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It was basically the same story at the top of the table, with South Melbourne extending their lead with yet another win to add to their perfect run, after Oakleigh had stumbled to a draw with Northcote City.
Heidelberg are the other form team of the competition, hanging onto third spot after a narrow win over Melbourne Knights, who have spiralled down the table themselves. Only Pascoe Vale and Goulburn Valley Suns sit below the Knights, and the Suns’ actually gained a big point at home to Bentleigh Greens.
The middle of the table remains congested, with teams continually taking points off each other.
Continue Reading > The Week That Was – 22.5.2014
Formation 5-4-1
GK: Chris May (Melbourne Knights)
It says a lot about Melbourne Knight’s shambolic season when their keeper was best on ground in their solitary two wins for the season, coming in the first two games of the season. Since then the Knights have gone on to lose seven games on the trot, the latest a 1-0 loss to Heidelberg United in which May single-handedly kept the score line respectable. He had a stellar game with a number of world-class saves to keep the game within grasp.
RB: Jordan Wilkes (Heidelberg United)
Heidelberg coach George Katsakis admitted he wanted his (at times) porous defence to match the performances of the Heidelberg forwards and Wilkes stepped up to the task on Sunday. For such a young player Wilkes played with confidence and composure, rarely beaten on the night whilst holding his own against the Knights forwards.
CB: James Musa (South Melbourne)
A much smaller South Melbourne contingent to deal with this week, with the centre-back the star performer in an otherwise scrappy affair at Lakeside. Musa helped his side to yet another clean sheet as they narrowly toppled Pascoe Vale 1-0, extending their winning streak to nine games straight.
CB: Steven Pace (Heidelberg United)
Pace has earned himself consecutive selections in our Team of the Week after another commanding display in Heidelberg’s 1-0 win over the Knights. He had a great game, reading the play with confidence as well as displaying his dominance aerially throughout. Another clean sheet and another win for Heidelberg as they sit third in the league.
CB: Steven Cudrig (Werribee City)
Defender Cudrig nabbed himself a goal and a clean sheet in Werribee’s surprise 3-0 away win against Dandenong Thunder. He put in a display of the highest calibre, contributing heavily at both ends, leading the defence well all night.
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LB: Danny O’Donnell (Ballarat Red Devils)
The Ballarat Red Devil’s big man didn’t play at left back, but the robust centre half would have found himself hard pressed to have missed selection after a commanding performance in his sides last ditch 3-2 win against Green Gully. He was crucial in his teams win, with a number of important interceptions throughout and a fantastic last ditch tackle in the dying embers of the game to keep the score at 2-2 before the Red Devil’s nicked the points in injury time.
CDM: Frankie Lagana (Goulburn Valley Suns)
The Gouburn Valley midfielder played the part of water boy in his sides draw against fourth place Bentleigh. He played a sacrificial game, shielding the defence and breaking up Bentleigh’s play when they ventured forward. Whilst performances like these sometimes go unheralded, he went a long way towards the Suns picking up just their fourth point of the season.
RM: Dom Swinton (Ballarat Red Devils)
Dom Swinton has had a fantastic season to date, with his latest gut busting performance enough to secure the three points for the Red Devils. His running and immaculate dribbling caused enormous headaches for the Gully defenders, who committed too far twice, with the diminutive winger winning a pair of penalties, which were dispatched by Dane Milovanovic.
LM: Christopher Cristaldo (Hume City)
The Melbourne Victory winger put in a man-of-the-match performance for Hume City, with his pace and direct running proving difficult to handle for the Port Melbourne full backs. He linked up well with fellow Victory youth player Johnny Buceto along the flanks, with both delivering a number of defence splitting passes to no avail.
CAM: Liam Wooding (Northcote City)
The Northcote winger played primarily on the right in his sides 1-1 draw with Oakleigh but drifted in on occasions too. He was dangerous all night, and laid on the assist for Wade Dekker’s second half equaliser after his low cross met the forward unmarked in the box.
ST: Nate Foster (Oakleigh Cannons)
It was a tough week for the strikers in Round 9 but Nate Foster put in a decent shift, opening the scoring in that 1-1 draw with Northcote. His delicate chip over an onrushing Theodoridis opened the scoring for the match, and it set up a promising game early on. His work rate and attack on the ball was also to his credit.
Special thanks to Adem Barolli (@adembarolli), Bill Molloy (@Bill_Molloy94), Shaun Moran (@moranshaun), Katie Lambeski (@katielambeski) and Rory Flanagan (@Rory_Flanagan) for their help this week.