Image: Mark Avellino
There’s everything to play for in the NPL Victoria after Richmond SC’s win over Bulleen Lions means both sides, along with Northcote City, will battle it out for final day survival next week.
The result takes Richmond into 12th on 22 points, equal with Bulleen who remain in 11th on account of a considerable goal difference, with City in 13th on 20 points.
And the final day on Sunday will see Bulleen travel to Hume, Northcote venture to Oakleigh and Richmond host the in-form Avondale – where the automatic survivor, relegated side and playoff club will be decided.
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Northcote are coming in with confidence their upset 2-1 win over top-placed Bentleigh Greens, who before the weekend looked unbeatable with a long unbeaten run.
However, with Chris Lucas joining the casualty ward at Kingston Heath with a long-term injury, and one eye on the Dockerty Cup final on Wednesday, Bentleigh’s defeat means they will have to wait until the final to hoist the premier’s plate – bar a miracle in South Melbourne’s favour.
At John Cain Memorial Reserve, it was Braedyn Crowley and Kamal Ibrahim exchange opportunities early to no avail.
Jack Webster fired the first warning sign when he forced a double save from Phil Petrovski.
Ibrahim had another chance for the visitors before the break when he found space in the box for Bentleigh, but skewed his effort.
Ibrahim did get involved in a goal minutes later, with his cross being turned in by the prolific defender Webster to make it 1-0.
That’s as close as Bentleigh got to the silverware on the day as a penalty just after the break allowed Crowley to continue his prolific Northcote stint from the penalty spot to equalise.
Marcus Duncan then had a chance when his shot from the corner was blocked off the line.
However it was another mid-year acquisition in James Papadimitriou who made the difference when he bundled home the ball from a set piece to score the eventual winner and keep Northcote alive in the league.
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The other Saturday game saw Green Gully brush aside Melbourne Victory 2-1.
Gully were comfortable early, with Liam Boland heading down to Jay Davies, whose effort went wide.
They didn’t have to wait too much longer for the opener as Boland scored what is now becoming a trademark long-range effort, this time from a free kick and his third goal in consecutive games stretching to the FFA Cup.
Daniel Jones then struck from a corner to double to lead after the break.
Victory did peg one back late when Pierce Waring seized on Lucas Derrick’s cross from the right and scored from close range, but it only proved ultimately to be a consolation.
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It was all Avondale on Sunday afternoon as the Avengers put away FFA Cup Round of 16 side Melbourne Knights 5-0 in the Somers Street derby hosted by Avondale.
Jonatan Germano continued his stellar form with the early opener from a set piece. It got even better in the 37th minute for the hosts when Nick Symeoy got forward and netted his third of the campaign.
With Knights pushing up it was Abraham Yango who broke down the wing and teed up Jem Berkant for an emphatic finish and a 3-0 scoreline at the break.
After missing a few chaces earlier, Oleksiy Krahpko was able to convert just after the re-start to put his side up 4-0.
Germano then blocked a keeper clearance into the net to seal his third consecutive brace and propel Avondale to become one of the form sides of the competition late, renewing his own hopes of a potential A-League recall.
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The other Sunday game saw Archie Thompson’s debut which ended in an anti-climactic scoreless draw against Oakleigh Cannons.
The early stages saw the side fail to adjust to the difference, with Kenny Athiu unavailable and Thompson providing a different presence at the front – certainly in the height department.
Yet it was Oakleigh with the better change before the break when Dusan Bosnjak failed to beat Chris Theodoridis from close range, before the Heidelberg stopper pulled off an athletic save to keep the Bergers in the game.
Thompson’s showcase moment came in the second half when played through by Harry Noon, who having beaten his marker found Thompson onside with a clever lofted ball, however the former Socceroo’s curling effort to Honos’ left was well saved by the agile keeper.
That’s the way it was to stay, with the contest ending at 0-0.
READ MORE > Thompson and Bergers held in scoreless stalemate
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The first real chance fell in the 13th minute when Hamlet Armenian found Alex Caniglia but Griffin McMaster was up to the task and made a crucial save.
Bulleen then had an opportunity when Davide Cardamone was in on goal but a last ditch Declan Lambert tackle denied him the opportunity.
It was one of Richmond’s best throughout the season to propel them into the lead when Dutchman Geerd Arend Roorda’s low free-kick beat everybody and found itself in the back of the net in the 53rd minute.
The hosts got to work and it was substitute Josh Barresi who almost scored with his first touch when he pounced on Will Abbott’s header to strike the woodwork.
Richmond keeper Tony Foglia had to be on guard to Taka Nishimoto late to preserve both his side’s lead and the clean sheet, with the visitors holding on for the crucial three points.