Port Melbourne keeps NPL Victoria finals hopes alive with thrilling win over Green Gully

After a host of departures and string of losses, a late Charlie Leech winner has lifted Port Melbourne out of a difficult two months and kept its NPL finals hopes alive.

Charlie Leech in action for Port Melbourne. Picture: Rob Cruse Photography

Backs against the wall, Port Melbourne is still fighting for a NPL Victoria finals berth.

The Sharks reignited their season on Saturday night with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Green Gully at Murphy Reserve.

An 86th minute winner from Charlie Leech brightened what had been a dark couple of months for the club.

A number of key players walked out in the mid-season transfer window as Port went seven games without a win.

However, coach Nick Marinos said the club hadn’t given up on its aspirations.

Luke Barforosh in action for Port Melbourne. Picture: Rob Cruse Photography

“We keep speaking about it, as soon as you stop chasing success the only thing that’s guaranteed is failure,” Marinos said.

“It was a great win for the boys.

“With all we’ve gone through in the past few weeks, we’ve lost six or seven players – key players – and to come out and do that with kids, I’m not scared to throw them on.

“They’ve been in the environment since day one, they know what’s required, the intent and how they go about it is exactly what we want.

“We’ve always said, if someone leaves they don’t want to be part of what we’re doing, the culture in that room is second to none and that’s why the boys can step out and do what they do.”

Leech opened the scoring in the 36th minute, pouncing on a loose ball and unleashing a long-range drive into the bottom right corner.

However, Green Gully was square just 30 seconds later as Gianluca Iannuci produced a stunning Goal of the Year contender.

The Cavaliers winger took the ball on the left, took the space as the Sharks defence backed off and unleashed an unstoppable missile into the far top corner.

85:38: GOAL! Port Melbourne Sharks score to make it PMSC 3 : GGSC 2.

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— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) July 20, 2024

Gully was in front early in the second half as a Jamie Latham shot took a lucky deflection into the back of the net.

The game was level again on the hour mark as a precise long ball from Eoghan Stokes found Marc Latsis on the charge and he laid it off to Andrew Mesourouni for the simple tap in.

Leech then book-ended the match, smashing home a rebound after Abraham Mathet back heel had been saved.

The brace was Leech’s first goals of the campaign and Marinos said just reward for one of the club’s most reliable players.

“Charlie deserves it, he has been phenomenal – from day one when he stepped into the club – his attitude, he gives everything every week,” he said.

“He’ll have a bad game and run 13kms, he’ll give you everything and he deserves everything he gets.

“Leechy was brilliant, Fraser (Dunlop) was good, the backline – Maker (Maker) was brilliant, (Alex) Baker was good, Luke Barforosh was outstanding.

“Stokesy has been brilliant all year, he’s our new captain, and he lifts the team every weekend.”

The result keeps Port Melbourne in touch with the top-six, sitting just one point behind Dandenong City after its astounding win over South Melbourne.

Unfortunately for the Sharks, they must travel to Lakeside on Friday night to face a Hellas team on the rebound.

On top of that, they’ll have to do it without three key players due to suspension but Marinos remains upbeat.

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“Maker Maker, Alex Baker and Nathaniel Hancock all suspended on yellows, so that’s my backline,” he said.

“We love doing it the hard way and South coming off a loss too.

“They’ll give everything, we’ll give it a shake even with a depleted side.”

After South Melbourne, Port faces Dandenong City (away) and Avondale (home) in the final fortnight.