When Bentleigh Greens hosted Heidelberg United last week, the clash was billed as one of the biggest games in the NPL’s short history.
In the end it turned out to be somewhat of an anti-climax as Bentleigh steamrolled the visitors 4-0 – though the depleted Bergers were missing several key players through injury that night.
The result ensured John Anastasiadis’ men would retain top spot on the ladder, but the boys in Green had to quickly turn their attention for another top-of-the-table clash in store this week.
Similar sentiments would have been shared by their South Melbourne counterparts come the end of the 90 minutes against Werribee City last week.
While Chris Taylor’s side were not at their best in a scrappy 1-0 victory over the Bees, they may have been forgiven for looking ahead to their fixture against Bentleigh a little bit early.
With the last contest between the two sides still etched in the memories of players and pundits, it’s easy to understand the hype surrounding today’s upcoming contest.
Both sides hovered around the top of the ladder when they met in Round 5 for the trademark Friday night contest at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex.
Bentleigh began on the front foot and in that first half played some of the best football seen in the state leagues, with a superb team goal finished off by Matt Thurtell to live long in the memory of the Greens faithful.
A 2-0 lead at the break saw the hosts in dreamland and within touching distance of breaking South’s nine game league unbeaten streak.
However, the visitors returned fire in the second, dictating proceedings and controlling play by winning the hotly-contested midfield battle.
A foul on South target man Milos Lujic in the box saw the former Greens striker step up and reduce the deficit from the spot.
With Iqi Jawadi and Matthew Theodore pulling the strings in midfield, South found their equaliser through the in-form Nick Epifano with around 10 minutes on the clock left.
While most teams would have dropped their heads and caved in to the onslaught carried out by a rampant South, Bentleigh immediately swung the momentum back in their favour and aimed pressure on the visitors’ defence.
A few good chances went begging for the hosts, before a controversial goal-line scramble saw the men in Green cry foul that the ball had crossed the line, only for the referee to dismiss such claims.
Up the other end, Lujic had one last chance to win it for the defending champions but miscued his shot wide.
In the end it was hard to argue that a 2-2 result wasn’t a fair reflection on the contest, with both sides having controlled proceedings for a half of football each.
But if anyone was to be disappointed at result, it would have been Anastasiadis on the Bentleigh bench, lamenting his troops allowing South back into the contest.
He’ll be determined not to see a repeat of the second-half fade out and ensure the Greens maintain not only their status at the top of the ladder, but also keeping their undefeated season intact.
Bentleigh have gone 17 league games without defeat, only two shy of South’s NPL record of 19 games unbeaten stretching from the end of the last season to their loss against Oakleigh a month ago.
Like many great contests, there is a sense of familiarity between both locker rooms.
At Bentleigh, manager Anastasiadis is a Hellas legend who scored in two NSL Grand Final victories, while in-form defender Steven Topalovic, classy midfielder Tyson Holmes, youngster Dion Kirk and Goalkeeper coach Peter Zois have all donned the blue colours of South at some point over the last five years.
At Lakeside, recently-retired assistant manager Dimi Tsiaras is an ex-Greens player from his early days of senior football, with goal-machine Lujic beginning his career at Kingston Heath as a fresh-faced 16-year-old in 2006.
David Stirton was a Greens player more recently after spending the last two seasons at the club, as is the returning Stephen Hatzikostas, who transferred between the two mid-season last year.
The injured Dane Milovanovic was also a member of Bentleigh’s 2013 Grand Final losing side.
Manager Chris Taylor was a notable spectator last Friday night as the Greens attack ran rampant against Heidelberg, and would be weary not to provide them with such space this time around.
Taylor’s teams are renowned for tightening space and giving the opposition little room to manoeuvre and roam around the field.
His side will be boosted by the return of captain and defensive lynchpin Michael Eager, however the recent departure of Andy Brennan to the A-League and long-term injury to Milovanovic has been compounded by the loss of Nick Epifano, who is set to miss the clash after departing for Scotland to trial for Dundee United.
In the Bentleigh ranks, all appears well, with the season-ending injury to NPL equal-top goalscorer Thurtell negated by the good recent goalscoring record of fellow Queenslander Chris Lucas, and the form of returning Kiwi international Ryan de Vries.
Competition for places at Kingston Heath is so fierce at the moment that influential captain Wayne Wallace may have to contend for another spot on the bench as he makes his return from injury, so impressive is the current pairing of Troy Ruthven and Liam McCormick in midfield.
In defence, the Greens have conceded just four times in the last eleven league games, with the defensive combination of Jack Webster, Steven Topalovic and goalkeeper Alastair Bray all in fine form.
All eyes will be on Lakeside as the two go head-to-head for what promises to be one of the most anticipated league games in memory.
A win for the hosts will see them leapfrog the visitors ahead of their other eagerly anticipated fixture against rivals Heidelberg United next week.
Three points for the Green would see them extend their lead at the top of the table to four points and within touching distance of breaking Hellas’ 19-game unbeaten run.
A bumper crowd is expected, and given the impressive form of both sides, the players on show and the backstories behind the contest, it is hard to argue that this clash promises to be the biggest game of the NPL season.
Image: Kevin Juggins