Image: Smile for Peter
Green Gully and Oakleigh Cannons cemented their place in the NPL Victoria top six with victories over bottom-half opponents Bulleen Lions and Richmond SC respectively on Monday and Tuesday.
Like many contests at David Barro Stadium this year, Bulleen’s encounter with Gully was a tight tussle, with just one goal to Kliment Taseski separating both sides.
Proceedings could’ve taken a turn early in proceedings when a turnover in Gully’s attacking half led Liam Boland with the opportunity to strike in just the sixth minute, but his effort found the post.
However, Taseski made up for the miss after half an hour when Yohei Iwasaki’s cross from the left found him at the far right post – his effort looping in past Griffin McMaster.
Bulleen looked to work their way back in the contest and it were efforts by Ersin Kaya and Takanori Nishimoto which tested the defence and Gully custodian Rani Dowisha to no avail.
Gully’s away win to Bulleen Lions kept them alongside Hume City and Oakleigh for a place in the top four, while the Lions remain in 10th, almost near enough to safety in 2016 however not entirely in the clear just yet.
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Oakleigh Cannons travelled to KB Reserve in the rescheduled Round 16 encounter with Richmond SC, coming off a 1-0 win over relegation certainties Melbourne Victory.
And twice they had to fight off a deficit to claim the three points which may just finally secure their status as a finals side in 2016.
A fairly busy opening half was highlighted by the ever-dangerous set-piece taker Dean Piemonte striking the woodwork from a corner kick.
It took until the 41st minute for the hosts to break the deadlock when Alex Caniglia headed home Nick Niagoran’s cross for the lead.
Oakleigh fired another warning shot not long after the break when Dimi Hatzimouratis was denied by Tony Foglia before hitting the post on the rebound.
It mattered little as moments later Piemonte struck for 1-1.
Niagoran restored the lead just five minutes later, played in on goal and making no mistake with the finish.
And yet once more the lead didn’t last, as almost immediately from the restart danger man Dusan Bosnjak fired in his 15th goal of the season from a corner to make it 2-2.
The winner would eventually come in the 63rd minute via Hatzimouratis, with Oakleigh then holding on for a big three points in the finals race – creating more space between the top six and and seventh placed Melbourne Knights, who now sit nine points adrift from a finals spot.
While the wins this week came in hard-fought wins by a margin of one goal against bottom three sides, it’s been nonetheless a productive six-point week for Oakleigh.
With Hume, Gully and Oakleigh all on 37 points and separated by goal difference, the race is on for a home contest in the first round of the finals.
The Cannons now look forward to a tough home encounter against South Melbourne, while Gully host Richmond, who still sit perilously in the promotion/relegation playoff spot, four points behind Avondale who have a game in hand against Northcote, who also sit two points behind Richmond.