Check out all the weekend’s NPL and VPL highlights here

There were potentially season-defining and season-saving wins as each ladder starts to take shape.

We’re just a couple of weeks away from the half-way mark of the campaign.

Check out all the highlights from the weekend – although 13 matches were played on Anzac Day Friday – below.

WARRIORS RUN

Heidelberg United handed Avondale it’s second loss of the NPL season in convincing style on Friday night to close in on the ladder-leader. The Warriors exploded with three goals – and could have had a couple more – in the first half to set up the 3-1 win at Olympic Village. The Warriors were mere minutes away from a deserved clean sheet too before a Ben Collins own goal in second-half injury time. Bul Juach opened the scoring in the 20th minute and Jamal Ali doubled the lead in the 36th. Sebit Ngor put the finishing touches on a near-perfect half with a classy finish in the 45th minute. The Warriors also hit the crossbar. Coach John Anastasiadis said the players had set themselves from early in the week. “The boys, I wouldn’t say made a statement, but when you start the week in really good fashion in terms of training, our training has been sensational, I said to the boy you’ve got to take that into the game and they certainly did,” Anastasiadis said. “We thoroughly deserved the win, the biggest compliment is when legends come into the game and say they were outstanding. “I would have preferred it (the clean sheet), you can look at it like we scored four goals but gave one to them, our defensive structure was superb and Avondale is a sensational team. “We knew it was going to be a tough game but we defended well and counter-attacked brilliantly.” Anastasiadis revealed club greats including Theo Selemidis, Jim Tansey, Andy Bozikas and Ken Taylor had come into the rooms and heaped praise on the players after the performance, which sees the club move within two points of Avondale in top spot. After a 2-0 Dockerty Cup win over St Albans last week, Heidelberg will look to keep the momentum rolling when they face third-placed Oakleigh Cannons. “We’ve got a big game coming up against Oakleigh, it’s a massive game, but we’re going to go there with the right attitude and mindset to get a result,” Anastasiadis said. Avondale will look to bounce back against Altona City in the Dockerty Cup on Tuesday before a clash with old rivals South Melbourne on Saturday.

WONDER GOAL PILES MORE MISERY ON SOUTH

Green Gully and South Melbourne, two teams desperate for a win. And it was a piece of individual brilliance that delivered the Cavaliers a critical three points. Englishman Paul Hodges arrived from Basingstoke over the summer and if he does nothing else this season will long be remembered at Gully Reserve for Friday night’s performance. Hodges wins a 50-50 battle with George Mells before charging into the box, stepping past a defender and smashing the ball past Javi Lopez. It proved the decisive moment of the match. While Hellas had more shots, 12-8, both sides had four on target. After a miserable start to the season, the win sees Green Gully jump to seventh, just two points outside the top-six, while South Melbourne sits in 11th, now two points above the relegation zone. Gully will look to keep the momentum rolling against high-flying Preston Lions, while South faces the mammoth task of beating Avondale at Avengers Park.

IS THIS GOAL OF THE YEAR?

Did he mean it? It doesn’t matter, the ball is in the back of the net. Luka Kolic is surely the red-hot favourite for NPL Victoria Goal of the Year after a stunning strike on Monday night. The Melbourne Victory striker, stunned teammates, opposition and fans alike with his rabona goal against Dandenong Thunder at the Home of the Matildas. Kolic picks up a rebound in the box, take on a defender and his wrong-footed effort floats perfectly over Thunder keeper - and ex-A-League star - Jamie Young. The goal opened the scoring in the 35th minute, the first in what would prove to a be a wild back-and-forth goal-a-thon. Just 60 seconds later Patrick Wall doubled the lead, capitalising on a Thunder turnover. Another 60 seconds and it was Dandenong’s turn to find the back of the net as Daniel Clark bundled the ball over the line. Kyle Taylor equalised two minutes after half-time, also bundling the ball in after a goalmouth scramble. Victory retook the lead in the 71st minute as Daniel Lazarevski scored with his first touch of the game after coming on as a substitute, heading home Jordan Hoey’s inch-perfect cross. It was level again in the 83rd minute as Victory keeper Daniel Graskoski fumbled a straight-forward catch, giving Wade Dekker the simplest of tap-ins. And the Thunder snatched all three points four minutes later. Jok Akuien delivered a perfect cross that sliced through the Victory defence to find Uki Uchida at the back post to tap in. The win sees Dandenong rejoin Heidelberg United and Oakleigh Cannons in equal second, now just two points behind league-leader Avondale. The Thunder will welcome St Albans to George Andrews Reserve on Saturday, while Victory will look to bounce back against Hume City.

