Stalemate at Olympic Village

Fifth placed Heidelberg United hosted sixth placed Green Gully in a good old fashioned six pointer at Heidelberg's Olympic Village on Sunday in the Alanic Victorian Premier League.

Heidelberg were coming off a disappointing draw away to Melbourne Knights whilst Green Gully were riding high after thrashing fellow finals aspirants Northcote City last week. Heidelberg were without their top choice 'keeper Griffin McMaster and influential striker Saso Alexovski, Green Gully gaining Simon Storey for his first start after a months lay off.

The game was very slow to start and chances were few and far, which wasn't helped by the very bumpy surface at Olympic Village stadium. The first real chance fell on 31 minutes to Gully's Hockless who had his shot blocked with Colonel Sanders scuffing the follow up shot. Two minutes later Andy Vargas also had a shot denied as Green Gully took the ascendancy only to have Heidelberg's Christodolou fire just wide from 35 meters out on the counter. At half time the scores were locked at nil-all to the bemusement of the Warriors faithful.

The second half started much like the first, slow and steady but fired up in the 56th minute when Jason Hayne was shown a yellow card for a blatant trip. The next ten minutes were the best of the match with former Bergers player Hockless lucky not to follow Hayne into the book and then just missing out with an audacious chip over stand in 'keeper Rhyss Keane. Simon Storey then shot from outside the box with the ball brushing the crossbar.

As the match came to a close Heidelberg had three great chances to win it. McIlroy had the best of them but shot high on 75' while Ederano weaved some magic to beat three defenders only to see his shot pushed wide by Roganovic. With three minutes added on Samargis had a wonderful chance only to be blocked by the desperate Gully captain Jeff Fleming.

The draw was no help to either side with 7th placed Northcote City thrashing strugglers Springvale 5-1 to move within two points of the top five.

Heidelberg look to be in the best place to reach the finals with games against bottom three clubs Springvale, St Albans and VTC to come. Green Gully also face VTC and Springvale but meet 4th placed Bentleigh Greens in the last round which shapes as an elimination final a week early.

In other games played on Sunday

Melbourne Knights smashed St Albans 4-1 to officially condemn the Saints to State League One next season, whilst South Melbourne knocked off top of the table Hume City to throw the race for second place right open. Meanwhile Richmond upset third place Oakleigh Cannons 2-1.

Heidelberg United : 1. Rhyss KEANE, 3. Les DOUMBALIS, 14. Craig ELVIN, 13. Luke BYLES, 16. Steve MARTIN, 7. Hamlet ARMENIAN, 2. Yarred HAILEMELKOT, 11. Evan CHRISTODOLOU, 8. Andrew NABBOUT, 18. Osagie EDERARO, 9. Shaun MC ILROY. SUBS: 32. Jason KOUTSODONTIS, 19. Dennis ALILOVIC, 17. Jason SAMARGIS, 5. David CORDEMORE.

Green Gully : 1. Nikola ROGANOVIC, 2. Daniel JONES, 3. Dean KERR, 4. Cameron DRAKE, 7. Jeffrey FLEMING, 8. Jason HAYNE, 10. Graham HOCKLESS, 12. Matthew SANDERS, 14. Simon STOREY, 16. Mile MEDJEDOVIC, 17. Andy VARGAS. SUBS: 23. Mason INTERLANDI, 6. Stephen DOWNES, 11. Pasquale VIZZARI, 18. Joel NIKOLIC, 20. Josh PUGH.

Yellow Cards: Jason Hayne (GG) 57'. Subs: Alilovic on for Armenian (HU) 69', Vizzari on for Sanders (GG) 82', Nikolic on for Vargas (GG) 82', Samargis on for Mc Ilroy (HU) 87'.