Round 5 of the Victorian NPL occurred over the weekend with another exciting round of football in the books.
Which sides have started strong out of the blocks, and which sides have underperformed in the early part of the season?
Find out below!
Dandenong City 2-2 Eastern Lions
NPL Round Five action kicked off at Frank Holohan Soccer Complex on Friday night, with City hosting the Lions.
Defender Ryan Losty would get the Lions off to an ideal start, scoring in the 16th minute to give his side an early lead. Though it would be short lived with Dandenong scoring the equaliser five minutes later through Jon Mcshane, who’d head home his first goal of the season.
With the scores tied 1-1 at half time, Losty would step again to put the Lions back in front, wasting little time with the go ahead goal, scoring two minutes into the second half. City would then level the scores in the 54th minute, Jon Kuol firing a nice goal into the top left corner following a clever run.
Neither side were able to find the net thereafter, with both sides sharing points as they still linger in the relegation zone.
Heidelberg United 4-0 Melbourne Knights
Heidelberg have got their season back on track, having recorded a shock four-goal victory on the road against the Knights on Friday night.
The Warriors got off a strong start, going two goals upside inside the opening half an hour. Winger Adrian Zahra scored in the 15th to put his side a goal up, with Sean Ellis doubling their advantage in the 28th minute.
Ellis would put his side three goals ahead in the 47th minute, with his brace sealing the game before Kaine Sheppard scored in the 51st minute to put more icing on the cake.
South Melbourne 5-0 Hume City
In a battle of first v last, South Melbourne made easy work of the struggling Hume City, recording a five goal demolition at Lakeside Stadium on Friday night.
Marcus Schroen opened his account for the 2022 NPL season, scoring twice inside the opening 20 minutes to get his side off to a strong start. Hume’s goalkeeper Lucas Trenkovski would concede an own goal, then Hume’s day going from bad to worse, down 4-0 at half time after Alun Webb scored in the 32nd minute.
Hume would put in a better showing in the second half, though would concede a fifth goal late, Harrison Sawyer scoring in injury time.
An emphatic victory, South sit three points at the top of the table, taken maximum points from all their five games.
Bentleigh Greens 1-0 St Albans Saints
Bentleigh have moved up into the top six, recording a narrow victory at home against St Albans on Friday night.
Jacob Alexander scored a great goal in the 43rd minute to put the Greens a goal ahead nearing half time. Despite going down to 10 men tow minutes later.
Danny Kim would be sent off on the stroke of half time, though the Greens were able to hold on a one goal lead in the second half.
Avondale FC 1-0 Green Gully
Avondale have moved up to second on the table, recording a win over Green Gully at Avenger Park on Saturday afternoon.
The side would score early, breaking the deadlock in the 15th minute with Stefan Valentini scoring his second goal of the season, pouncing on a goalkeeper error to put his side ahead.
Behind 1-0 at the main break, the Gully would go close to levelling the scores in the second half though were unable to find the net. Avondale holding on for a narrow victory.
Port Melbourne Sharks 1-0 Dandenong Thunder
The Sharks have continued their unbeaten run, recording a one goal victory at home over the Dandenong Thunder.
It was Port Melbourne’s captain Michael Eagar who’d score the opener, breaking the deadlock in the 14th minute. It would be enough to secure all three points, as the Sharks continue their impressive run, recording their third win in a row.
Oakleigh Cannons 3-0 Altona Magic
Round 5 NPL football would be rounded out with the Cannons recording a convincing three goal victory on the road against the Altona Magic.
Oskar Dillon would score his first goal of the season inside the opening ten minutes, with the Cannons Daniel Clark doubling their advantage in the 31st minute.
Oakleigh would then add a third in the 41st minute, Joe Guest scoring his second goal of the season.
Following a underwhelming start to the season, the Cannons looked to have got their season back on track.
