Category: News

South Melbourne FC will be gunning for its first State League Grand Final appearance in nine years when it hosts Pascoe Vale in PS4 NPL Victoria Semi Final action at Lakeside Stadium tonight. 

As there was no Finals Series in Victoria last season, South Melbourne hasn’t competed in a title decider since September 2006, when Gianni De Nittis’ header was enough to defeat Altona Magic 1-0. A place in the 2015 Grand Final would be a fitting reward for a side that has already claimed the FFV Community Shield, the Dockerty Cup and the Premier’s Plate already this season.

The big team news coming out of Lakeside is that two weeks after injuring himself against Northcote City, star striker Milos Lujic has been declared fit to play tonight. Lujic trained during the week and has been given the all-clear by the medical staff to play in tonight’s do-or-die clash that sees the losing team eliminated from the finals race. This news will come as a huge relief to Coach Chris Taylor, who must have feared the worst after seeing his Golden Boot winner land awkwardly a fortnight ago.

Nick Epifano also returns to the field tonight after serving a one-match suspension against Northcote City on 23 August. Epifano has scored 14 goals from the flank this season and created countless more through his speed and clever feet. South will unfortunately be missing fan favourite Tim Mala however, after the right-back received his fifth yellow card for the season and must now serve a mandatory one-match ban. Chris Irwin will most likely replace him at right-back for tonight’s match. Captain Michael Eagar and Leigh Minopoulos will both play their 50th League match for South Melbourne tonight.

In order to book its place in the 2015 NPL Victoria Grand Final, South will have to overcome an impressive Pascoe Vale outfit that defeated Heidelberg United 3-0 on penalties (following a 2-2 draw after extra time) at the Olympic Village last Sunday in their Elimination Final. It was Pascoe Vale’s first ever finals match in Victoria’s top flight and a remarkable result as sixth place knocked out third place.

South Melbourne and Pascoe Vale have met only six times in the past, with South winning four times and with two draws between the sides. Lujic scored the only goal of the game when South defeated Pascoe Vale 1-0 at Lakeside Stadium earlier this season on Friday 24 April, before the two sides played out a 0-0 draw at CB Smith Reserve on Saturday 25 July.

Vitale Ferrante’s squad have proven to be a difficult side to break down all season and South will need to be at their very best if they are to progress to the Grand Final. Former South man Joseph Youssef is Pascoe Vale’s top scorer this season so far with 12 goals. There are other familiar faces in the Pascoe Vale team such as Carl Recchia and Michael Ferrante, both of whom are proven match winners and can cause many problems for South Melbourne.

Tonight’s winners will play the winner of the other Semi Final between the Bentleigh Greens and Hume City in the 2015 NPL Victoria Grand Final at Lakeside Stadium next Sunday 13 September.

Tonight’s Semi Final between South Melbourne and Pascoe Vale kicks off at 7:30pm at Lakeside Stadium. All supporters are urged to attend and support the boys in what promises to be a memorable night of football. Those unable to make the match can follow live updates on the Club’s Facebook and Twitter accounts by using the handles #SMFC and #PS4NPLVIC.

On Tuesday evening the FFV announced the eight teams which will form the Womens National Premier League in Victoria from 2016. South Melbourne Womens Football Club applied for a licence but was not selected.

South Melbourne FC is shocked by this outcome. SMWFC has been at the forefront of Women’s football in Victoria for almost four decades and in the eyes of most is one of the leading women’s clubs in the State. SMFC did not apply for a licence in its own right, having agreed that SMWFC would do so on behalf of the South Melbourne football family with the intention the clubs would operate their NPL teams as one club.

Prior to the announcement by FFV of the successful applicants, SMWFC and SMFC alerted the FFV of serious concerns they had about the process adopted by FFV in receiving and assessing SMWFC’s application and related matters.

