VPL Round Eight Wrap

HUME CITY 1 (Guerrero 89)
GREEN GULLY 0
Epping Soccer Stadium

Hume City scored in the last minute to steal all three points from the visiting Cavaliers thanks to a strike by teenager Jose Guerrero. After a lacklustre performance from both sides, it seemed the game was destined for a goalless draw, however with a minute remaining the young Guerrero struck his shot into the net after a great run down the middle by Jarryd Barnes to provide the pass.


DANDENONG THUNDER 1 (Foster 84)
SOUTH MELBOURNE 1 (Hatzimouratis 73)
George Andrews Reserve

Dandenong have dropped their first points of the season after they were held to a one all draw against South Melbourne. The visitors seemed like they were going to cause an upset after taking the lead through Dimi Hatzimouratis after seventy three minutes, pouncing on to a loose Triffiro ball. The Thunder lifted their intensity in the remaining minutes and were able to snatch a goal on eighty four minutes as Nate Foster found the back of the net with a neat header. The draw leaves the home side undefeated after eight rounds.



SOUTHERN STARS 2 (Leech 61, Mccormack 93)
RICHMOND 2 (Catalano 66, Purcell 75)
Kingston Heath Soccer Complex

In an entertaining contest Southern Stars scored a 93rd minute equaliser through Liam Mccormack to shatter the visiting Richmond. Halfway through the opening period Halil Gur was shown a red card for the home side, however they responded best taking the lead through Mark Leech. The lead lasted only five minutes as Daniel Visevic weaved his way through the Stars defence before setting up Michael Catalano for a calm finish. The visitors looked like they had picked up all three points until a late strike through Mccormack ensured that Richmond had to settle for a point.


MORELAND ZEBRAS 1 (Nicholson 72)
BENTLEIGH GREENS 2 (Retre 23, Kelly 55)
Epping Soccer Stadium

Moreland troubles have continued, this time falling to the hands of Bentleigh Greens on Sunday afternoon. Paolo Retre opened the scoring with an easy tap in after a fumble by Zebras keeper Griffin McMaster and Danny Kelly doubled the Greens advantage early in the second half with a low drive to beat McMaster. Stuart Nicholson found the net with less than twenty minutes remaining, allowing a tense finish to the game however it wasn’t to be as the Zebras continue to struggle leaving them level on points with bottom-placed Heidelberg United.


Northcote City 2 (Chiappetta 56, Kalifatidis 68)
Heidelberg United 0
John Cain Memorial Park

Northcote have won their first back to back of the season overcoming strugglers Heidelberg United at John Cain Memorial Park. Headers from Adriano Chiappetta and James Kalifatidis in the second half was enough to succumb Heidelberg to their sixth loss of the season. New United coach Ken Murphy has a lot of work to do to ensure his side find their rhythm and start picking up points as soon as possible. For the home side, the win propels them into the top five for the first time this season.


MELBOURNE KNIGHTS 1 (Fenton 31)
OAKLEIGH CANNONS 2 (Cumming 29, Doyle 58)
Knights Stadium
Oakleigh Cannons have secured second spot and reduced the deficit to six points with a 2-1 victory against Melbourne Knights. Louis Fenton gave the home side the advantage after thirty minutes, however the visitors produced a decent second half performance and goals from James Cumming and Hayden Doyle was enough to see off a struggling Knights outfit. The win sets up a mouth watering clash with leaders Dandenong Thunder where the Cannons will aim to hand the Thunder their first loss of the season.

POS		TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1		Dandenong Thunder	8	7	1	0	19	2	17	22
2		Oakleigh Cannons	8	5	1	2	12	8	4	16
3		Bentleigh Greens	8	5	0	3	14	10	4	15
4		Green Gully Cavaliers	8	5	0	3	14	10	4	15
5		Northcote City	8	4	1	3	12	13	-1	13
6		Hume City	8	4	1	3	8	9	-1	13
7		South Melbourne	8	3	2	3	12	10	2	11
8		Richmond	8	2	4	2	10	9	1	10
9		Southern Stars	8	2	2	4	8	14	-6	8
10		Melbourne Knights	8	2	0	6	8	12	-4	6
11		Moreland Zebras	8	1	1	6	7	17	-10	4
12		Heidelberg United	8	1	1	6	5	15	-10	4