The round kicked off with three 1-0 results; Melbourne Knights, Hume City and Dandenong Thunder all earning narrow victories over their respective counterparts (Port Melbourne, Green Gully and Ballarat Red Devils)
A Ryan De Vries led Bentleigh clawed back a goal deficit to draw 2-2 while Northcote earned a 3-1 win over bottom-placed Goulburn Valley Suns in the final Saturday match.
The Sunday saw two blowouts from the leagues two best outfits; South Melbourne overcoming Werribee City 4-0, and Oakleigh Cannons ousting Pascoe Vale 3-0.
GK: Chris Oldfield (Hume City)
A resolute performance between the sticks for Hume City’s gloveman ensured his team escaped with three points and a clean sheet, courtesy of a Richie Cardozo penalty. He made some vital saves in the first half, including a spectacular one-on-one stop early in the piece.
CB: Adrian Chiappetta (Northcote City)
Chiappetta had a good game down back for Northcote City, contributing towards a solid 3-1 win over the improving Goulburn Valley Suns. While poor marking saw the Suns equalise from a set-piece, the centre-half was influential in the remainder of the 90 minutes, providing a strong presence as well as distributing well from defence.
CB: Roddy Vargas (Green Gully)
Another solid performance for the veteran centre-back despite being on the wrong end of a 1-0 result. At no fault for the opener, Vargas provided leadership to the – at times this season – porous Gully defence and saved their bacon in one of the most unconventional ways possible. A collision between him and keeper Kieran Gonzalez saw the ball roll into their net, but the referee blew for the clash moments before Hume’s second goal.
CB: John Black (Oakleigh Cannons)
The ex-Malvern City stopper has slipped straight into life at Oakleigh, putting on a classy display to aid the Cannons towards a clean sheet. He kept his composure when Pascoe Vale heaped on early pressure and was generally tidy at the back.
LM: Kieran Dover (Dandenong Thunder)
The Melbourne Victory trialist stood up when necessary for an under the pump Dandenong Thunder side, providing the all important goal which saw them nick a first win in two months. He provided the spark the travelling contingent of Thunder supporters came to see.
CM: Marijan Cvitkovic (Melbourne Knights)
Toiling hard in a victorious Knights midfield, his spot is well deserved as he displayed all the attributes of a classy deep-playmaker. His hold up play was good, waiting and releasing well to link the defence and the forwards whilst showing good defensive work rate to cover for his teammates.
RM: Nate Foster (Oakleigh Cannons)
Perhaps more accustomed to seeing Foster up top, the Canadian nonetheless had a great game on the right wing. Scoring a goal – his 10th of the season – and assisting another, he’s one of the main reasons why the Oakleigh forward line has had so much success in 2014.
CAM: Nick Epifano (South Melbourne)
Did as he pleased against a lax Werribee defence, drifing between the flanks and through the middle in a free-role. He won a first half penalty before hitting home a sweet curling effort of his own in the second. The woodwork denied him of a second late into the game.
ST: Ryan De Vries (Bentleigh Greens)
Adept at playing a number of forward roles, De Vries shone for the Greens centrally, netting a brace that saw them take a point home from Olympic Village against Heidelberg. The Kiwi took both goals well, but they were unfortunately sandwiched by strikes from United players.
ST: Milos Lujic (South Melbourne)
Another two goals for the golden boot favourite, Lujic displayed a poacher’s instinct to get on the end of two passages of play late in the first half. Looks more than likely now to hit 20 goals for the campaign.
ST: Liam Wooding (Northcote City)
Wooding drifted between left wing and the middle, causing havoc all night as the Suns failed to match his endeavour. The ex-young Socceroo scored the games opener in quick time, before laying on an assist later in the contest. He was the difference between the two sides.
Substitutes:
Stefan Nigro (Port Melbourne)
The marauding left back showed his competence on the ball for the Sharks, distributing well further forward, but saved his best work in defence. He quelled the Knights impact off the right wing for large spells of the contest.
Liam Harding (Ballarat Red Devils)
The Irishman is unlucky to miss the cut after starring in a Ballarat midfield that narrowly lost out to a 10-man Thunder. Harding worked diligently in midfield to ensure his side retained possession.
Andrew Cartanos (Heidelberg United)
There unfortunately no room for a Heidelberg player in the starting XI this week, instead we have two on the bench as attacking midfielder Andrew Cartanos makes the cut. His opener set the tone for a cracking match.
Kaine Sheppard (Heidelberg United)
The other goal scorer for Heidelberg was also nominated as a standout, as has been his season so far. Sheppard has complemented strike partner Dan Heffernan well all season, and this week got the opportunity to one-up his free-scoring teammate.
Dean Piemonte (Oakleigh Cannons)
Piemonte added his 14th goal of the season from the bench on Sunday afternoon, completing a 3-0 rout in the 77th minute. He tucked home well after Foster’s brilliant build up.
Stipo Andrijasevic (Melbourne Knights)
Yet another forward, and yet another goal scorer on the bench. Andrijasevic’s bullet header in the second half separated the Knights and their opponents for a much needed three points.
Special thanks this week go out to Jason Turner (@jaseangelo), Ahmed Yussuf (@ahmedyussuf10), Rusty Woodger (@rustywoodger), David Manuca (@davidmanuca), Brad Hutchings (@BradHutchings_), Adem Baroli (@adembarolli) and The Corner Flag’s Mark Gojszyk (@hahahamark)