Round 20 of PlayStation 4 NPL Victoria sees a host of mid week fixtures beginning with South Melbourne against the in form Green Gully on Tuesday night.
South Melbourne v Green Gully
8:15pm, Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Lakeside Stadium, South Melbourne
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #SMvGG #PS4NPLVIC
Last round:
South Melbourne 1-2 Heidelberg United
Green Gully 4-0 Bentleigh Greens
Form:
SM: WWWLL
GG: LLWWW
Last time they met:
Green Gully 0-2 South Melbourne
Both sides had contrasting Round 19 results, with South Melbourne defeated at home by Heidelberg United, while Green Gully stunned everyone by thrashing Bentleigh Greens 4-0. South is now on a two-game losing streak, but tellingly the two losses have come to the top two sides.
Injuries and absences haven't helped South in recent weeks but its chances of defending the title it won last year slip with each dropped point.
Gully are in a hot run of form which now stands at three wins in a row. Roddy Vargas' side have really hit a purple patch and will be looking to create another upset against South to help mount a late finals push. This looms as a tricky tie for the hosts.
Dandenong Thunder v Pascoe Vale
8:30pm, Tuesday, July 7, 2015
George Andrews Reserve, Dandenong South
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #DTvPV #PS4NPLVIC
Last round:
Hume City 3-1 Dandenong Thunder
Pascoe Vale 2-0 North Geelong Warriors
Form:
DT: LLLLL
PV: DDWWW
Last time they met:
Pascoe Vale 5-2 Dandenong Thunder
The form book only suggests one possible outcome for this clash, and Thunder doesn't look like disproving the doubters with each loss that goes by. Thunder has now lost six out of its last seven games, with the 2012 Victorian Premier League champion starring down the barrel of relegation.
It has only kept one clean sheet all season, in a 1-0 win over Port Melbourne in Round 8, and has conceded by far the most goals of anyone in the league.
On the other side, Pascoe Vale is unbeaten in five, having won its last three on the bounce. Finals football is Pacco's main motivation right now and it will be determined to take all three points away from George Andrews Reserve.
The side has also been traveling well away from home recently, but Thunder has been plucky in its last three home games, so this may end up trickier than the visitors would like.
Bentleigh Greens v Melbourne Knights
8:15pm, Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Kingston Heath Soccer Complex, Cheltenham
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #BGvMK #PS4NPLVIC
Last round:
Green Gully 4-0 Bentleigh Greens
Melbourne Knights 5-1 Werribee City
Form:
BG: DWWWL
MK: WLWWW
Last time they met:
Melbourne Knights 0-3 Bentleigh Greens
What a couple of weeks it has been for Bentleigh. Buoyed by defeating South Melbourne to extend its lead at the top of the ladder, the Greens came crashing down to earth with a bang against Green Gully.
John Anastasiadis will be hoping that was just a bad day at the office, but having to come up against Melbourne Knights isn't exactly the easy rebound.
The Knights are in a rich vein of form, and exacted the first thrashing Werribee has received all season on Sunday. Five different goalscorers in that clash suggests that there is plenty of scoring avenues for the Knights who will be hoping to catch the Greens on another bad day.
Heidelberg United v Northcote City
8:30pm, Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Olympic Village, Heidelberg West
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #HUvNC #PS4NPLVIC
Last round:
South Melbourne 1-2 Heidelberg United
Avondale FC 1-3 Northcote City
Form:
HU: WWLDW
NC: LWLWW
Last time they met:
Northcote City 0-2 Heidelberg United
Heidelberg was the big winner of Round 19, pulling the gap to Bentleigh down to three points while moving into second place. The Warriors now come up against Northcote City who did its own finals chances no harm with a win away to Avondale FC.
Having front duo Dan Heffernan and Kaine Sheppard back was a boost against South, but losing Govas to injury early has certainly dampened things.
Northcote hasfound the goals since the mid-season transfer window, and has even helped Calvin Mbarga find his scoring boots. There won't be much between the sides on the night, especially with both in need of the points.
Hume City v Werribee City has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, July 22 at 8:30pm
Port Melbourne Sharks v North Geelong Warriors has been re-scheduled for Friday, July 31 at 8:15pm
Oakleigh Cannons v Avondale FC has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, August 19 at 8:30pm
Photo: Matt Johnson
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