VPL ROUND TWELVE PREVIEW Pascoe Vale v Melbourne Knights Fri 8:30pm, Hosken Reserve 10th v 4th Round Eleven Richmond 1-1 Pascoe Vale Oakleigh Cannons 0-1 Melbourne Knights VPL History Pascoe Vale win: 0 Melbourne Knights win: 1 Draw: 0 Form Pascoe Vale: WDLLD Melbourne Knights: LWDLW Melbourne Knights will look to consolidate its spot in the top four in its second consecutive away match against Pascoe Vale. That task however will be challenging. Pascoe Vale hasn’t won since Round Seven but the newly-promoted team have been no pushovers at home with a win against Green Gully and a draw against South Melbourne. The Knights will have to contend without suspended defender Ryan Filipovic and the likely absence of star Anthony Colosimo who was carried off the field against Oakleigh Cannons with a knee injury. Knights quartet Abdoulaye Diallo, David Kustura, Brandon Zezovski and Bobby Vidanoski were released by the club this week. Oakleigh Cannons v Northcote City Fri 8:30pm, Jack Edwards Reserve 9th v 1st Round Eleven Oakleigh Cannons 0-1 Melbourne Knights Hume City 0-5 Northcote City VPL History Oakleigh Cannons win: 4 Northcote City win: 3 Draw: 0 Form Oakleigh Cannons: LLWWL Northcote City: WDWWW Northcote City has been unstoppable this season and begins the second half of the season undefeated. Its 5-0 away win to in-form Hume City sent an ominous warning to the rest of the competition and it was star striker Milos Lujic who continued his rich vein of form with a brace. Oakleigh has been in reasonable form since Miron Bleiberg took over as new coach winning two of its past three matches and scoring eight goals in the process. The Cannons will be boosted by the signing of former Dandenong Thunder attacking player Veton Korcari and will need to be at its best to crack a resolute Northcote defence which has conceded just four goals this season. Richmond v Bentleigh Greens Fri 8:30pm, Kevin Bartlett Reserve 11th v 2nd Round Eleven Richmond 1-1 Pascoe Vale Bentleigh Greens 2-0 Southern Stars VPL History Richmond win: 5 Bentleigh Greens win: 1 Draw: 1 Form Richmond: LLLWD Bentleigh Greens: WDDDW Richmond was unlucky not to grab a point when these two sides met in a tight encounter in Round One but its chances of not leaving empty-handed this time appear slimmer. Richmond lost 2-1 in a respectable performance against Melbourne Victory in a friendly this week adding to a draw against Pascoe Vale and a strong win against Southern Stars in Round Ten to cap off an impressive fortnight. Despite its good form Richmond could suffer from fatigue against Bentleigh on Friday night while the Greens will look to continue the team’s consistent season and remain second. Dandenong Thunder v Southern Stars Sat 7pm, George Andrews Reserve 7th v 12th Round Eleven Dandenong Thunder 0-2 Green Gully Cavaliers Bentleigh Greens 2-0 Southern Stars VPL History Dandenong Thunder win: 1 Southern Stars win: 1 Draw: 1 Form Dandenong Thunder: LLLWL Southern Stars: LLLLL The first half of the season is over and it’s been an absolute catastrophe for Dandenong Thunder. The reigning champion has lost three of its past four matches and lost highly-decorated coach Chris Taylor to South Melbourne during the week. Dandenong will be under the guidance of assistant coach Brian MacNicol until a decision is made on the head coaching role and he’ll be quickly reminded of the troubles his side faced when they drew 0-0 against a defensive Southern Stars in Round One. Hume City v Port Melbourne Sharks Sun 3pm, Broadmeadows Valley Park 3rd v 5th Round Eleven Hume City 0-5 Northcote City South Melbourne 0-1 Port Melbourne Sharks VPL History Hume City win: 1 Port Melbourne Sharks win: 0 Draw: 0 Form Hume City: WWWWL Port Melbourne Sharks: DWDLW Hume City has been in wonderful form this season but suffered a reality check against a rampant Northcote City last week. The team will be looking to bounce back and keep its spot in the top four with a tantalising clash at home against Port Melbourne who will be full of confidence after its 1-0 win away to South Melbourne last week. Port Melbourne is very solid defensively and are undefeated in all away matches this season so will fancy its chances to seek revenge on Hume City following their 1-0 loss in Round One. South Melbourne v Green Gully Cavaliers Sun 3pm, Lakeside Stadium 6th v 8th Round Eleven South Melbourne 0-1 Port Melbourne Sharks Dandenong Thunder 0-2 Green Gully Cavaliers VPL History South Melbourne win: 4 Green Gully Cavaliers win: 10 Draw: 5 Form South Melbourne: WDDLL Green Gully Cavaliers: LDWDW Sunday’s match will be reining VPL winning coach Chris Taylor’s first one in charge of South Melbourne after he left Dandenong Thunder during the week. The pressure will be on Taylor immediately as he seeks to put South Melbourne back in the top four with a win against its bogey team. The home side will be boosted by the signing of attacking Dutch player Nick Soolsma from Excelsior in the Dutch Eerste Divisie while Green Gully will be without the departed Tom Cahill and possibly gun goalkeeper Kieran Gonzalez who was subbed off with a leg injury in his side’s shock 2-0 win away to Dandenong Thunder last week. South Melbourne prevailed 3-0 when these two sides met in Round One.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Jul 2013 07:03:10 +0000