After going down to Whittlesea Ranges FC in round 8 of the PS4 NPL2 Season, Melbourne City’s NPL side will look to get back to their winning ways on Saturday when they travel to Shepparton to face Goulburn Valley Suns FC.
Despite last week’s loss, City remain in second place on the NPL2 Eastern Conference table; with Eastern Lions SC’s 3-1 loss to Northcote City and the Dandenong Thunder’s 3-3 draw with Melbourne Victory’s NPL side meaning that City maintain their three-point buffer between themselves and third and fourth place.
The gap between City and Conference leaders Dandenong City however, has stretched to four points with Dandenong City’s 3-1 defeat of Moreland Zebras FC.
City will go into the match with Goulbourn Valley looking to kick-start an attack that faltered under intense pressure from Whittlesea in its last hit-out. Having scored 17 goals in their past four matches coming into the clash, City were unable to find the back of the net for only the second time this season.
City’s best chance last week came on a Josh Cavallo one on one that was ultimately dived on by the Whittlesea keeper. The move was set up by the in-form Gerrie Sylaidos and City will hope that Sylaidos (5 goals on the season) or captain Ali Eyigun (4 goals on the season) can provide the side with a spark to reignite their goal scoring ways.
Opponents Goulbourn Valley Suns FC come into the weekends clash fresh off a 1-1 draw with Sunshine George Cross SC in round 8. The draw came after a series of consecutive defeats for Goulburn Valley, who had gone down to Eastern Lions SC 3-2 and North Caulfield FC 1-0 in the Westfield FFA Cup in previous weeks.
The Shepparton based side, who were founded in 2013 to represent the Goulburn Valley region in the newly formed National Premier League, sit outright fifth on the NPL2 Eastern Conference table, with their 10 points coming by way of two wins, two defeats and four draws.
Coached by Nick Kalafatis, the Goulburn Valley side features talent such as former MK Dons youth prospect Jamie England and Welsh import Rob Hughes, who became a minor internet hit briefly in 2015 when a goal he scored playing for Rhyl FC in the Welsh Premier League went viral.
The City-Goulburn Valley clash will kick off at 4:00pm at the Shepparton Sports Precinct in Shepparton, with both sides U20’s clashing in a curtain raiser that kicks off at 2:00pm.
Match Details
NPL Victoria – Round 9
Goulburn Valley Suns FC vs Melbourne City
Saturday 08 April
Shepparton Sports Precinct, Shepparton
Seniors: 4.00pm Under 20’s: 2.00pm
Entry at gate prices
