By Liam Coventry-Poole
After another weekend of disappointing results for the bottom four clubs in the Alanic Victorian Premier League, their chances of staying in the competition next year has depleted.
The Bentleigh Greens’ season has been played in two halves. At the halfway mark, they looked to be a genuine finals contender, then their season took a turn for the worst, only managing four points from their last nine matches.
Bentleigh sit in ninth position, on 18 points, one point ahead of both Altona Magic and the Melbourne Knights. Bentleigh have a slight advantage over the other clubs fighting for survival, with an extra game in hand against Northcote City on August 4.
Firstly, they face the Knights in a massive fixture this Friday night, then Northcote in their Round 16 catch up match at home, Hume City away in Round 21, and finally Richmond at Kingston Heath on the final day of matches.
Altona Magic has had a horrid season following back-to-back Alanic Victorian Premier League Championships in 2008 and 2009. Altona sit in 11th position, only two goals above the Knights, avoiding the drop zone by only two goals, following the come-from-behind draw with the Knights on Sunday afternoon.
They have three matches remaining in the 2010 season, facing Hume City at home next Saturday night, Richmond away in Round 21, and on the final day, they face the Oakleigh Cannons away at Jack Edwards Reserve. Although they still sit outside the relegation zone, they would have to take at least four points from their final three fixtures to have any chance of surviving.
The Melbourne Knights have had a disappointing year after the return of their captain, Danny Tiatto. The Knights currently sit in 11thspot, on 17 points, equal with Altona Magic on points, but behind by two goals on goal difference.
A win on the weekend would have shot them to 20 points, leapfrogging both Altona Magic and the Bentleigh Greens, and out of the relegation zone. Although they lead 2-0 up until the 56th minute, they allowed Altona back into match to force a 2-2 draw.
This Friday night they face Bentleigh in their most important match of their final three, with a win allowing them to pass the Greens and into ninth position, and close the two-goal gap that the Magic currently has over them. In Round 21, they are back at Knights Stadium against Northcote City, and on the final day they face Green Gully at Green Gully Reserve.
Much like Bentleigh, Sunshine George Cross has had a terrible second half to their season, taking only one point from their past nine matches.
Sunshine looked good after 10 rounds, sitting on 15 points and holding onto a top five position. Since their last point, a draw with Dandenong Thunder in Round 10, their season has been in tatters, not helped by the resignation of Andy O’Dell after their 6-0 thrashing at Altona.
Sunshine put some life back into their season on Saturday afternoon, when James Blackburn opened the scoring to lead Green Gully 1-0 in the 18th minute. A win wasn’t to be for Sunshine, eventual losers 2-1, conceding a second in the final minute of normal time.
Sunshine has a difficult three weeks ahead of them. They face Oakleigh next Sunday evening at Knights Stadium, Dandenong away in Round 21, and finally South Melbourne at Knights Stadium in the final round. They now sit two points below both the Knights and the Magic, with a goal difference of minus 18. Sunshine would almost need a miracle to survive relegation this season.
Each of the four clubs in the relegation have a difficult three weeks ahead, all desperately searching for all their points over the weekend. It’s set to be an exciting last three rounds, with the relegation battle well and truly on it’s last legs.
Last updated: Friday July 30, 2010 10:32AM
Back