Players and coaches speak to the FFV Podcast presented by Sportsmart every week - Click Here to subscribe in iTunes. See media links to photo galleries, video and match reports via the NPL Victoria Facebook page.

PS4 NPL Victoria

Pascoe Vale 2 (Gasparis 21' 49') Heidelberg United 1 (Wilkins 19')

New Pascoe Vale signing Marino Gasparis showed his immediate value to the home team's battle against relegation as his double secured three priceless points at Heidelberg's expense.

Heidelberg had the better of the early chances and were rewarded via a glancing header from Josh Wilkins.

But Gasparis was able to flick in a header of his own within two minutes to level the game. Gasparis was first to react to a loose ball in the penalty area early the second half to net what would be the decisive goal.

Bentleigh Greens 1 (Thurtell 12') Hume City FC 1 (Carley 39')

Both sides chased the win but strong goalkeeping displays from Bentleigh's Ryan Scott and Hume's Chris Oldfield would ensure a draw.

Bentleigh dominated the first half-hour, but only had Matt Thurtell's backheel goal to show for a number of clear-cut chances created.

Craig Carley would control a cross and volley home in the 39th minute to bring Hume City level. The goal would shift the balance of play away from Bentleigh's advantage, with an end-to-end second half failing to find a winner.

South Melbourne 12 (Lujic pen 28' Minopoulos 71') Port Melbourne Sharks 0

South Melbourne capitalised on Bentleigh's slip to climb three points clear at the top of the league after a comfortable 2-0 win against Port Melbourne.

Milos Lujic's first-half penalty and a second-half Leigh Minopoulos tap-in gave South Melbourne a professional three points.

Northcote City 5 (Crowley 4' 18' 22' 46' 72') Melbourne Knights 0

By Aaron Ciavarella

After an eventful transfer window from both sides, in particular Northcote with almost an entirely new team.

Little did anyone know that the former Newcastle Jets striker Braedyn Crowley would have the game of his life.

By the 22nd minute Crowley had already completed his hat trick and the three points.

The visitors went into halftime shell shocked in disbelief. After the interval Crowley bagged another two to his telly for Northcote to go on and win it 5-0.

Avondale FC 2 (Germano pen 50' Richardson OG 86') Green Gully 3 (Boland 36' 68' Taseski 81')

Liam Boland opened the scoring after placing a ball past a stranded Chris May after a blocked effort at first.

After the break Gully then went down to 10 men after Yohei Iwasaki saw red and sending Jonaton Germano to the spot to convert and level the scores and put the home side in the box seat.

Liam Boland once again popped up and put the away side up once again before Kliment Taseski wrapped it up. Avondale then pinched a consolation goal through a deflected Phil Riccobene shot, but this wasn't enough for Anthony Barbieri's side.

FC Bulleen Lions 2 (Barresi 30' Kaya 54') Melbourne Victory 1 (Waring 74')

On a cold night at the Veneto Club, Bulleen were out to pick up a vital three points if there are to make a finals surge.

Joshua Barresi opened the scoring after nodding home a Matteo Ballan set piece. On a night where Griffin McMaster was on top form, the Victory just couldn't get anything going.

Ersin Kaya doubled the hosts advantage before the Victory pulled one back through Pierce Waring. This wasn't enough for the visitors and the score finished 2-1

PS4 NPL Victoria Women's

Calder United 2 (Alonso 6' 55') Southern United 1 (Dudley-Smith 15')

A double from Rachel Alonso edged Calder United past a determined Southern United.

Alonso's opener caught Southern goalkeeper Freya Crocker flat-footed to squeeze in at the left-hand post. The second was bundled in direct from an Alonso corner.

Heidelberg United 2 (Cartwright 37' Gray 90') Bayside United 1 (Dudley 60')

Leigh Gray's late winner edged Heidelberg United past Bayside United at Olympic Village.

Jaymee Dudley had drawn the match level with a well-taken long shot, cancelling out Joey Cartwright's opener.

Gray scored the winner by sliding in to meet the ball and beat oncoming goalkeeper Erin Hudson.

Geelong Galaxy United 0 Alamein FC 4 (Ayres 7' Cardaci 17' Gibney 50' 63')

A convincing win for Alamein FC pegged back the gap to third-placed Geelong Galaxy United, now just two points.

Early goals for Melina Ayres and Cristina Cardaci put Alamein in control before a second half double to Annabelle Gibney boosted the goal difference.

Box Hill United 3 (Hulbert 26' Hall pen 43' McGilp 77')

A flat Bulleen Lions were defeated comfortably by a Box Hill United team showing a greater cutting edge in attack.

