Port Melbourne Sharks (6th) vs South Melbourne (2nd)
The form
Since their 4-0 win over North Geelong in Round 8, Port have stumbled heavily. A loss and a draw to Dandenong and Werribee saw only one point gained where people would have been expecting six points, and last week’s 2-0 loss to Bentleigh exacerbated their scoring woes, with Port now going four games without a goal. It reminds us of the “days without an accident” scene on the Simpsons.
Their task won’t be made easier tonight, with opponents South Melbourne ticking along nicely, this time comfortably dispatching Pascoe Vale 1-0, with Milos Lujic again finding himself on the scoresheet.
The players to watch
All eyes should be on Andy Brennan this week, who graduated from the NPL to be signed by Phil Stubbins to the Newcastle Jets, but will hang around with South until he’s required up at the Hunter for pre-season. With all the recent FIFA stuff on Fox Sports, we don’t know what’s more exciting for Brennan – playing in the A-League, or being able to play as himself on FIFA. We’ve got his ultimate team card sorted:
As for Port, they need all their regulars firing again to break their drought, with the likes of Kamal Ibrahim feeding Trent Rixon. Stjepan Gal has had an excellent season so far, and will need to be on his toes to nullify the threat of in-form Milos Lujic.
The prediction
Whilst Port need to get themselves out of this mini-slump, it’s difficult to see anything other than another fruitless night against South, who haven’t exactly been putting teams away, but in true Chris Taylor fashion, closing down a game expertly and fiercely preserving their lead. 1-0 to South.
Pascoe Vale (8th) vs Green Gully (9th)
The form
Both teams are coming off disappointing, but perhaps not surprising, 1-0 away defeats over the weekend – Paco to South and Gully to Hume – with both struggling to fashion chances up front. The issues for Gully are more persistent, though, as while they managed to somewhat stem the flow of goals conceded since their Heidelberg humiliation, they haven’t scored in the two weeks since. Pascoe will be raring to go after only playing the one game in two weeks, following the postponement of their Bentleigh clash.
The players to watch
Rani Dowisha has enjoyed a stellar year, backing up his FFA Cup heroics for State League One outfit South Springvale with solid showings between Gully’s sticks – some blowouts aside. He stood out last week, keeping the scoreling respectable with some clutch saves. But Pascoe Vale’s attackers – Jake Nakic, Joseph Youssef – may be looking forward to the prospect of facing a side that hasn’t kept a clean sheet since Round 2.
The prediction
A downtrodden Gully to not find any joy from this fixture, desperately trying to fix up their defensive woes, but letting slip a 1-0 defeat courtesy of a curling Michael Ferrante set-piece.
Oakleigh Cannons (12th) vs Dandenong Thunder (11th)
The form
The return of Arthur Papas heralded the turning of a new page for Oakleigh, who for the first time in a while were able to win a game and keep a clean sheet to boot, albeit against competition strugglers North Geelong. Meanwhile, it was raining goals at Dandenong Thunder, who heaped misery on Northcote City with a 6-1 win, their second triumph in three weeks, to give them some breathing space above the relegation zone.
The players to watch
It’ll be interesting to see who Papas prefers in his starting XI compared to Miron Bleiberg as he continues to place his own stamp on the team. One player that had a standout game last week was Queenslander Jake McLean, who can grow into a vital player at Jack Edwards Reserve and consolidate his spot in the starting XI.
Meanwhile, what a way to make a statement in just your second NPL game! Jarod Blackburn scored a cracking hat-trick, the Team of the Week and all, then we noticed…
Ah, crap. We were saying Blackboourns. In any case will Jarod be able to back up his performances? One player that’s been consistently brilliant is Yusuf Ahmed, and maybe this is the beginning of a lethal partnership for the Thunder.
The prediction
Dandenong’s fledglings to take an early lead, get too enthusiastic and let Oakleigh score in a moment of lost concentration, who will then run over the top of the visitors to impress new coach Papas with a 3-1 win.
Avondale FC (7th) vs Bentleigh Greens (3rd)
The form
Bentleigh Greens continued their unbeaten start to the season – though 10 rounds in isn’t really a start anymore, we’re more than one third through the season – with a convincing 2-0 win over Port Melbourne. Avondale, however, will be filthy at conceding a 97th, yes you read correctly, 97th minute equaliser, in a 100 minute contest that should have been killed off earlier if not for Oleksiy Khrapko’s saved penalty.
