for promotion in NPL3, are the lowest ranked team through to the Australia Cup Round of 32 and thus the Dockerty Cup semis. United won its only Cup in 2017 and will be looking to march back into the final. Meanwhile, all-time leading Cup-winner Melbourne Knights knocked out Northcote City in a playoff a fortnight ago and must now travel to Oakleigh Cannons on Wednesday night. The Cannons are aiming for four trophies this season but both NPL clashes this season have been draws, so it’s anyone’s game.