Photo: Cindy Nitsos/South Melbourne
In a case of anything you can do, I can do better, title rivals South Melbourne and Bentleigh Greens were unable to be separated, despite each playing in different games to each other.
Both teams notched up 3-2 victories, home to Richmond SC and away to Oakleigh Cannons respectively, which means South will go into Round 19 still three points clear on the top of the NPL ladder.
For the Greens, they know that it requires just one slip up from their rivals to slide into top spot, so long as they continue to win like they did last night.
They took the lead in the third minute when a Ryan Paczkowski set-piece was converted into the back of the net by Luke Pilkington who once more deputised at centre-back.
The Cannons equalised in the 25th minute when a brilliant solo run from Goran Zoric saw him bamboozle his way past the oncoming Greens defenders before chipping the ball past Ryan Scott.
They hit the lead 13 minutes later when a calamitous error from Scott saw him gift possession to Dimitri Hatzimouratis before fouling the Cannons forward in the penalty area; Dusan Bosnjak stepped up to convert his 11th goal of the season.
Scott made amends shortly afterwards by producing a good save at the near post to deny former Green Dean Piemonte whose shot was diverted into the post before rebounded in the custodian’s arms.
Bentleigh pressed for a leveller before the break and were duly rewarded when Matt Thurtell fired home in the dying seconds of the half, which was the Queenslander’s fourth in as many game
Reigning FFV Gold Medallist Kamal Ibrahim was brought on at the half-time break to replace the injured Paczkowski as the heavens began to open early in the second half.
Chris Lucas thought he had put Bentleigh back in front when he latched onto a great through ball from Lambros Honos, only for the ball to strike the post before being cleared off the line
Both sides then had goals ruled out for fouls on the goalkeeper in the lead-up as they went in search of a winner.
It was Bentleigh would get that goal in the 75th minute when a ball from the right escaped Thurtell at the near post and found its way to Wayne Wallace who tucked the ball home for his sixth of the season in what proved to be the eventual winner as the Greens kept pace with ladder leaders South.
Things were a little more nervy in the first half for South Melbourne, who were held to a scoreless draw after 45 against Richmond SC.
Gian Tapia was kept busy in net to keep the score at a stalemate, denying Andy Kecojevic and Milos Lujic in the first half, only for the latter to breach his goals within nine minutes of the restart, poking in after a goal mouth scrap.
Substitute Nicolas Niagoran hit back for Richmond in the 62nd minute, finishing after being played through by a teammate.
A swift response came from South as Kecojevic chipped Tapia to score his first league goal in South colours, before he was substituted for new Spaniard Manuel Herrero.
It didn’t take him very long either to trouble the scorers as Manolo grabbed a first goal in his second league appearance to make it 3-1.
Richmond pulled one back through another substitute in Ratip Cileli to set up an exciting conclusion, but were unable to get past their opponents the one more required time, keeping South in top spot.
In yesterday’s other fixture, the very real threat of relegation has scared life into a Pascoe Vale side, who have continued their resurgence in form with a 3-0 win over Port Melbourne Sharks.
Not only did they put in an assured defensive display to secure just their fourth clean sheet of the season, but they once again looked a force to be reckoned with in attack, with Dutch forward Davey van ‘t Schip once again in fine form.
Fresh off a brace in last week’s 3-1 win over Northcote, van ‘t Schip took just 13 minutes to grab his first against the Sharks, cutting of a James Riccobene pass to finish powerfully from just outside the penalty area.
He was also kept busy setting up chances for his teammates, but couldn’t keep himself away from the scoresheet, turning and volleying in one movement with a stunning goal on 27 minutes.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the forward, who had the opportunity to grab his hat-trick from the spot, however, he missed with what was arguably the worst miss of the NPL Victoria era.
For both him and his Pascoe Vale teammates, it was all smiles though, as through New Zealand international Luka Prelevic’s finish across the face of goals, they had earlier sealed the game.