FFV has offered to mediate the complaint, proposing the appointment of a senior QC as mediator. SMWFC is considering whether to accept this proposal or pursue its other legal rights. We expect SMFWFC will make an announcement shortly. SMFC fully supports SMWFC and will continue to do so through this process.

South Melbourne FC is pleased to announce that midfielder Stephen Hatzikostas has signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him at the Club until the end of the 2017 season.

Hatzikostas arrived at Lakeside Stadium during the 2014 winter transfer window and very quickly established himself as a regular starter. He played thirteen matches last season and helped South win the League Championship. Unfortunately, he ruptured his ACL in the Australian NPL Playoff match against South Hobart in September 2014 and suffered a setback for 2015.

After working hard to recover from his injury, Hatzikostas returned to the field as a substitute against the Bentleigh Greens on 28 June. Since that game, he has started in every match and helped South to win the Dockerty Cup (2 August) and the PS4 NPL Victoria Premier’s Plate (23 August). To date he has played a total of 25 matches across all competitions for the Club.

Speaking with smfc.com.au, Football Director Nicholas Maikousis was understandably pleased to have secured the Hatzikostas’ contract extension. “There are very few people who understand the hard work and personal sacrifices that Stephen undertook to return from injury as quickly as he has. Our record when Stevie plays is extraordinary and are very happy that he will be with us until at least the end of 2017.”

South Melbourne FC claimed a third piece of silverware in 2015 after defeating Northcote City 3-0 at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday to secure the PS4 NPL Victoria Premiers Plate.

Two goals from Milos Lujic and another from Brad Norton set up the win that confirmed Chris Taylor’s side would finish the home & away season on top of the League for a second successive season.

The game started with a quiet opening twenty minutes, by which time news had filtered in that the Bentleigh Greens were leading the Oakleigh Cannons 2-0 at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex. That meant that South needed to now beat Northcote to win the Minor Premiership on goal difference. The news almost got worse for the home team when James Kalifatidis was found unmarked in the six-yard box, however he directed his free header straight into South goalkeeper Nikola Roganovic’s arms.

The home fans at Lakeside Stadium breathed alot easier when their side took the lead just prior to the half hour mark via a fantastic team goal. In a move reminiscent to the opening goal in the Dockerty Cup final win over Oakleigh, Leigh Minopoulos got on the end of Mathew Theodore’s ball into the area before flicking a back-heel pass into the path of Lujic. The big striker made no mistake from point blank range and scored the all-important opening goal to a rapturous reception from the home fans.

South had one hand on the Premiers Plate a little over ten minutes later. Brad Norton’s long ball down the left flank found David Stirton, who delivered an excellent cross to the back post for Lujic to head the ball into the ground, then over Northcote goalkeeper Chris Petropoulos and into the back of the net. It was Lujic’s second goal of the day, 21st League goal in 2015 and 29th goal across all competitions in what has been another phenomenal goal scoring season for South’s centre-forward.

The Minor Premiership was secured just after the hour mark when Norton made the score 3-0. The full-back dashed down the left side of the field to receive the ball before curling a sensational chip from the edge of the area over the stranded Petropoulos, who stood rooted to the spot as the ball went over him and into the back of the net. Substitute Chris Irwin then set Lujic up for two excellent chances to secure a second hat-trick in eight days, however he blasted one effort over the crossbar then mis-kicked the other opportunity.

There were only two sour notes to the day. The first was when Lujic appeared to hyper-extend his leg under an accidental collision with Northcote’s Jordan Wilkes. The big number 9 hobbled off the ground and will undergo scans in the coming days that will determine the severity of the injury. The second disappointment was right-back Tim Mala receiving his fifth yellow card of the season, meaning that he will have to serve his mandatory one-match suspension in South’s Semi Final in a fortnight’s time.

David Stirton, starting in place of the suspended Nick Epifano, caused plenty of headaches for Northcote during the game and may feature heavily during the Finals Series should Lujic not be available. Substitute Irwin may also be in the starting eleven in place of Mala in South’s next match.