Em Hulbert's long shot brought the game to life after a scrappy opening, before Kristina Hall won and converted a penalty to double Box Hill's lead.

Em Coppock was Bulleen's main avenue to goal, but couldn't find the net with a double chance blocked on the goal-line at the hour mark.

Charlotte McGilp scrambled in a third goal after Bulleen failed to clear from a corner.

PS4 NPL Victoria NPL 2

Box Hill United 0 Werribee City 2 (Weaver 44' 77')

By Jordan Lim

The narrative of Werribee City’s mid-season revival wrote itself another chapter on Saturday afternoon, defeating Box Hill United 2-0 at Wembley Park.

Sitting anchored at the bottom of the NPL2 West ladder after eight rounds, the club oversaw wholesale change in both coaching staff and playing stocks, while also sticking true to their pre-season aim of developing youth talent through their ranks.

In came new manager Serge Sabbadini, who has amassed a 12-point return from his eight games at the helm, including a current run of five games unbeaten.

Another new face in Englishman Shaun Weaver did the damage against Box Hill on the weekend, netting a brace in the deserved win.

They were rewarded for their high work-rate with their first breakthrough on 43 minutes, with Domenico Marafioti swinging an inch-perfect cross into the near post for Weaver to header home.

Werribee had earlier seen chances go begging through Weaver as well as fellow new signing Damien Peters, who lobbed narrowly wide from inside the penalty area.

Box Hill’s best work came through Travis Chalk-Hatton - on his Wembley Park return after a short stint with Richmond SC - who combined twice with Kobbie Boahene to no avail.

They enjoyed a number more chances in the second half, with captain Michael Godfrey headed over the bar from an early Caleb Ludlow corner, while Ludlow also set up a marauding Adrian Del Monaco for a rare sight at goal, the fullback sending his shot into orbit from a good position.

Werribee put the game to bed in the 77th minute with almost a carbon copy goal; Marafioti this time swinging a cross in on his left foot for Weaver to head home his second.

A goalmouth scramble nearly saw Box Hill half the deficit with five minutes remaining, but the Bees were able to hang on for a third victory of the season.

Kingston City FC 3 (Mitrovic 45' Iaconis 51' 69') Moreland City 1 (Brian 58')

For the first time all season, Kingston City were able to gain ground on promotion rivals Dandenong Thunder, after securing a 3-1 victory over Moreland City at The Grange Reserve.

Moreland keeper Kieran McDowell was forced into some good work in the first half, tipping long shots from Velibor Mitrovic and SlavenVransevic over the crossbar.

The former of the Kingston City pair was able to best the Moreland custodian with a delightful finish on the stroke of half-time to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Mouad Zwed (two assists) and Damien Iaconis (brace) combined for two second half goals to bury Moreland, who pegged a goal back in between through Liam Brian.

The result for Kingston comes off the back of a disappointing cup exit mid-week, but the win on Saturday night now puts destiny into their own hands, with the Thunder now only two-points ahead on the PS4 NPL 2 East ladder.

Dandenong City 2 (Burgess 13' Matkovic pen 77') Bendigo City FC (Castel 36' Basha 54')

Bendigo City came just 15 minutes away from notching up a second NPL2 cross-round victory in as many weeks, but were forced to settle for a draw after a late Dario Matkovic penalty secured a 2-2 draw against Dandenong City.

Third-placed Dandenong went into the tie as firm favourites, with Aaron Healey’s men securing five wins in their last six fixtures, and they hit the lead after just 13 minutes through Luke Burgess.

A penalty at the other end saw Sergio Castel step up to draw level, with Goodwill Basha then putting the visitors in front 10 minutes into the second half.

A red card for a last-man tackle resulted in the equalising penalty for Dandy, however Bendigo showed resilience to hold on to the point and consolidate on last week’s 1-0 win over Murray United.

Ballarat Red Devils 1 (Salvatore 58') Springvale White Eagles 2 (Stoilovic 56' Pykett 74')

In a result that saw both team’s continue their respective trajectories, Springvale White Eagles triumphed 2-1 over hosts Ballarat Red Devils, who in turn suffered their third straight league defeat.

The three goals were shared in the second half at Morshead Park, with Damir Stoilovic latching onto a cross to convert for a ninth time in the league this season.

Winger Nelson Salvatore leveled the contest almost immediately after the White Eagles’ opener, with Pat Karras and Shaun Romein both involved in the equaliser.

In-form Englishman Josh Pykett was on hand to win the tie in the 74th minute, left open to finish at the back post.

Springvale keeper Lajos Hun was also in good form to deny the Red Devils on numerous occasions.

