VPL Round 15 Team of the Week

Round 15 kicked off with Bentleigh recording yet another draw, this time against Hume City. After struggling early and going behind to Turhan Sumbul’s goal, the Greens dominated the rest of the match but could only manage to get back on level terms through Ryan De Vries. A further kick in the teeth was the serious shoulder injury to VPL standout goalkeeper Alistair Bray.

Also on Friday night, Melbourne Knights showed they really mean business and continued to build on their form streak with a comfortable 3-1 win over Port Melbourne. Andrew Barisic bagged a double with a third goal from Marijan Cvitkovic to wash over Luka Prelevic’s opener.

Oakleigh continued its resurgence with a 4-0 pounding of Southern Stars. In recent years, the Cannons have leapt out of the blocks and then slid down the table in the second half of the season. This year it appears to be the opposite.

Green Gully dominated Pascoe Vale but could only manage a 1-0 victory thanks to some impressive keeping from Stefaan Sardelic on top of poor finishing from the Cavaliers. Vale almost stole a point when Luca Santilli had a late chance but he smashed his effort into the side netting.

Chris Taylor finally got his first win at the helm of South Melbourne with a 6-2 trampling of his former employers Dandenong Thunder. South were on the scoresheet three times inside the first ten minutes, and went on to add another three in the second half. The scoreline turned a few heads after Dandy had turned in some impressive defensive shifts in recent weeks.

Richmond missed the chance to take advantage of a Northcote City outfit looking bereft of confidence, drawing 1-1 with the league leaders. If you had asked Grant Brebner if he would take a point before the game his answer would likely have been a yes, making it a positive result nonetheless.

Here’s the pick of the players for round 15:

***

Stefaan Sardelic (Pascoe Vale)
The Pascoe Vale gloveman had a solid game in goal and nearly thwarted Green Gully singlehandedly. A string of saves to keep the margin to a solitary goal meant this man stood above the rest of goalkeepers this week.

Ljubo Milicevic (Melbourne Knights)
Another good contribution from Ljubo after featuring last week. He is staking a claim to be labelled an “attacking centre back” after being involved in the build up of a number of chances for the Knights.

Craig Sives (Hume City)
Sives was excellent. He marked Bill Fleming Media Player of the Year winner Luke Sherbon out of the game. The Welshman was so well-contained that Bentleigh’s attacking impetus suffered when the ball was played to his feet.

Bryan Bran (South Melbourne)
Haunted his former club with a bullet header and resilient defending. Perhaps having the inside knowledge on Dandenong’s attacking play gave him an advantage, but he still stood tall and showed why he is so highly rated.

Ryan De Vries (Bentleigh Greens)
The Bentleigh winger threatened Hume all night and applied the finish to Dom D’Angelo’s cutback to equalise late in the first half. Comfortably the most dangerous player on the pitch, the Greens probably should have looked to get the ball to him more often rather than the tightly marked Luke Sherbon.

Evan Christodoulou (Oakleigh Cannons)
Ran the show in midfield for the Cannons and played in Zoric for goal number four. He has been the quiet achiever in the middle of the park and crucial to Oakleigh’s resuscitation.

Wayne Wallace (Bentleigh Greens)
Three weeks in a row in the TOTW for Wallace. Whenever Hume gained possession, the Greens captain won the ball back in every area of the pitch, and nullified Nick Hegarty who destroyed Southern Stars last weekend.

Dusan Bosnjak (Oakleigh Cannons)
Bosnjak maintained his super run of form with two goals, one being an absolute gem of a free kick into the top corner, the other from Michael Boxall’s chest-down.

Nick Epifano (Dandenong Thunder)
A young player Chris Taylor rates very highly, the winger again got on the scoresheet early in a match and added to his tally in the second half by rounding his former keeper Zaim Zeneli

Trent Rixon (South Melbourne)
Not having the greatest of seasons, Rixon had a fine game against Dandenong. He punished Zaim Zeneli’s error with a fine chip after earlier slamming home his first goal on the rebound and assisted the sixth with a ball for Brad Norton.

Andrew Barisic (Melbourne Knights)
The Knights number seven was rewarded with a start for his winner against Northcote and he repaid the faith shown in him with a goal either side of half time against Port.

Subs

Griffin McMaster (Oakleigh Cannons)
Pulled off two fine saves and was one of only two keepers to keep clean sheets in round 15.

Marijan Cvitkovic (Melbourne Knights)
Added the Knight’s third goal and has been a key part of four wins in the last five games.

Stephen Downes (Green Gully)
Had a strong game at right back for Gully and supplied the cross for Brent Fisher’s winner.

Shaun Timmins (Green Gully)
Like his fellow full back Downes, Timmins was good in all areas of the game.