Due to finishing in first and second places, South Melbourne and Bentleigh Greens enjoy a week off before hosting their NPL Victoria Semi Finals at Lakeside Stadium and Kingston Heath. In this coming weekend’s Elimination Finals, Melbourne Knights (4th) hosts Hume City (5th) at Knights Stadium on Friday night, whilst Heidelberg United (3rd) hosts Pascoe Vale (6th) on Sunday at the Olympic Village. South Melbourne will host the lowest ranked Elimination Final winner in the Semi Finals, whilst Bentleigh will host the highest ranked winner. 

As NPL Victoria Minor Premiers, South has also qualified as the Victorian representative in the National Playoffs and will host NPL Tasmania Champions Hobart Olympia in their Elimination Final. This will be played the weekend after the NPL Victoria Grand Final, which is scheduled for Sunday 13 September. With the FFV Community Shield, the Dockerty Cup and Premiers Plate already in the bag, Taylor will be hoping that his side can continue the winning form and win two more trophies in 2015.

FINAL SCORE: SOUTH MELBOURNE 3-0 NORTHCOTE CITY (HT: 2-0)

Goal Scorers:
1-0: Milos Lujic (27′)
2-0: Milos Lujic (38′)
3-0: Brad Norton (62′)

SOUTH MELBOURNE FC:
1. Nikola ROGANOVIC (GK), 2. Tim MALA, 4. Michael EAGAR (C), 5. Luke ADAMS, 8. Mathew THEODORE (14. Chris IRWIN 46′), 9. Milos LUJIC, 10. David STIRTON (21. Jake BARKER-DAISH 67′), 11. Brad NORTON, 12. Iqi JAWADI (23. Andy KECOJEVIC 75′), 27. Leigh MINOPOULOS, 77. Stephen HATZIKOSTAS.
Unused Subs: 22. Fraser MacLAREN (GK), 6. Tom LAKIC.

NORTHCOTE CITY FC:
22. Chris PETROPOULOS (GK) (C), 4. Jacob ELIOPOULOS, 5. Gregory LOMBARDO, 6. Aaron WARD (17. Andrew PARASKEVAS 87′), 7. Bonel OBRADOVIC, 8. James KALIFATIDIS, 9. Calvin MBARGA, 10. Marinos GASPARIS (23. Jonathan BOUNAS 46′), 12. Jordan WILKES, 14. Anthony RAMZY (11. Evan KOUNAVELIS 46′), 19. Ryan GO.
Unused Subs: 18. Nikola MARKOVSKI, 30. Jordan GIFKINS.

SMFC Fix Hellas Beer Man of the Match: Milos Lujic
Venue: Lakeside Stadium
Date: Sunday 23 August 2015

 

South Melbourne FC has reclaimed top spot on the PS4 NPL Victoria ladder following a 5-2 victory over Hume City at Lakeside Stadium on Wednesday night.

Nick Epifano’s brace and goals to Milos Lujic, Iqi Jawadi and Captain Michael Eagar (yes, Michael Eagar) helped South get over the line with a crucial victory in the context of the season.

After 25 League matches, Taylor’s men are level with the Greens at the top of the ladder with 55 points each, however South enjoys a goal difference of +33 compared to Bentleigh’s +23. Barring a mathematical anomaly in Bentleigh’s match against Oakleigh, South knows that a home victory against Northcote City on Sunday will secure the Minor Premiership.

Wednesday night’s victory came against a strong Hume City side that had pushed South all the way in the corresponding fixture at ABD Stadium in May this year. Hume started Wednesday’s game strongly, however Epifano opened the scoring for the home side just prior to the half-hour following a superb exchange with Lujic. The speedster gracefully turned and played a one-two with Lujic before finishing neatly past Hume goalkeeper Chris Oldfield.