The players to watch
Remember Omar Ammache, who five years ago became the first Aussie to sign for a Brazilian club? Well since coming back he didn’t get much of a look in by Miron Bleiberg at Oakleigh, so Avondale signed him, and to this point he’s been making appearances off the bench. But keep an eye on the highly touted youngster’s progress at Doyle Street. For Bentleigh, Daniel Visevic has been impressive without perhaps receiving the same plaudits as some of his teammates, so this is our recognition of the attacker.
The prediction
A plucky Avondale to frustrate the visitors, holding on to a 1-1 scoreline before fading late and conceding a late 2-1 defeat.
North Geelong Warriors (14th) vs Heidelberg United (1st)
The form
The situation just gets more perilous for North Geelong, who are struggling to do all the vital actions necessary to prevent being relegated – pick up points, score goals, and not concede them. They now have to back up their loss to Oakleigh with a daunting prospect in Heidelberg United, who still occupy top spot after putting away the Knights 1-0 in a solid performance.
The players to watch
Well, if you believe the headlines, it could be this guy soon:
He’s played at the World Cup & Asian Cup in the last yr but could Ivan Franjic sensationally join @NGWFC? http://t.co/yMMXNPtG4R #PS4NPLVIC
— James Willoughby (@jwilloughby26) April 30, 2015
But until then, defenders Nathan Long and Michael Grgic will have to be at their best to try steady a leaky ship at the back for North Geelong. After scoring the winner in Heidelberg’s last two games, Kaine Sheppard has recently come in for high praise from teammate Dan Heffernan, whom many have also touted as A-League quality.
In a chat with us, however, Sheppard touted Jack Petrie as one Heidelberg’s most consistent players that flies under the radar.
The prediction
Well, it certainly won’t get any easier for North Geelong in this top vs bottom clash, though they may take solace from the fact that apart from the 8-2 drubbing against Green Gully, Heidelberg haven’t put away too many teams this season. They have been winning consistently, however, and not conceding many goals in the process, so we predict this to be a 2-0 win for the visitors.
Northcote City (10th) vs Werribee City (13th)
The form
Northcote City have resembled a failing heart rate monitor at times this season, with a win or two in between a number of heavy losses, the most recent one a 6-1 drubbing against Dandenong Thunder. Meanwhile, Nino Ragusa would have both disappointed in Werribee to not break their winless streak, but would have been delighted with the equaliser in the 97th minute, or squeaky bum time, or Fergie-time. Here’s our own reenactment of Nino time:
The players to watch
For Werribee, central defender Steven Cudrig has been one of the Bees’ most impressive players, and with Ragusa’s team often struggling to score from open play this season, his leadership at the back is pivotal to ensure they at least don’t leak goals. For Northcote, James Kalifatidis is our pick this week, who has been sprightly around Northcote’s front third.
The prediction
Northcote have no shortage of talent in their side, but it’s just not clicking for them this season, and things could go from bad to worse if our predicted 2-1 win for Werribee comes to fruition. Yes, we predict Werribee to finally win a game.
Hume City (5th) vs Melbourne Knights (4th)
The form
Knights may feel like they’ve hit a bit of a ceiling, losing to all the three teams above them on the ladder. It could have been a different situation had they taken some of their early chances against Heidelberg, but it’s something to work towards as the season progresses. It’ll be a tantalising contest against Hume City who sit just one place below them in 5th, bouncing back from their loss against South Melbourne with a dominant 1-0 win over Gully, courtesy of Irishman Shaun Timmins’ effort from a corner against his old side.
The players to watch
Marijan Cvitkovic is working his way back into form and can be the piece of the Knights’ puzzle that puts it all together, feeding the potent front third who are hungry to return to their free-scoring ways. For Hume, if former Ballarat Deng Aguek can consolidate his place in the starting XI and recapture his former Red Devils’ form, expect fireworks.
The prediction
An absolute cracker of a contest is on the cards, and we simply can’t separate either sides, who have been equally stuttering in recent weeks but have the potential to play scintillating football. An entertaining 2-2 draw.