Bentleigh out-muscle Hume City

Bentleigh Greens kept themselves in serious finals contention with a hard fought 2-1 win over top of the table Hume City at Broadmeadows Valley Park on Saturday in the Alanic Victorian Premier League.

The Greens, who had already beaten Hume City at home earlier in the season, needed the three away points to stay in contention for the finals race which is as close as any VPL finals race has ever been.

Hume haven't been beaten since their loss to Bentleigh on April 8th three months ago and started sluggishly. They were made to pay on 23 minutes when Ryan Devries scored his first of the game. Hume captain/coach Andy Vlahos was again brilliant in attack and Hume probably paid the price for relying too heavily on Vlahos and leading scorer Richie Cardozzo, with Bentleigh heavily marking the duo.

Behind at halftime Hume came out the better side and the game was played exclusively in the City attacking half. Bentleigh however caught them out in the 77th minute when Devries neatly turned 'keeper Acevski to slot home his second.

Luke Pilkington out muscles City veteran Andy Vlahos

Hume battled hard to get back into the game and were rewarded on 80 minutes when Vlahos provided Zoran Petrevski with a header and with ten minutes remaining the game was on.

The Greens were too good in the end and held out for a great victory.

Next week Bentleigh face fellow finals aspirant Dandenong Thunder on Friday night in another genuine six pointer, whilst top of the table Hume (who are still top of the table) travel to John Cain park to take on South Melbourne in the match of the round.