It's starting to get to crunch time in the PlayStation 4 NPL Victoria 2015 season.
Avondale FC v Werribee City
3:00pm, Saturday, July 25, 2015
Avondale Heights Reserve, Avondale Heights
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #AFCvWC #PS4NPLVIC
Last round:
Dandenong Thunder 0-3 Avondale FC - Match Report
Hume City 4-0 Werribee City (Round 20 catch-up) - Match Report
Form:
AFC: WDLLW
WC: LLLLL
Last time they met:
Werribee City 2-2 Avondale FC
Avondale's win over Thunder last weekend has effectively ensured that the club will remain in the top flight next season. Francesco Stella broke his duck last week, while Oleksiy Khrapko finally found himself on the scoresheet again to help Avondale cruise to a 3-0 win.
Werribee's status in the PS4 NPL hangs in the balance at the minute, dropping into the automatic relegation spot following results last week. The side has continued its losing ways under Tony Trifunov, and now possesses the worst attack in the league with only 17 goals scored this season.
To add to the Bees' woes, Kobbie Boahene was sent off in mid-week, making the must-win task against Avondale this weekend even tougher.
Green Gully v Hume City
3:00pm, Saturday, July 25, 2015
Green Gully Reserve, Keilor Downs
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #GGvHC #PS4NPLVIC
Last round:
Green Gully 4-2 Melbourne Knights - Match Report
Hume City 4-0 Werribee City (Round 20 catch-up) - Match Report
Form:
GG: WWWLW
HC: WWWWW
Last time they met:
Hume City 1-0 Green Gully
Green Gully is really on a roll, with the stunning comeback against Melbourne Knights last week stretching the side's goalscoring tally to 18 in just five games. Liam Boland notched another double and now only sits a goal behind Milos Luic (who has 13 goals) in the race for the golden boot.
Hume City is also in a rich vein of form, and has virtually sealed a finals place courtesy of a five-game winning streak. The side's attack has finally begun to fire, with 10 goals in its last three games.
This is set to be an exciting contest between two in-form sides, even if there might not be much on the line for the hosts.
Northcote City v Dandenong Thunder
3:00pm, Saturday, July 25, 2015
John Cain Memorial Park, Thornbury
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #NCvDT #PS4NPLVIC
Last round:
North Geelong Warriors 1-0 Northcote City - Match Report
Dandenong Thunder 0-3 Avondale FC - Match Report
Form:
NC: WWWDL
DT: LLLLL
Last time they met:
Dandenong Thunder 6-1 Northcote City
Northcote's finals dream is effectively over following its loss to North Geelong Warriors last weekend. The side has paid for its inability to consistently put away sides below them on the ladder, and there's no better example than when it last played the Thunder, losing 6-1 to the league's bottom side.
That win has been the highlight of Thunder's season so far, and remains the only time the side has scored more than twice in a game all season. In fact, the goals have pretty much dried up for the young Dandenong outfit, and its life in the top division is fast coming to an end.
Thunder hasn't picked up a point since Round 14, and will need to break that drought against Northcote if it wants to have hope of staying up.
Port Melbourne Sharks v Bentleigh Greens
5:00pm, Saturday, July 25, 2015
JL Murphy Reserve, Port Melbourne
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #PMvBG #PS4NPLVIC
Last round:
Werribee City 1-3 Port Melbourne Sharks - Match Report
Bentleigh Greens 2-1 Pascoe Vale - Match Report
Form:
PM: LLDWW
BG: WLDLW
Last time they met:
Bentleigh Greens 2-0 Port Melbourne Sharks
Two wins against the league's bottom-two sides has secured safety for the Sharks, who are now realistically too far ahead of the Warriors now. A date with the Bentleigh Greens is the Sharks' reward, and it will be a tough ask to defeat the ladder leaders.
The Greens got back on track with a hard-fought win against Pascoe Vale, and they will be hoping to get another win on the board this week to stay top. With rivals South Melbourne and Heidelberg United holding games in hand, the Greens need the points to keep their fate in their own hands.
Pascoe Vale v South Melbourne
7:00pm, Saturday, July 25, 2015
CB Smith Reserve, Fawkner
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #PVvSM #PS4NPLVIC
Last round:
Bentleigh Greens 2-1 Pascoe Vale - Match Report
South Melbourne v Hume City - Postponed till Aug 19
Form:
PV: WWWWL
SM: WLLWL
Last time they met:
South Melbourne 1-0 Pascoe Vale
Pascoe Vale's winning streak came to a close last week, but the side certainly made the Greens work for it. Paco has a tough final four games ahead, the results of which will determine if the side can finish higher than sixth.
South are slowly slipping away and having a week hope might just help the side re-focus for its title defence. With a game in hand, South is four points behind Bentleigh and can't afford to drop more points, having lost to its three biggest rivals in its last four games.
This tight contest could be separated by a single goal.
Melbourne Knights v Heidelberg United
3:00pm, Sunday, July 26, 2015
Knights Stadium, Sunshine
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #MKvHU #PS4NPLVIC
Last round:
Green Gully 4-2 Melbourne Knights - Match Report
Heidelberg 4-1 Oakleigh Cannons - Match Report
Form:
MK: WWDWL
HU: LDWLW
Last time they met:
Heidelberg United 1-0 Melbourne Knights
Melbourne Knights followed up beating South Melbourne by being swamped by a rampaging Green Gully last week, a result which has killed any feint hopes remaining in the Knights camp of finishing top. In reality, a win against Heidelberg may bring them back within touching distance of a top-two spot, but any slip up and it will be condemned to playing in the first week of finals.
Heidelberg's form has been erratic of late, and cup games have thrown further distractions into the side's title challenge. Still it sits second on the ladder, and has a strong chance of catching Bentleigh Greens given its game in hand.
This blockbuster clash promises to deliver plenty of passion, with so much at stake for both sides.
Oakleigh Cannons v North Geelong Warriors
5:45pm, Sunday, July 26, 2015
Jack Edwards Reserve, Oakleigh
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #OCvNGW #PS4NPLVIC
Last round:
Heidelberg 4-1 Oakleigh Cannons - Match Report
North Geelong Warriors 1-0 Northcote City - Match Report
Form:
OC: LLDDL
NGW: LLLWW
Last time they met:
North Geelong Warriors 0-2 Oakleigh Cannons
Two weeks ago, Oakleigh Cannons would have come into this game as favourites, especially at home.
The Warriors have turned their fortunes around, with two wins on the trot moving them up to 12th place. A win for the visitors could have Oakleigh looking over its shoulders just a little, but with the gap currently at nine points between the 11th and 12th placed teams, the Warriors will need a miracle to overturn the gap.
Oakleigh is on another downturn in form, and has not won since Round 16, when the side defeated Melbourne Knights 4-1. Arthur Papas will be hoping his side shows its cup form too, after making it through to the Dockerty Cup final, beating Hume City.
With finals out of the reckoning for the Cannons, the Warriors will be looking to pounce on any hint of complacency from the hosts.
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