After 11 rounds of NPL 2, both Dandenong Thunder and North Geelong are in pole position to bounce straight back up to the top flight after both recorded victories on the weekend.
In notching up their 11th straight win of the season, Thunder did North Geelong a massive favour by knocking off Moreland Zebras 4-1 at George Andrews Reserve.
A cagey opening saw Moreland have much of the early running without ever really threatening Fraser Maclaren’s goal.
It was the visitors who took the lead when a misplaced back pass from Brendan Elmazovski was capitalised on by Baggio Yousif for the opener. It jolted Thunder into life, with a Simon Colosimo header on the stroke of half time changing the complexion of the contest. Substitute Chris Geils then gave the Thunder the lead around the hour mark with his first touch of the ball – a goal which was his first at senior level.
From there onwards it was the Brandon Barnes show as the Englishman scored a brace – the second a powerful strike from just outside the box.
At Elcho Park, the contest was hobbling towards a scoreless draw before a big flashpoint in the 84th minute saw Matthew Thorne sent off for a second yellow. Not that it mattered for the hosts, who despite being a man down, scored when Matt Townley’s long throw (cue Rory Delap comparisons) into the box saw the ball spill to Nicholas Jurcic, who tapped the ball home with the last kick of the game to send home fans into raptures – and more importantly, North to the top of the table.
With all of Moreland Zebras, North Geelong and Whittlesea Ranges entering the weekend on 21 points, the Warriors really were the big winners because Whittlesea continued their inconsistent form, succumbing 4-1 to the equally inconsistent Dandenong City – who now have consecutive wins on the board.
First half goals to Chris Antoniadis and Andy Jerez set Aaron Healey’s men on their way before Argentine Gonzalo Freddi and Dario Matkovic got themselves on the scoresheet as Ranges slipped up in their promotion chase.
A new promotion candidate has emerged in the form of Ballarat Red Devils, who move to equal second (fourth overall on goal difference) in the West with their fifth straight win, this time against Eastern Lions.
The Red Devils opened the scoring in the 40th minute through Simon Murphy, before danger man Michael Trigger doubled the lead with a curling free kick in the 70th minute – Sam Burfoot’s later goal acting as mere consolation for Eastern.
Ballarat – who narrowly missed out on a chance for promotion back to the NPL top flight after relegation in 2014 – leapfrogged St Albans Saints, who succumbed to a rampant Springvale White Eagles – now also in great form with four straight wins under new manager Nik Kovacevic.
Springvale secured their first win over St Albans since 2010 thanks to second half strikes from captain Dejan Erakovic and teenager sensation Damir Stoilovic, who now has six goals to his name this season. They will be fancying their chances next week as they travel to Murray United who will be reeling after a 7-2 home defeat against Melbourne City.
Goals to former Melbourne Heart Youth team striker Zac Walker (after 36 seconds of play) and Melkie Woldemichael had the hosts up 2-0 inside the opening seven minutes. However, the capitulation began thereafter as Yusuf Ahemd and Ali Eyigun scored to level proceedings going into the break, before Ahmed grabbed his second to give Joe Palatsides men the lead. Further goals to Phil Petreski, Giuseppe Marafioti, Luke Gallo and Christopher Cristaldo rounded off the rout in a performance United coach James Coutts described as his side’s “worst of the season”.
Sunshine’s woes continuing as Box Hill ease to a 4-0 victory at Chaplin Reserve with Alex Schroen scoring another brace in his more advanced position as a right forward. Japanese playmaker Kazuki Okada and 20s captain Thomas Simos also got on the scoresheet – the latter with his first senior goal.
Moreland City getting some much needed confidence following a 5-0 away thumping over Nunawading City with Apai Ukuno grabbing a brace of two Trent Rixon assists, as the veteran striker also got a brace of his own.
Ten-man Goulburn showed there is life after Craig Carley after a 3-1 away win over the struggling Werribee.
And finally, back to the East, Kingston consolidated second spot while ending Santamarta’s honeymoon in Bendigo with a 6-1 demolition. The returning Velibor Mitrovic scored a hat-trick, Jerry Karpeh a brace, while a debut senior goal to Rowan McNamee – the son of former Australian tennis player Paul McNamee – rounded off proceedings. Lachlan Beever had the consolation goal for Bendigo.