Surprising end to the Victorian Premier League

ST. ALBANS SAINTS 1–1 RICHMOND EAGLES

The Saints and Eagles closed out their disappointing seasons with a 1-1 draw at Churchill Reserve, while the contest was also the home sides final game in the VPL for at least the next season. Richmond have also got some thinking to do after last seasons first place was followed by a seventh place finish in 2011.

The home side took the lead through former Richmond player Daniel Visevic as he found the top right of the goal with a great left foot strike which could be strongly considered as goal of the season. Six minutes before the break however, Michael Catalano found an equaliser as he found the bottom left hand corner leaving Saric with no chance. In the second half both sides provided an entertaining contest however neither could convert their chances.


MELBOURNE KNIGHTS 4–2 HUME CITY

Hume City failed to claim the minor premiership following a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Melbourne Knights. Jacob Colosimo handed the home side the lead in the 40th minute yet the home sides lead was short lived as VPL top goal scorer Richie Cardozo equalised moments before the break.

Cardozo took his tally to 19 goals for the season after the hour mark as he gave the visitors the lead which would have handed Hume first-place after a hard-fought season. However it wasn’t to be as Melbourne Knights hit back through substitute Kayne Vincent with a chip over goalkeeper Acevski.

As Hume pushed forward in search for a winner it was the hosts who hit on the counter, yet again through Vincent who turned out to be an inspiring substitute. The victory was completed in injury time Shayan Alinejad scoring his first ever VPL goal.


OAKLEIGH CANNONS 1–1 DANDENONG THUNDER

Oakleigh Cannons failed to take advantage of Hume’s defeat, themselves dropping precious points against a visiting Dandenong side. After an entertaining, yet goalless first half the home side were finally awarded with their efforts in the 67th minute as Ricky Diaco handed the home side the lead, however the Thunder replied immediately through Luke Sherbon in the 70th minute. Sherbon's well struck effort left Peter Zois with no chance. Both sides had their chances to take the three points, but it was not to be as the hosts will rue their missed chances which if taken would have handed them the minor premiership.


SOUTH MELBOURNE 3–3 NORTHCOTE CITY

South Melbourne have secured a home final against Heidelberg next week after a great comeback earned them a point against Northcote City. South took the lead after only three minutes through a Jesse Krncevic strike, the lead however lasted less than 60 seconds as the visitors equalised through Dean Piermonte. In the 26th minute an error in the South defence gifted Jonathan Voulgaris the opportunity to hand the lead to Northcote which he duly took. Only five minutes later and their top scorer Trent Rixon scored City's third after he was fed brilliantly through on goal.

The goals continued to flow in the first half as Krncevic kept the home side in the contest with an amazing lob catching Charles Treacey off guard. Amazingly three minutes later South found an equaliser; a powerful free kick by Steven Weir left Treacey with no chance giving this match it's sixth goal and it was not even halftime! In the second half both sides continued to create chances in an attempt to take all three points but after six goals in first 45 minutes the second half failed to provide equal action.


BENTLEIGH GREENS 0–5 GREEN GULLY

For a second year running, Green Gully secured some silverware as they took out the Minor Premiership after both Hume City and Oakleigh Cannons unexpectedly dropped points. The Cavaliers took full advantage of the situation and did it quite convincingly defeating Bentleigh by five goals.

The visitors took a comfortable two nil lead into the break through a Andy Vargas goal and a Matthew Sanders tap-in. Graham Hockless all but secured the points in the 50th minute sliding the ball past Peter Gavalas. Rubbing salt into the wound, Daniel Jones scored a fourth while substitute Pasquale Vizzari completed the rout for the 2011 VPL Minor Premiers.


SPRINGVALE 3–1 HEIDELBERG UNITED

Springvale have ended their disastrous VPL campaign with a 3-1 victory against Heidelberg United. Although it was the White Eagles who went home with the win, it was the visitors that opened the scoring in the 15th minute through Osagie Ederaro after goalkeeper Nebojsa Vujic failed to clear the danger. Five minutes later however, Springvale found an equaliser through Zoran Vukas. The hosts never looked back in the second half as Goran Zoric rounded keeper Rhyss Kepne to slot the ball into the empty net after an impressive counter-attack and the victory was completed in the 89th minute as Vukas played a ball to Alp Camuzcu for the simplest of tap-ins.

Rank		Team	P	W	D	L			GD				Points
1		Green Gully Cavaliers	24	13	4	7			28				43
2		Oakleigh Cannons	24	13	4	7			12				43
3		Hume City	24	12	6	6			16				42
4		South Melbourne	24	12	5	7			6				41
5		Heidelberg Utd	24	12	7	5			27				40
6		Northcote City	24	11	6	7			24				39
7		Richmond	24	11	4	9			-4				37
8		Bentleigh Greens	24	10	6	8			0				36
9		Dandenong Thunder	24	12	5	7			14				35
10		Melbourne Knights	24	8	7	9			6				31
11		Springvale White Eagles	24	3	6	15			-38				15
12		St Albans Saints	24	3	4	17			-31				13
13		VTC Football	24	4	0	20			-60				12