VPL Wrap - The Thunder go Under!

It took 12 rounds but runaway Victorian Premier League leaders Dandenong finally have something to add to the 'L' column.

Southern Stars are the ones who can claim the only 'W' over the Thunder this season. At the other end of the table Moreland are starting to build some momentum, but Heidelberg look shot.


Hume City 1 (Hegarty 66’)
Melbourne Knights 2 (Colosimo 29’, Talajic 90+’)
Epping Soccer Stadium

Its all up and up for the Knights as their fantastic run continues under the rule of Andrew Marth. A late Friday night winner from substitute Chris Talajic saw the Knights jump four points clear of the relegation spots and four points shy of a finals berth. Hume now sit outside the finals by two points and next week face Dandenong who will be breathing fire after their loss.

Oakleigh Cannons 3 (Walker 2`, 39`, Diaco 8`)
Heidelberg United 2 (Bounos 87`, Ibrahim 90+2`)
Jack Edwards Reserve

Oakleigh continued along just nicely in second spot with a 3-2 win over Heidelberg. The Cannons were up 3-0 at half time thanks to Zac Walker and the ever present Ricky Diaco. Heidelberg did not go down without a fight although they did leave their run too late with two goals in the last five minutes. The Warriors are in real strife and find themselves at arms length away from safety. A second derby game loss in a row will hurt Vlahos and co.

Richmond 0
Northcote City 0
Kevin Bartlett Reserve

Not much to talk about here. Richmond will be happier with the point than Northcote will be. Wasted chances see Northcote remain in third spot while Richmond struggle third last.

Green Gully Cavaliers 2 (Ederaro 37' 56')
Bentleigh Greens 0
Green Gully Reserve

We're past the half way mark; time for Green Gully to flick into second gear for their assault on the title. A 2-0 win over Bentleigh putting the Greens from Green Gully equal on points with the Greens from Bentleigh. A goal either side of the half time break from in-form attacker Osagie Ederado was all it took for Gully to get back on the winners list.

Southern Stars 2 (Stirton 16', Mulcahy 53')
Dandenong Thunder 1 (Sherbon pen 39’)
Kingston Heath Soccer Complex

Not even Jamiee Rodgers could have given you odds on this one. The upset of the season or the loss that was coming? Which ever way you look at it Southern Stars deserve some huge credit. The promoted team that most were predicting to have a short stay up in the VPL have done nearly enough to be considered safe.

Skipper Alan Mulcahy was the hero with his 53rd minute goal and while Stars were able to keep Nate Foster reasonably quiet, he was still able to earn a penalty for Luke Sherbon to convert.



Moreland Zebras 2 (Taseski 18’, Kaya 64’)
South Melbourne 2 (O’Dor 45’, J. Trifiro 88’)
Epping Soccer Stadium

The Zebras are on the March, picking up a point against South Melbourne on the back of two wins sees Moreland a point away from the drop zone with winnable game against the Knights to come. South Melbourne who haven't been in great form of late were lucky to get the point with Jason Trifiro firing home at the death. Good signs for the Zebras in the return to form of gun 'keeper Griffin McMaster and the signing of former Melbourne Victory star Grant Brebner.

Ladder after Round Twelve

POS		TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1		Dandenong Thunder	12	8	3	1	25	6	19	27
2		Oakleigh Cannons	12	7	2	3	20	15	5	23
3		Northcote City	12	6	3	3	17	16	1	21
4		Bentleigh Greens	12	6	1	5	19	17	2	19
5		Green Gully Cavaliers	12	6	1	5	17	15	2	19
6		Southern Stars	12	5	3	4	15	18	-3	18
7		Hume City	12	5	2	5	13	14	-1	17
8		South Melbourne	12	4	3	5	16	15	1	15
9		Melbourne Knights	12	5	0	7	13	15	-2	15
10		Richmond	12	2	6	4	11	13	-2	12
11		Moreland Zebras	12	3	2	7	16	22	-6	11
12		Heidelberg United	12	1	2	9	11	27	-16	5

Goals
9 – Luke Sherbon, Dandenong Thunder
8 – Nate Foster, Dandenong Thunder
7 – James Kalifatidis, Northcote City
5 – Jason Hayne, Green Gully Cavaliers
5 – Ricky Diaco, Oakleigh Cannons
5 – Nicholas Hegarty, Hume City

Yellow Cards
5 – Steven Topalovic, Richmond
5 – Daniel Jones, Green Gully Cavaliers
5 – Brian Bran, Dandenong Thunder
5 – Jonathan Voulgaris, Northcote City
4 – Andrew Viola & Daniel Visevic & Nicholas Marinos, Richmond
4 – Saso Alexovski & Mitchell Bissinger, Heidelberg United
4 – Frankie Lagana, Oakleigh Cannons
4 – Adam Zilic, Melbourne Knights
4 – Isiyan Erdogan, Hume City

Red Cards
3 – Richmond (Liam Cannell, Michael Ferrante, Mate Medjedovic)
3 – Southern Stars (Lean Williams, Ridvan Saglam, Halil Gur)
2 – Green Gully Cavaliers (Patricio Vargas, Mile Medjedovic)
1 – Heidelberg United (George Papadopoulos)
1 – Melbourne Knights (Ben Surey)

Round Thirteen Fixtures