Goulburn Valley Suns 3 (Kane 51' 65' Alaraibi 73') Melbourne City 1 (Gallo 79')

Goulburn Valley Suns returned to winning ways with a commanding 3-1 victory over Melbourne City Youth.

Shaun Kane netted a second half double to put the hosts into a 2-0 lead, before defender Hakeem Alaraibi headed home to make it three.

Melbourne City were able to pull a goal back via Luke Gallo, but it served merely as a consolation in the match.

Brunswick City SC 1 (Wright 55') Moreland Zebras 1 (Kelly 58')

By Tim Michell

Brunswick City overcame Ali Turgut’s first-half red card to hold on for a 1-1 draw against rival Moreland Zebras on Saturday at Dunstan Reserve.

There was no love lost between the two Moreland sides, who engaged in a physical encounter which was played on a knife’s edge for much of the 90 minutes.

Brunswick had the better of the opening exchanges, but was unable to make the most of its territorial advantage as the Zebras’ defence held firm.

Left-winger Jose Portillo had the first genuine chance of the match after nine minutes, but his curling effort went wide of the Moreland goal.

James Kelly then returned serve at the opposite end but his powerful drive was straight at Brunswick keeper Wes Coles.

The spite between the sides reached fever pitch five minutes before half-time when Turgut lunged from behind into a tackle on Moreland midfielder Brad Murray.

Turgut was shown a straight red card following the incident.

The Zebras looked to immediately make the most of their numerical advantage, peppering the penalty area without reward until the halftime whistle.

The Spartans dug deep after the break, snatching the lead when Adam Wright reacted quickest in the box after a dangerous ball in from the right was not cleared by the Zebras’ defence.

But Moreland was  back on terms four minutes later when substitute Jonathan Munoz’s inch perfect ball released James Kelly to shoot smartly passed Wes Coles in the Brunswick goal.

Coles got a hand to Kelly’s effort, but was unable to parry the Moreland attacker’s shot wide.

Both teams had chances after Moreland’s equaliser to win the contest, with the best opportunity falling to the Zebras’ goalscorer.

Kelly felt he had given Moreland the lead in the final 10 minutes after beating Coles again from the left, but was adjudged offside and shown a yellow card to the disappointment of the Zebras faithful.

St Albans Saints 3 (McGuffie 12' 82' Monek 76') Murray United 0

St Albans stayed in touch with the NPL2 West pacesetters after grinding out a 3-0 win over Murray United on Sunday at Churchill Reserve. The Saints went ahead after just 11 minutes when Ryan McGuffie dispatched a header into the visitors’ net from a Josh Knight cross. St Albans maintained the pressure on the Murray defence but had to wait until the 75^th minute to double their lead when Joseph Monek scored his sixth goal of the campaign. McGuffie tapped in to seal the points five minutes later as St Albans secured a three-goal triumph.

Sunshine George Cross 3 (Arredondo 19' 79' Gonzalez 27') Nunawading City 0

 A Hernan Arredondo double helped Sunshine George Cross to a 3-0 victory over Nunawading City at Chaplin Reserve on Saturday. Arredondo opened the scoring for the hosts, who were two goals to the good by halftime after Nicolas Gonzalez also found the back of the net. Arredondo completed his brace in the second half to settle the contest as the Georgies claimed their third win of the campaign.

Whittlesea Ranges 3 (Ofli 61' 68' Sekulovski 76') Dandenong Thunder 3 (Korcari 26' Sarkies 48' Barnes 85')

Whittlesea Ranges and Dandenong Thunder produced a game worthy of two promotion contenders at Epping Stadium on Saturday. Ranges rallied from two goals down at home to take the lead with 14 minutes left in regular time. Star striker Atilla Ofli inspired the comeback, netting his 22^nd and 23^rd goals of the campaign as Whittlesea drew level after 68 minutes. Naum Sekulovski put the hosts in front after 76 minutes, but Brandon Barnes scored an equaliser for the Thunder with five minutes on the clock as an entertaining fixture finished 3-3. The result broke Dandenong’s incredible 15-match winning run.

Eastern Lions 4 (Neales 25' pen 76' Falconer 27' Droutsas 29') North Geelong Warriors 2 (Jurcic 19' Townley pen 70')

Eastern Lions produced one of the upsets of the NPL2 season on Saturday, stunning NPL2 West leader North Geelong Warriors at Gardiners Creek Reserve. A brilliant opening half was the difference for the Lions at home after they took a 3-1 lead to the main break. Both sides scored once in the second half but Eastern was good enough to secure a 4-2 victory. Cameron Neales scored a double, while Thomas Falconer and Chris Droutsas were also on the scoresheet for the victors.