VPL Wrap: True stars revealed in the south

On a weekend where the Victorian Premier League was rocked to the core, there was some great football played out leaving next weeks final round wide open with top spot and finals places still up for grabs. 

South Melbourne hold Northcote to a draw. Credit: FFV

Bentleigh Greens  4 (Milovanovic 27', 39', 63', Sherbon 66') 
Green Gully Cavaliers  1 (A. Vargas 67')
Kingston Heath Soccer Complex

Bentleigh put a huge dent in Green Gully's finals chances with a 4-1 win. The Cavaliers, coming off last weeks high, winning the State Knockout Cup, would have been expecting a better result. In the space of two minutes Green Gully lost influential veteran Roddy Vargas and went a goal down. From there they were not able to recover. 

The Greens went four goals ahead before an Andy Vargas goal bought back some respectability. Luke Sherbon - who is two goals off going back to back Golden Boot winner - was hooked with 20 minutes remaining and made no bones about his displeasure. 

Green Gully have a catch up game midweek vs Oakleigh at Oakleigh before hosting Dandenong next Sunday. The need at least a win from one of these game to make finals, having not missed since 2001. Bentleigh are supposed to travel to Southern Stars next weekend but who knows what will happen there?


Richmond 0
Southern Stars 0
Kevin Bartlett Reserve

This game finished 0-0 and we'll leave it at that. Richmond will finish second last and have a catch up game at home to Dandenong midweek before finishing at Pascoe Vale. The Stars will finish last.


Dandenong Thunder 0 
Port Melbourne Sharks 2 (Rosman 5’, Prelevic 28’)
George Andrews Reserve

Port Melbourne will play finals this season after securing their spot on-top of a 2-0 win over last season's champions Dandenong. Unbelievably the Thunder will not be part of the finals action after dominating all before them last season. 

The Sharks have been ultra impressive this season after gaining promotion. They finish off the season at home in a massive game against South Melbourne who could still possibly miss the final five. Dandenong have Richmond away mid week and Green Gully away Sunday as they look towards rebuilding for next year.


South Melbourne 1 (Rixon 83')
Northcote City 1 (Kounavelis 75')
Lakeside Stadium

Northcote City were seven minutes away from clinching the minor premiership before goal machine Trent Rixon came back to haunt his former club and place Northcote City into a must win game to end the season. South Melbourne now hang onto a finals spot by the skin of their teeth. A finals spot would be the minimum pass level for their massive fan base after such a turbulent year. South travel to Port Melbourne and even a win will not guarantee them a spot if Green Gully manage to win both of their remaining games. Northcote City should defeat Hume City at home on Sunday to grab their well deserved silverware.


Hume City 1 (Pace, 85')
Melbourne Knights 2 (McGarry 26' Colosimo 73’)
Broadmeadows Valley Park

Melbourne Knights are within one point of claiming a dramatic title as they continued their meteoric rise under Andrew Marth. A 2-1 win at Hume City sets up an intriguing last round set of fixtures and The Knights could find themselves on-top come Sunday night with a win at home against Oakleigh and a Northcote City loss. Hume, who went down to Melbourne Victory last week need an absolute miracle now to be part of the finals scene, they have Northcote City away Sunday.


Oakleigh Cannons 1 (Christodoulou 27’)
Pascoe Vale 2 (Youseff 11’, Santilli 20’) 

Jack Edwards Reserve

Pascoe Vale finished Oakleigh's season on Sunday winning 2-1 and ending any chance the Cannons had of playing finals this season. Pascoe Vale who won promotion last season should be satisfied with the way they have handled the VPL this season and will hope to finish with a bang when they host Richmond. Oakleigh who have never been on the pace all season host Green Gully mid-week before heading to Sommers street to face the Knights in what could be Miron Bleibergs last game in charge at VPL level. (lets hope not).

TEAM	P	W	D	L	PTS
Northcote City	21	13	5	3	44
Melbourne Knights	21	13	4	4	43
Bentleigh Greens	21	10	7	4	37
Port Melbourne Sharks	21	11	3	7	36
South Melbourne	21	9	5	7	32
Green Gully Cavaliers	20	9	4	7	31
Hume City	21	9	2	10	29
Oakleigh Cannons	20	7	3	10	24
Dandenong Thunder	20	8	3	9	24
Pascoe Vale	21	5	6	10	21
Richmond	20	3	6	11	15
Southern Stars	21	1	4	16	7