Whittlesea Ranges have become the newest league leaders of the NPL2 West following a 4-1 win over Nunawading City on Sunday.
The result in the crossover round means they’ve become the fourth team in an many weeks to take the top, following Melbourne City, North Geelong and Moreland Zebras to consecutively top the standings.
Atilla Ofli was once more on the scoresheet, while George Slefendorfas netted a double and Tedros Yabio scored for the first time since joining from St Albans mid-season.
A goal to Felix Dimitrakis proved to be the only consolation as two late goals from Whittlesea quashed any chances of a comeback.
Hot on the heels of Whittlesea are Melbourne City, who absolutely demolished Eastern Lions 7-0 to enjoy a healthy goal difference (+24 overall) which may prove crucial come the end of the season.
Brad Clarke got proceedings going after half an hour, while many of the usual suspects scored, with Austin Wong netting a double, Chris Cristaldo and Yusuf Ahmed scoring singles, while Mehdi Sarwari also bagged a brace.
With Whittlesea Ranges’ next game against the in-form Kingston City from the East next, there could be another swap at the top in NPL2 West, though the Ranges will be going in confident against the second placed side after being the only team to take points from East’s table toppers Dandenong Thunder.
Yet it could be Kingston to knock off a West leader for the second consecutive week, having deposed last week’s leaders Moreland Zebras with a 2-0 victory at CB Smith Reserve.
A goal in each half to Velibor Mitrovic did the damage and ensured the club walked away with another three points.
The result ensures their lead over the chasing pack remains a whopping 14 points despite Dandenong City’s 2-1 win away over North Geelong Warriors.
It were the new recruits to do the damage at Elcho Park, as goals to Amir Osmancevic (Dandenong Thunder) and Ross Frame (Oakleigh Cannons) sandwiched Rudi Saglam’s equaliser and condemned the Warriors to losing ground in the West’s promotion race.
After being firmly entrenched in the top six in the West, Ballarat have broken away from it, albeit in the wrong direction with another defeat, this time against Dandenong Thunder.
It was perhaps not an unexpected result, but the scoreline on the road would have disappointed the visitors, as all of Brandon Barnes, Brendan Elmazovski and Sam Catherine got on the scoresheet, with an own goal adding to the 4-0 result.
Sunshine George Cross have emerged as the form side of the competition with their third straight win and fourth undefeated following a 2-0 win away to Murray United.
New star recruit from England Chris Lynch couldn’t even get on the pitch having been injured in training, with Nic Gonzalez and Hernan Arredondo scoring their second and third goals respectively for the club since their pre-season moves.
Bendigo City now have gone three games unbeaten, drawing 1-1 with the more fancied Box Hill United to continue their promising run of recent results.
Daniel Purdy opened the scoring with a well-taken individual effort, before Caleb Ludlow equalised for the visitors, who were subsequently unable to nab the winner.
St Albans Saints also had to settle for a point each with Brunswick City.
Defender Michael Grgic got Albans off to the ideal start, before a lapse in concentration allowed Juan Portillo to square the ledger.
Meanwhile, a four-game unbeaten run for Werribee came to an end at the hands of Springvale White Eagles.
Damir Stoilovic added another goal to his season tally, while Erdem Ozcagli doubled the advantage, with Domenico Marafiot’s late goal leading to a few nervous moments but ultimately acting as consolation for Werribee.
In one of the most thrilling games of the week that ebbed and flowed between Moreland City and Goulburn Valley Suns, Moreland had the lead, lost it, then regained it again late to prevail 5-3.
Their attack clicked in one of their most convincing showings of the year, with Osman Kose and Apai Ukuno scoring a brace each, while Trent Rixon put the finishing touches on the contest.
Meanwhile Dan Heffernan scored his maiden goal for the Suns since his move from Central Coast, with Cody Sellwood and Shaun Kane also getting on the scoresheet.
Image: Mark Witte