KING KENNY’S HAT-TRICK, CITY HIGH FIVE

After back-to-back losses, Dandenong City was looking for a response as it welcomed Port Melbourne to Frank Holohan Reserve on Friday night. And Hadjuk got a big one, as it smashed the Sharks 5-2 in a wild second half that saw six goals scored. Yagoub Mustafa had given the home team a one-nil half-time lead, opening the scoring in the 23rd minute. The all-hell broke loose. Port equalised through Aiden Brown in the 53rd minute but parity lasted just two minutes thanks to Kenny Athiu and Tim Atherinos made it 3-1 just two minutes later. Tom Alisandratos made it a one-goal game in the 72nd minute but again City responded through Athiu, this time four minutes later, and the King put the cherry on top with his hat-trick in the 90th minute.

PRESTON, HUME MARCH ON

A crazy first 30 minutes decided Preston Lions’ 2-1 win over St Albans at BT Connor Reserve on Friday night. Jason Romero gave the home team a lead in the 10th minute with a stunning long-range strike only to see Michael Grgic equalise five minutes later. In a case of what you can do I can do it better, the Saints skipper hit a howitzer to leave Lucas Trenkovski with no chance from 30 metres out. Gian Albano provided the decisive moment, scoring what proved to be the match-winner in the 32nd. It was a similar story at Broadmeadows. Hume City also snared a 2-1 win over Melbourne Knights. Captain Josh Bingham opened the scoring after 39 minutes and Mark Ochieng doubled the lead shortly after half-time. Ciaran Brawmwell got Knights on the board in the 80th minute to set up a grandstand finish but the visitors couldn’t find an equaliser. The wins see Preston sit in fifth and Hume just one point behind in sixth.

NORTHCOTE CLAIMS MORELAND ROAD DERBY

Just nine kilometres separates Northcote City and Brunswick City. Friday night was massive clash between neighbouring rivals, both with VPL1 promotion aspirations, and it was Hercules that came away with a comprehensive win. Northcote was dominant in a 4-1 win at John Cain Reserve. Dean Larsen opened the scoring in just the second minute of the match and he made it a brace in the 38th. Sione Faapoi got Brunswick back in the game early in a the second half but the home team responded almost immediately. Devin O’Hea restored the two-goal buffer just two minutes later and Michael Katsoulis sealed the three points on the hour mark. The win sees Northcote keep pace with the front-runners, sitting fourth six points back of leader Melbourne City and just one points off second. Brunwick is two points further back in sixth.

MORELAND OFF BOTTOM

It’s been a tough return to VPL1 for Moreland City, winning just one game in the first 10 rounds. However, the weekend would have felt better after a 2-1 win over Kingston City at CB Smith Reserve on Friday night. The win also snapping a five-game winless run. Ali Al Sheikh gave the home team a lead in the shadows of half-time. However, Mawien Nielo responded for Kingston just three minutes after the break to level things up. With both teams desperate for a win, it was Moreland that found the breakthrough as Jason Quinlan scored the match-winner in the 71st minute to spark wild celebrations. In a massive relief, the three points sees Moreland move off the bottom of the ladder and out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

SRBIJA ON THE BOARD

Speaking of desperate for a win, FC Melbourne finally broke through for its maiden VPL1 victory on Saturday night. Srbija had gone its first 10 games without celebrating a victory, drawing five and losing five. However, the club belted out the song at Kevin Bartlett Reserve after a nail-biting 1-0 triumph over Langwarrin. Ben Davine provided the memorable moment, scoring the match-winner in the 77th minute. Like Moreland, it also moved the club out of the relegation zone on goal difference, jumping up to 11th. Langwarrin, meanwhile, fall to last place one point behind FC Melbourne, Moreland City and Eastern Lions.

WHITTLESEA’S BIG STEP

After a rough start to the VPL2 season, Whittlesea United has started to find its feet and secured a second straight win on Friday night, beating Box Hill United 3-2 at Epping Stadium. Max Naveiro had given Pythagoras a surprise 31st minute lead but the United response was swift. Baki Efe equalised in the 36th minute and Marcus Day put the home team in front just two minutes later. Day was the match-winning hero, earning himself a brace in the 54th minute. Lucas Green got one back late for Box Hill but it was too little too late. Whittlesea are now eighth, jumping ahead of Box Hill in 10th on goal difference.

JUVENTUS JOINT TOP

Brunswick Juventus grabbed a share of the VPL2 lead with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Altona City on Saturday. With Eltham Redbacks drawing 0-0 with Springvale White Eagles, the Zebras took their opportunity to move level – although they remain second on goal difference. Nikola Jurkovic had given Altona the lead in the 26th minute. However, the game changed after half-time as first Rin Takagi equalised and then Luca Lovic put Brunswick in front. Adding more drama, both teams had a player sent off with Zebra Greg Siamoa shown a straight red, while Altona’s Ben Bowler received two yellows.