Shortly before the halftime break, South doubled their lead through perhaps the unlikeliest of sources. Skipper Michael Eagar scored his first competitive goal for the club – with a back heel if you don’t mind – after a scramble in the goalmouth. He was relieved to finally get his goal after earlier missing an excellent opportunity to double South’s lead.

Shortly after the halftime break, Jai Ingham pulled a goal back for the visitors when Nick Hegarty pulled the ball back from the touchline for him to finish past Nikola Roganovic. Hume looked the more likely to score the next goal in the match until Lujic restored South’s two goal buffer in typical fashion on the hour mark. Leigh Minopoulos played a great ball across the goal for Lujic’s back-post run and the big striker made no mistake from close range to register his 27th goal in all competitions this year.

The game was as good as over a few minutes later when Epifano scored one of the goals of the season to make the score 4-1. The winger shimmied away twice from Hume defenders before cutting back inside and nestling the ball into the top right hand corner of the net. It was a goal very similar to the fantastic finish he produced against the Melbourne Knights in the FFA Cup qualifying match in early June.

Jawadi completed South’s scoring for the night with his second goal in as many weeks, before Hume’s Marcus Schroen hit a superb finish with the last kick of the game to make the final score 5-2.

Post-match, Eagar was delighted to be at the summit of the NPL Victoria once again but stressed that there was still work to be done. “We’ve worked really hard to get into this position. We’re finally top of the League again and it’s a great feeling, however we know that the job’s not done yet. We’ll train on Friday in preparation for Sunday’s match.”

Elaborating about the upcoming match on Sunday, the skipper added that “we’ve played in plenty of big games this year already. There’s pressure to an extent but we’ll just play our game against Northcote and go into it with plenty of confidence.” And about that goal that he scored? “Millsy (Lujic) has been talking about swapping with me at centre-back all year, so it might be a go next week. It was pretty fortunate but I’ll take it… get the monkey off the back.”

In the Under 20s, South Melbourne and Hume City played out a 0-0 draw.

FINAL SCORE: SOUTH MELBOURNE 5-2 HUME CITY (HT: 2-0)

Goal Scorers:
1-0: Nick Epifano (27’)
2-0: Michael Eagar (44’)
2-1: Jai Ingham (54′)
3-1: Milos Lujic (60′)
4-1: Nick Epifano (64′)
5-1: Iqi Jawadi (76′)
5-2: Marcus Schroen (90+2′)

South Melbourne FC:
1. Nikola ROGANOVIC (GK), 2. Tim MALA, 4. Michael EAGAR (C), 5. Luke ADAMS, 7. Nick EPIFANO, 8. Mathew THEODORE (21. Jake BARKER-DAISH 80′), 9. Milos LUJIC, 11. Brad NORTON, 12. Iqi JAWADI (10. David STIRTON 81′), 27. Leigh MINOPOULOS (14. Chris IRWIN 73′), 77. Stephen HATZIKOSTAS.
Unused Subs: 22. Fraser MacLAREN (GK), 23. Andy KECOJEVIC.

Hume City FC:
1. Chris OLDFIELD (GK), 2. Daniel CHABAANI, 3. Shaun TIMMINS, 4. Isyan ERDOGAN (11. Ivan PAVLAK 46′), 5. Petar FRANJIC, 7. Jai INGHAM, 8. Theo MARKELIS, 12. Daniel CLARK (15. Liam NEWMAN 46′), 13. Shane REXHEPI, 17. Marcus SCHROEN, 39. Nick HEGARTY (C).
Unused Subs: 21. Niko JACKSON, 23. Josh MARKOVSKI, 20. Tom BANFIELD.

SMFC Fix Hellas Beer Man of the Match: Nick Epifano
Venue: Lakeside Stadium
Date: Wednesday 19 August 2015

South Melbourne FC is proud to host the Tony Clarke Memorial Shield prior to our final home and away match of the season against Northcote City this Sunday.

