PS4 NPL Victoria action returns on Thursday night when South Melbourne FC travels to Kevin Bartlett Reserve for the first time since 2013 to play the promoted Richmond Eagles.
South cruised through to the Fifth Round of Westfield FFA Cup qualifying with a 10-0 victory against Zagame’s State League Four opponent Keysborough last Saturday. The match provided coach Chris Taylor with the opportunity to rotate his squad and give the weekend off to eight of the usual starting eleven. Whilst the majority of the usual starting eleven will be back playing on Thursday night, several players had good performances against Keysborough and may give Taylor some selection headaches.
Richmond have spent the last two seasons in NPL 1 after being relegated from Victoria’s top flight in 2013. They fell four points short of promotion in 2014 before finishing first and winning promotion on the final day of the 2015 NPL 1 season. Rick Mensink’s 2016 side have struggled so far in their return back to the top flight, securing only one point from four league matches so far. Having said that, former South men Hamlet Armenian, Bryan Bran and Jake Barker-Daish will be keen to beat their former side.
The last match between South and Richmond was a 1-1 draw at Kevin Bartlett Reserve on Friday 2 August 2013, with Luke Hopper scoring South’s goal. The two clubs first played in 1961 when South Melbourne Hellas and Richmond Alemannia met in the Victorian State League. Richmond have been in Victoria’s top flight alongside South in 1961, 1963, 2006-2013 and are back again in 2016.
Thursday night’s match at Kevin Bartlett Reserve kicks off at 8:30pm.
SMFC v Richmond Eagles – Head to Head (League & Finals)
Matches Played: 20
Wins (SMFC): 11
Wins (REFC): 5
Draws: 4
First match: South Melbourne 6-1 Richmond (3 June 1961, Middle Park)
Last match: Richmond 1-1 South Melbourne (2 August 2013, Kevin Bartlett Reserve)
Biggest Winning Margin (SMFC): 5 goals (6-1 win, 3 June 1961, Middle Park)
Biggest Winning Margin (REFC): 3 goals (3-0 win, 30 April 2010, Kevin Bartlett Reserve)
Most Goals in a Match (SMFC): 6 (3 June 1961, Middle Park)
Most Goals in a Match (REFC): 3 (1961, 2010, 2012)
Biggest Finals Win (SMFC): None
Biggest Finals Win (REFC): None
| NPL | Home | Away | Finals |
|
1961 |
6-1 | 4-3 | – |
|
1963 |
4-2 | 2-2 | – |
|
2006 |
2-1 | 1-0 | – |
|
2007 |
0-1 | 3-2 | – |
|
2008 |
1-0 | 0-2 | – |
|
2009 |
3-0 | 3-1 | – |
|
2010 |
2-2 | 0-3 | – |
|
2011 |
1-0 | 0-1 | – |
|
2012 |
1-3 | 1-1 | – |
|
2013 |
3-2 | 1-1 | – |