Last week, all five bottom teams of the NPL – Pascoe Vale, Bulleen, Richmond, Victory and Northcote – suffered defeats. While the results weren’t ideal for any, it did mean that at least none lost ground in the survival race as all clubs around them also dropped points.
This time around saw predominantly the opposite, with three of the bottom five sides in action (not including Richmond, whose clash against Oakleigh has been postponed) seeing three points and preventing a bit of a breakaway from the pack, while also dragging Avondale back into the equation.
Importantly, however, Bulleen’s win over Melbourne Victory was the one exception to the above, with the defeating condemning the latter to the bottom of the ladder and propelling themselves above Avondale into ninth spot by virtue of goal difference.
And it was former Victory man Christian Cavallo involved in a number of important moments throughout the game.
He won the foul which led to a set piece delivered by Matteo Ballan which Josh Barresi – who has already become the club’s equal highest scorer sine joining mid-season – headed home for the lead.
Stefan Cardamone and Cavallo had further chances to extend the lead, having their efforts saved and hitting the woodwork respectively.
Ersin Kaya did eventually net the second goal in the 53rd minute, with Cavallo again involved in the build-up.
Christian Theoharous was proving a handful for Victory, firing a warning shot in the 56th minute which Griffin McMaster did well to save, before Pierce Waring pegged one back for his side via a scramble in the box.
That was as close as Victory got to winning it, as McMaster held the fort at the back, while Bulleen had the chance to extend the deficit in stoppage time when Cavallo won a penalty, but Barresi couldn’t add to his tally and the scoreline remained 2-1.
At Northcote, City left the Melbourne Knights shellshocked when many of their new recruits – headlined by Braedyn Crowley’s five-goal haul – combined to put their opponents to the sword.
The first goal came minutes in when Anthony Ramzy slipped through Crowley for a neat finish past the keeper to the far post.
A mistimed backpass to Michael O’Farrell then allowed the former Newcastle Jets man to pounce and double the lead.
It was three goals after just 22 minutes when Ramzy again assisted the forward again.
Borbor Sam got in on the action right after the break, released on the wing to drive to the byline and cutback to the striker at the back post for a simple tap in.
There was even time for Jonathan Bounas to miss a penalty, with the Knights often the architects of their own demise, as another underhit backpass was cut off by Crowley and finished into the back of the net.
Earlier, Pascoe Vale had seen off the massive threat of Heidelberg United to consolidate their place above the drop-off zone, meaning they now sit in 11th spot on 15 points, three behind both Bulleen and Avondale (18).
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Northcote meanwhile improved to 11 points, equal with Richmond who have a game in hand, with that 12th and half-survival spot currently well and truly up for grabs.
Victory are now the cellar-dwellers after 16 rounds on 10 points.
Image: Bulleen Lions via Twitter