VPL Wrap - Everything's looking Dandy

VPL Round Five Wrap: Its looking like a Black Caviar race in the Victorian Premier League at the moment with Dandenong Thunder out in front leaving the rest of the competition in their wake. While at the other end of the table heavyweights Heidelberg and the Knights (along with Moreland) prop up the table




Bentleigh Greens 1 (Bulloch '10 )
Melbourne Knights 0
Kingston Heath Soccer Complex

Bentleigh stayed within reaching distance of top spot after a workmanlike performance against the injury riddled Melbourne Knights on Friday night. Former Perth Glory midfielder Scott Bulloch put the greens ahead in the first half before succumbing to injury shortly after which could be a rather large blow to the club with the top of the table clash against Dandenong next up on the radar. The Knights are struggling and with only one win on the board desperately need to find something soon before it gets too late

Oakleigh Cannons 1 (Diaco '93)
Richmond Eagles 1 (Ferrante '45 (pen) )
Jack Edwards Reserve

Oakleigh might come to rue missed chances as they shared the points with Richmond on Friday night. Both sides sit inside the top five at the moment but Oakleigh look the more likely to make a serious dent in the season. Ricky Diaco missed a handful of golden opportunities to keep the Cannons equal second. The Eagles would be happy with the point after finding themselves on the back foot for large periods of the game.

South Melbourne 0
Southern Stars 2 (Leech 45', Galanos 57')
Lakeside Stadium
South Melbourne fans were left fuming after their side lost to promoted Southern Stars at home on Friday night. Goals either side of the half time interval were enough to give the stars their second win of the season and climb level with south on the VPL table.

Green Gully 2 (Hayne pen 55', Sanders 84')
Moreland Zebras 1 (Recchia 25')
Green Gully Reserve

Moreland are rooted to the foot of the table after their fifth consecutive loss in the VPL. Perennial late winner scorer Matthew Sanders did it again to hand the champions all three points and keep the Zebras winless. The victory ramps Green Gully up to fourth, sitting in the chasing pack ready to pounce late in the season as they have become accustomed to doing out Kealba way.

Northcote City 1 (Kalifatidis 7')
Dandenong Thunder 3 (Kearney 20', Foster 47', Thompson 61')
John Cain Memorial Park

The match of the round turned into one way traffic as the all conquering Dandenong Thunder stormed home to claim all three points at Northcote on Sunday. Northcote opened the scoring early through a Kalifatidis penalty but after that it was all Thunder. Irishman Kearney hit back on 20 minutes and after half time Canadian Nate Foster and Ross Thompson finished them off. the win sees Dandy a game clear on top with the mouth-watering clash against Bentleigh coming up this Sunday.

Heidelberg United 1 (Christodoulou 3')
Hume City 2 (Alexovski 73', Bissinger 93')
Olympic Village Park

Heidelberg are still winless after conceding late to Hume City on Sunday night. The Warriors opened the scoring early but couldn't hold on against an ever improving Hume City. The loss was even more devastating for 'bergers coach Andy Vlahos who shifted back to Heidelberg after a stint with Hume club. Heidelberg now have a genuine early season six pointer this Sunday against fellow struggler Melbourne Knights.

Ladder after Round 5
P W D L GF GA GD Points

1		Dandenong Thunder	5	5	0	0	15	1	14	15
2		Bentleigh Greens	5	4	0	1	10	4	6	12
3		Oakleigh Cannons	5	3	1	1	8	6	2	10
4		Green Gully Cavaliers	5	3	0	2	11	8	3	9
5		Richmond	5	2	2	1	6	4	2	8
6		South Melbourne	5	2	1	2	9	7	2	7
7		Northcote City	5	2	1	2	7	8	-1	7
8		Hume City	5	2	1	2	6	8	-2	7
9		Southern Stars	5	2	1	2	6	9	-3	7
10		Melbourne Knights	5	1	0	4	4	7	-3	3
11		Heidelberg United	5	0	1	4	3	11	-8	1
12		Moreland Zebras	5	0	0	5	2	14	-12	0