Image: Bulent Yontem
The two matches on Saturday and Sunday saw Green Gully preserve their lead at the top of the NPL Victoria but not extend it following a 2-2 draw with Hume City, while Port Melbourne joined the congested mid-table while condemning St Albans to the bottom of the ladder with a 3-2 home win.
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At ABD Stadium, Gully had the chance to extend their lead at the top after Bentleigh drew with South Melbourne, but the hosts looked convincing early and Nick Hegarty was inches away from the opener when his curling effort missed agonisingly wide.
Disaster struck for the visitors as they aided Hume’s cause with a disastrous own goal when Jonathan Bounas’ goalbound backpass away from Rani Dowisha trickled over the line.
The visitors made amends later in the half when Wade Dekker played through Matt Breeze, who applied a perfect back-post finish for the equaliser.
However, the home side restored their lead soon before the break when Kris Kioussis’ cross was attacked by Liam Boland to bounce a volley into the back of the net just before the break.
Gully again came out in search of an equaliser and were on the front foot early with Jay Davies skipping past his markers before launching a long-range shot that was eventually held by Michael Weier.
Dowisha also saved his side from going two down with a big block to deny Boland his brace against his former club.
That allowed Gully to once again peg back the deficit via some good work down the right wing when a perfectly weighted ball by Jeremy Walker allowed Alex Caniglia the space to cross in to the box, with the in-form Nick Krousoratis applying the finish.
Hume had a late chance to nab the winner when James McGarry played in Prasad, whose effort was well saved by Dowisha, with the clock ticking down on a 2-2 draw.
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At JL Murphy Reserve, Port Melbourne had the lead in the 14th minute when Fraser Hills’ effort wasn’t dealt with by Aaron Romein in goals.
Hills had his second goal at the half-hour mark following some better build-up play ending with Nick Apostolpoulos’ cross which was converted in by the midfielder.
But the 2-0 lead proved not to be unassailable and St Albans had one back via Joey Monek, who netted his first of the season with a powerful effort past Brandan White.
The contest was back on level terms by the break when a penalty was awarded with captain Ryan McGuffie stepping up to net the equaliser.
The Sharks got the lead back after the hour mark when Francesco Stella’s cross was met by Philippe Bernabo-Madrid, who also found the back of the net for the first time this campaign.
However, Port Melbourne fared better at preserving their advantage in the second stanza, denying Dinamo another comeback and running out 3-2 winners.
Such is the precarious nature of the NPL ladder right now, Port Melbourne’s win takes them to ninth, just three points away from both the top six and 12th placed Melbourne Knights in the relegation zone
Two more matches are to be played tonight which will further affect the make-up of the upper and mid-table when Kingston City host Heidelberg and Bulleen welcome Avondale.
