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When you think of the all time great characters of football in this country Ljubo Milicevic mustn't be too far from your thoughts. So when he pulled on the boots again for his boyhood club Melbourne Knights this week in the traditional Melbourne Derby against South Melbourne and scored an own goal to equalise the scores it wouldn't surprise you at all would it.
Dandenong fans were allowed back in to watch home games too, that's always a bonus.
Bentleigh Greens 1 (Pilkington 25')
Port Melbourne Sharks 1 (Hockless pen 18')
Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
Ten man Bentleigh managed to hold onto a draw with Port Melbourne on Friday night to stay second on the table. Graham Hockless converted a controversial penalty (aren't they all controversial) inside twenty minutes before 'Football Superstar' (will he ever shake that tag) Luke Pilkington equalised not long afterwards.
Luke Sherbon was given an early shower with 15 minutes to play which left the Greens vulnerable, but they managed to defend well to gain the point. Bentleigh head off to Green Gully next week for the Green Derby?! Port Melbourne host Dandenong in a game which could make or break Dandenong’s season.
Dandenong Thunder 0
Northcote City 1 (Lujic 65')
George Andrews Reserve
The fans were allowed back into Dandenong home games for the first time this season and it was just in time to see the best team in the league, Northcote City, carry on its merry way with a 1-0 victory courtesy of a Milos Lujic strike.
Last season’s champions Dandenong have now lost three games in a row and finds itself seventh on the table (five points behind a finals spot) and needing to string together some wins if it is going to put itself in with a chance to defend the title.
Northcote on the other hand is having a season to remember only dropping two points from a possible 28 and is a short price favourite to win the league. Dandenong face a difficult trip to Port Melbourne next week and Northcote host South Melbourne in what should be another ripping game.
Southern Stars 1 (McKoy 19')
Green Gully Cavaliers 2 (Ederero 16', 58’)
Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
Green Gully got a much needed three points after beating Southern Stars away. A brace to Osagie Ederero was enough to keep Green Gully's head above water for the time being.
Stars are still searching for its first win and face Richmond this week while Green Gully have to play 19 minutes against Richmond mid-week before taking on Bentleigh at home next weekend.
Hume City 1 (Hegarty 42')
Pascoe Vale 0
Broadmeadows Valley Park
Pascoe Vale travelled the short distance up Pascoe Vale Road to face Hume City and travelled the short distance back with nothing to show. Hume held onto third position on the ladder with a hard fought 1-0 win thanks to reining VPL Player of the Year Nick Hegarty's 42nd minute goal.
Pascoe Vale is holding its own in the VPL after being promoted this season and for a bit of luck would be in the top half of the ladder. Hume who many tipped to be at the other end of the table is in a great position to challenge for the title in the second half of the season. Next week Pascoe Vale host Oakleigh in a game it should win, Hume travel to Knights stadium.
Oakleigh Cannons 4 (Bosnjak 19' 71', Zoric 22' 59')
Richmond 2 (Karahan 82', Groenwald 90')
Jack Edwards Reserve
Put a fork in them, they are done. After nine rounds Richmond is yet to gain a point so that statement isn't really an outlandish one is it.
Oakleigh is sitting third last and got the win it needed to start its climb up the table after being touted as a championship contender before the season. The 4-2 score line flattered Richmond after the club was 4-0 down with ten minutes to play.
Richmond have 19 minutes to play against Green Gully this Wednesday before facing the win-less Southern Stars next weekend. Oakleigh travel to Pascoe Vale.
South Melbourne 2 (Norton 24’, Milicevic (og) 62’)
Melbourne Knights 2 (Surey 9’, Alinejad 29’)
Lakeside Stadium
The big one, the original Melbourne Derby, the main event, and to top it off the return to the Victorian Premier League of Ljubo Milicevic.
The Knights took an early lead in front of a healthy crowd before South hit back only to see the Knights take the lead again minutes later. It wasn't until Ljubo’s awkward header found his own net that the scores changed again and they remained locked in at 2-2 in another chapter of our greatest rivalry.
Knights host Hume City and South face the daunting task of Northcote at Northcote next week.
Dandenong fans were allowed back in to watch home games too, that's always a bonus.
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| Photo: Cindy Nitsos |
Bentleigh Greens 1 (Pilkington 25')
Port Melbourne Sharks 1 (Hockless pen 18')
Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
Ten man Bentleigh managed to hold onto a draw with Port Melbourne on Friday night to stay second on the table. Graham Hockless converted a controversial penalty (aren't they all controversial) inside twenty minutes before 'Football Superstar' (will he ever shake that tag) Luke Pilkington equalised not long afterwards.