The Tony Clarke Memorial Shield is organised by the Victoria Police Soccer Club (VPSC) and the Blue Ribbon Foundation. It honours Senior Constable Tony Clarke, who was a playing member of VPSC but was sadly murdered whilst in the line of duty in April 2005. This year marks the tenth anniversary of his passing.

The annual match, where the ‘Copperoos’ take on a team of former Socceroos, will play as a curtain raiser to our final home game of the home and away season. The Socceroos team will contain a number of familiar faces, including Jimmy Rooney and former SMFC National League Championship players in Kimon Taliadoros, Ken Murphy, Fausto De Amicis and Goran Lozanovski.

Following the conclusion of the Tony Clarke Memorial Shield, SMFC will take on Northcote City for the inaugural Tony Clarke Memorial Cup. This is a new trophy that will be contested between SMFC and its final home and away opponent at Lakeside Stadium every season. The match has added significance due to the potential for SMFC to win the 2015 NPL Victoria Minor Premiership should it defeat Northcote City on Sunday.

The President of VPSC, Senior Sergeant Ron Sinclair, was delighted about SMFC hosting the event on Sunday. “We’re thrilled to play on Lakeside Stadium to honour our friend and team mate, Senior Constable Tony Clarke. The game means a lot to us and we’re hoping to put a few spectacular goals past a formidable Socceroo team.”

SMFC President Leo Athanasakis was also delighted to host the match. “We have seen the Copperoos play against the Socceroos in the past and it is always good-natured and fun. There is a seriousness to the game though and that is to raise awareness and honour for Senior Constable Tony Clarke, who sadly lost his life while doing his job. We look forward to welcoming VPSC and the former Socceroos to Lakeside Stadium on Sunday.”

The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation honours police offers who have made the ultimate sacrifice by providing funding for emergency facilities in public hospitals and remember lives by helping to save others.

Donations to the Blue Ribbon Foundation can be made at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday, where merchandise will be available, or on their website www.remember.org.au.

We urge all SMFC supporters to come to Lakeside early to show their support for what is truly a fantastic cause.

Match Details – Sunday 23 August at Lakeside Stadium:

Tony Clarke Memorial Shield
Victoria Police Soccer Club ‘Copperoos’ v Socceroos
Kick-off: 12:30pm

Tony Clarke Memorial Cup
South Melbourne FC v Northcote City FC
Kick-off: 3pm

South Melbourne FC goes into tonight’s clash with Hume City knowing that, with just two games remaining in their 2015 PS4 NPL Victoria home & away season, they control their own destiny in the race for the Minor Premiership.

After 24 League matches, South sit in second place on the NPL Victoria ladder with 52 points and a goal difference of +30. League leaders Bentleigh Greens are on 55 points but have played an extra match and have a goal difference of +23.

In the highly unlikely event that Bentleigh makes up that seven goal difference between it and South in their final match against Oakleigh on Sunday, the stage is set for South Melbourne to claim the Minor Premiership if Chris Taylor’s side can defeat Hume tonight and then Northcote City on Sunday.

South’s advantageous position comes following the weekend’s 7-0 drubbing of Avondale FC. Milos Lujic lit up Doyle Street with a hat-trick, whilst Nick Epifano, Iqi Jawadi and Andy Kecojevic all got on the scoresheet in one of the biggest away wins in South Melbourne’s long history.

Epifano in particular was superb, with two assists and a goal against Avondale. The speedy winger has been in tremendous form during the second half of this season and now has 12 goals across all competitions in 2015, including three in the last two weeks thanks to his brace against Port Melbourne at Lakeside Stadium on Friday 7 August.

Hume City presents a tough challenge for the defending NPL Victoria Champions, with Lou Avceski’s men sitting in fifth position on the League table after dismantling Heidelberg United 0-2 at the Olympic Village last Sunday evening. South fought hard to break down a very tough Hume side in the earlier meeting between them at AKB Stadium on Saturday 18 April. In a match played in driving rain, Milos Lujic’s first half header proved to be the difference between the two sides.

