Image: Graeme Furlong
The NPL2 season continues to write up its narrative as Dandenong City and Northcote City continue to remain determined to have their names etched as champions of their respective divisions. Not to be outdone, Dandenong Thunder remain in hot pursuit of their crosstown rivals, dealing a blow to their West second-placed counterparts. At the other end of the table however the battle heats up as Eastern Lions were leapfrogged at the bottom by Richmond after losing to Ballarat.
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Dandenong City maintained their five point lead at the top of the NPL2 East Standings following a 2-1 home win over the Whittlesea Ranges at Frank Holohan Soccer Complex last Friday evening. James Kelly marked his return to the starting XI by opening the scoring after just five minutes having latched onto Nick Kalmar’s diagonal long ball before firing the ball past Luke Gavalas. The Englishman then turned provider when his low cross into the danger area was turned in at the second attempt by Liam McCormick, who bagged his debut goal for Hajduk six minutes from half time. The visitors poured on the pressure in the second half and halved the deficit through Jacob Colosimo mid-way through the second half. The Ranges then missed several opportunities to level the scoring as the hosts held on for an important three points.
City rivals Dandenong Thunder bounced back from last week’s shock 1-0 loss to Nunawading City after a hard-fought 2-0 win over West promotion hopefuls Moreland Zebras at CB Smith Reserve on Saturday afternoon. Gianfranco Impellizzeri’s men had goalkeeper Fraser Maclaren to thank for the win after the shot-stopper pulled off several high-quality saves in the opening hour of the contest to keep the score deadlocked. The breakthrough came in 62nd minute as Simon Colosimo netted his sixth goal of the campaign from the dead ball. A foul on Iqi Jawadi six minutes later saw Brandan Barnes step up and convert from the penalty spot to fire in his 23rd of the season and keep their promotion hopes within reach.
That result was music to the ears of Northcote City who earlier in the day defeated ten-man Springvale White Eagles 3-0 at John Cain Memorial Reserve to extend their lead at the top of the West over the Zebras by nine points. Two goals from Alex Goodwin either side of half time in addition to a maiden Northcote strike from Welshman Adam Wright saw Hercules notch up a comfortable win as their guests day was compounded by the second half red card given to Milan Jovanovic in the 68th minute for a second bookable offence.
Full time: #NorthcoteCity 3-0 @FCWhiteEagles #PS4NPLVIC pic.twitter.com/giTnR3gI9H
— Northcote City FC (@NorthcoteCity) June 17, 2017
Melbourne City were the round’s biggest winners to keep within reach of both City and Thunder in the East following an 8-2 romp over Bendigo City in Bundoora. A hat-trick to former Joeys international Lucas Derrick in addition to doubles from Nathaniel Atkinson and Austin Wong and a further strike from Jaiden Madafferi saw Joe Palatsides’ young chargers cruise to victory over a hapless Bendigo, who found the target through American import Asa Kryst and Isaac Commadeur.
Over at Campbell Reserve, Moreland City closed the gap on city rivals Zebras to one point after three second half strikes steered Adam Mathers’ side to a 3-0 win over Nunawading City in match marred by three separate pitch-side dog invasions. A looping heading from recent arrival Matthew Reid – his first for Moreland – was followed up by a delightful volley from captain Corey Thomas strike as substitute Trent Rixon sealed the three points with his 14th of the campaign.
Brunswick City’s goalless draw against Murray United at Dunstan Reserve seemingly got the better of Archie Thompson as the former Melbourne Victory star striker was shown a red card in the second half for dissent after picking up two quick yellows.
A sublime strike from range by Werribee City midfielder Damien Peters charged the Bees to a 1-0 win over the Goulburn Valley Suns in Shepparton to continue their recent revival at the expense of the hosts, who were without the services of sharp shooter Craig Carley, missing through suspension.
Sunshine George Cross secured a well-deserved 2-0 triumph over Box Hill United at Wembley Park thanks to first half goals from Adam Hodor and Souheil Azagane. The opener came after six minutes when Hodor’s long-range effort struck the post and bounced over the line, with Yosuke Saito and David Younan both doubling the advantage soon afterwards. That second goal eventually came seconds before the break as new signing Clayton Green assisted the Tunisian-born Spanish forward for his sixth goal of the season.
The Eastern Lions slipped to the bottom of the NPL2 East standings after a 4-0 home defeat at the hands of Ballarat City, who remain in fourth place in the West. All four goals came in the second half with Dominic Swinton opening the scoring a minute into the second term before defender Charlie King doubled the advantage following some great work in the lead up from the energetic Nelson Salvatore. Swinton grabbed his second 11 minutes from time following an assist by new English signing Courtney Austin, before David King rounded off the scoring as the Lions ending the game with 10 men following Kostas Droutsas’ sending off.
NPL2 2017 Eastern Lions v Ballarat City match highlights from Eastern Lions Soccer Club on Vimeo.
That result allowed relegation-embattled Richmond to climb above the Burwood-based side into ninth after a 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory on Friday night at Kevin Bartlett Reserve. The in-form Valli Cesnik grabbed the game’s only goal in the first half to take his season tally to six as Brian Vanega collected his first win as Richmond manager against his former employers.