Luke Sherbon was given an early shower with 15 minutes to play which left the Greens vulnerable, but they managed to defend well to gain the point. Bentleigh head off to Green Gully next week for the Green Derby?! Port Melbourne host Dandenong in a game which could make or break Dandenong’s season.
Dandenong Thunder 0
Northcote City 1 (Lujic 65')
George Andrews Reserve
The fans were allowed back into Dandenong home games for the first time this season and it was just in time to see the best team in the league, Northcote City, carry on its merry way with a 1-0 victory courtesy of a Milos Lujic strike.
Last season’s champions Dandenong have now lost three games in a row and finds itself seventh on the table (five points behind a finals spot) and needing to string together some wins if it is going to put itself in with a chance to defend the title.
Northcote on the other hand is having a season to remember only dropping two points from a possible 28 and is a short price favourite to win the league. Dandenong face a difficult trip to Port Melbourne next week and Northcote host South Melbourne in what should be another ripping game.
Southern Stars 1 (McKoy 19')
Green Gully Cavaliers 2 (Ederero 16', 58’)
Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
Green Gully got a much needed three points after beating Southern Stars away. A brace to Osagie Ederero was enough to keep Green Gully's head above water for the time being.
Stars are still searching for its first win and face Richmond this week while Green Gully have to play 19 minutes against Richmond mid-week before taking on Bentleigh at home next weekend.
Hume City 1 (Hegarty 42')
Pascoe Vale 0
Broadmeadows Valley Park
Pascoe Vale travelled the short distance up Pascoe Vale Road to face Hume City and travelled the short distance back with nothing to show. Hume held onto third position on the ladder with a hard fought 1-0 win thanks to reining VPL Player of the Year Nick Hegarty's 42nd minute goal.
Pascoe Vale is holding its own in the VPL after being promoted this season and for a bit of luck would be in the top half of the ladder. Hume who many tipped to be at the other end of the table is in a great position to challenge for the title in the second half of the season. Next week Pascoe Vale host Oakleigh in a game it should win, Hume travel to Knights stadium.
Oakleigh Cannons 4 (Bosnjak 19' 71', Zoric 22' 59')
Richmond 2 (Karahan 82', Groenwald 90')
Jack Edwards Reserve
Put a fork in them, they are done. After nine rounds Richmond is yet to gain a point so that statement isn't really an outlandish one is it.
Oakleigh is sitting third last and got the win it needed to start its climb up the table after being touted as a championship contender before the season. The 4-2 score line flattered Richmond after the club was 4-0 down with ten minutes to play.
Richmond have 19 minutes to play against Green Gully this Wednesday before facing the win-less Southern Stars next weekend. Oakleigh travel to Pascoe Vale.
South Melbourne 2 (Norton 24’, Milicevic (og) 62’)
Melbourne Knights 2 (Surey 9’, Alinejad 29’)
Lakeside Stadium
The big one, the original Melbourne Derby, the main event, and to top it off the return to the Victorian Premier League of Ljubo Milicevic.
The Knights took an early lead in front of a healthy crowd before South hit back only to see the Knights take the lead again minutes later. It wasn't until Ljubo’s awkward header found his own net that the scores changed again and they remained locked in at 2-2 in another chapter of our greatest rivalry.
Knights host Hume City and South face the daunting task of Northcote at Northcote next week.
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northcote City | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 4 | 22 | 25 |
| 2 | Bentleigh Greens | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 18 |
| 3 | Hume City | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 19 | -3 | 18 |
| 4 | South Melbourne | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 12 | 5 | 17 |
| 5 | Port Melbourne Sharks | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 15 |
| 6 | Melbourne Knights | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 14 | 3 | 15 |
| 7 | Dandenong Thunder | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 10 |
| 8 | Pascoe Vale | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 9 | -1 | 10 |
| 9 | Green Gully Cavaliers | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 12 | -3 | 8 |
| 10 | Oakleigh Cannons | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 17 | -6 | 8 |
| 11 | Southern Stars | 9 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 22 | -16 | 2 |
| 12 | Richmond | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 27 | -16 | 0 |
Round Ten Fixtures
Pascoe Vale v Oakleigh Cannons, 8:30pm Friday 21 June, Hosken Reserve
Port Melbourne Sharks v Dandenong Thunder, 8:30pm Friday 21 June, JL Murphy Reserve
Green Gully Cavaliers v Bentleigh Greens, 3pm Saturday 22 June, Green Gully Reserve
Southern Stars v Richmond, 6pm Saturday 22 June. Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
Northcote City v South Melbourne, 3pm Sunday 23 June, John Cain Memorial Park
Melbourne Knights v Hume City, 3pm Sunday 23 June, Knights Stadium