BIG WEEKEND FOR NORTH GEELONG, GEELONG

It was a big day for Geelong as it made the long trip to Boroondara-Carey and came home with a 2-1 win and three points on Sunday. Tommy Semmy gave the visitors a 22nd-minute lead but it was cancelled out by Jacob Colosimo in the 57th. As both sides looked for the all-important go-ahead goal, it was Ali Dulleh that delivered for Geelong to secure the win. The result was soured somewhat as Zac Kocankovski saw a straight red card. It was an even bigger day for North Geelong on Saturday as it smashed Pascoe Vale 4-1 at Elcho Park. Ionut-Casian Anghel and Angus Chapman both scored doubles in the romp. Chapman’s brace taking him to joint top of the competition goalscoring charts. Ram Jake Angelovski was handed a straight red card, while Tom Barforosh scored the consolation goal for the visitors. The Warriors keep pace with the competition front-runners, sitting fifth, eight points behind ladder-leader Eltham Redbacks, while Geelong moves up to 11th, leap-frogging Boroondara-Carey.

ROYALS TOO GOOD

Shepparton is arguably the toughest road-trip in Victorian football, certainly the longest in the VPL2, but Essendon Royals did it with style on Saturday. The Royals came away with a 3-1 win at John McEwen Reserve to keep their premiership and promotion hopes on track. Liam Kielty had given the home team a 19th-minute lead but it was all Essendon from there. Dean Clarke found an equaliser in the 28th minute and a four-minute double-strike sealed the three points. Takumi Niwa put the Royals in front in the 71st minute and Julian Guzzardi put a cherry on top in the 75th. Essendon sits third on the VPL2 ladder, five points behind Eltham Redbacks and Brunswick Juventus.

RAMS START COACH SEARCH

Pascoe Vale is on the hunt for a new coach after Shane Rexhepi stepped down on Tuesday. The Rams great had been in charge since the start of 2024, leading the club to a fifth placed finish, before hitting trouble this year. After going 11-2-9 last season, Pascoe Vale is sitting in last place after 11 weeks with a 2-3-6 record after four consecutive defeats. The club has suffered back-to-back 4-1 defeats at the hands of high-flying Eltham Redbacks and North Geelong Warriors. Pascoe Vale will host fellow struggler, 13th-placed Nunawading City, at Hosken Reserve on Friday night. The Rams confirmed the news on their social media pages. “Pascoe Vale FC would like to inform our members and supporters that we have accepted the resignation of senior men’s head coach Shane Rexhepi, effective immediately,” a club statement read. “We would like to thank Shane and his coaching staff for all of their efforts over the past 18 months, and we wish them all the best. “The club is currently undertaking an interview process to appoint a new head coach.” It’s been a rough few years for Pascoe Vale, which lost its place in NPL in 2019, finishing last, and suffered a further relegation in 2023 after taking the VPL1 wooden spoon.

DOCKERTY CUP

Brunswick City’s Lisandro Paz and Northcote City’s Devin O’Hea stole the show in the Dockerty Cup on Tuesday night. Both scored magnificent hat-tricks in big wins. Paz fuelled Brunswick’s dominant 7-1 win over State League 2 club Mill Park. O’Hea was the star in fellow VPL1 side Northcote’s 8-0 victory over another State League 2 club, Strathmore. Lloyd Isgrove bagged a brace as Hume City put an early end to FC Melbourne’s Cup run. City also beat Srbija in the Australia Cup Round of 16 last season. Melbourne Knights picked up a much-needed win, knocking out VPL2 club Werribee City 3-0 and Dandenong City was too good for Goulburn Valley in another NPL-VPL2 clash. The Suns’ giant-killing run coming to an end after upsetting Port Melbourne in the last round. Avondale was the other winner on the night, easing past Altona City 2-0. Next Tuesday, old rivals Bentleigh Greens and South Melbourne clash and Green Gully and Dandenong Thunder fight the following week for the David Chick Cup in an all-NPL blockbuster. After knocking out higher-ranked Doveton and Box Hill United, Hampton East Brighton faces the mammoth task of taking down Heidelberg United, while State League 4 club Balmoral - which stunned North Geelong 4-2 - has drawn Pascoe Vale.

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Plenty on the line tonight as Melbourne Victory hosts Dandenong Thunder at the Home of the Matildas. Three points would see Victory move up to seventh and the edge of the top-six. A win for the Thunder would see them rejoin a three-way tie for second with Heidelberg United and Oakleigh Cannons.

Originally published as Check out all the weekend’s NPL and VPL highlights here