South Melbourne and Hume City have played against each other on 16 occasions since Hume City returned to the top flight of Victorian football in 2008. South has won 10 matches, Hume has won five and there has been one draw. South’s biggest win was 6-0 on 25 April 2010, whilst Hume’s biggest win was 5-0 on 17 April 2011. Both those matches were played at Broadmeadows Valley Park.

Tonight’s match against Hume City kicks off at 8:30pm at Lakeside Stadium. Those unable to make the match can follow live updates on the Club’s Facebook and Twitter accounts by using the handles #SMFC and #PS4NPLVIC.

 

 

South Melbourne FC put in a clinical display to defeat Avondale FC 7-0 at Doyle Street Reserve on Saturday afternoon, keeping its quest to finish as Minor Premier well and truly alive.

Milos Lujic was the story of the day thanks to scoring a hat-trick of goals, whilst Nick Epifano, Iqi Jawadi and Andy Kecojevic all got on the scoresheet in a truly dominant performance. Two late red cards for Avondale’s Jason Principato and Anthony Fallone compounded a miserable day for the home side.

Chris Taylor’s men were wary of the challenge posed by Avondale, particularly at their unique little ground that had proven to be a difficult place to travel to in recent years. Avondale had also come from a goal down to draw 1-1 in the previous round away at League leaders Bentleigh Greens. South only managed a 1-0 victory in the earlier meeting between the two sides at Lakeside Stadium and was expecting another tough match.

Avondale skipper Jeff Fleming got South going when he unfortunately turned the ball into his own net midway through the first half, following a Nick Epifano free kick. Epifano was at it again shortly before half-time, when his low cross wasn’t controlled properly by goalkeeper Chris Maynard and Lujic was present at the back post to tap the ball into the back of the net. South went into the break 0-2 ahead and in control but kicked into another gear when the game restarted.

After 52 minutes, Epifano and Lujic combined again for the big striker to tap home his second goal of the game. The connection between the pair continues to grow and is currently on par with the Andy Brennan/Lujic combination that yielded so many results earlier in the season. Jawadi was then the beneficiary of a mistake from former South goalkeeper Maynard, who let the midfielder’s shot slip through his grasp and into the back of the net to make the score 0-4. Epifano himself then got on the scoresheet, finishing calmly after being put through by Mathew Theodore for his third goal in two matches.

Kecojevic was introduced as a substitute with six minutes remaining and made an immediate impact by scoring at the back post with his first touch. Fellow substitute David Stirton then won a penalty in injury time that Lujic scored by sending Maynard the wrong way with the spot kick. In the process, Lujic claimed his first hat-trick of the season and put the exclamation mark on a sensational day at Doyle Street.

Lujic’s hat-trick has moved his personal South Melbourne goal scoring tally to a staggering 41 goals from 51 League matches, with the overall record of an incredible 50 goals from 63 matches across all competitions since arriving at the start of 2014. Five more League goals will see him overtake Kimon Taliadoros (45 goals) in the top ten of South’s all-time top League goal scorers.

Fellow Minor Premiership challengers Bentleigh scored a late goal to sneak a 0-1 victory away against Northcote City on Saturday afternoon. The Greens remain three points ahead of South on the PS4 NPL Victoria ladder, however South has a game in hand. Furthermore, Taylor’s men now enjoy a significant goal difference advantage, with +30 in goal difference compared to Bentleigh’s +23.

South host Hume City this coming Wednesday 19 August in its catch-up match before hosting Northcote City in the final round this Sunday 23 August. Bentleigh concludes the home & away season with a home match against Oakleigh Cannons on Sunday.

Should both sides win all their remaining matches, they will finish level on points at the top of the ladder. However, with a +7 goal difference advantage and barring an unlikely huge win for Bentleigh in its last game, South can claim the Minor Premiership should it defeat both Hume City and Northcote.

It was further good news in the Under 20s, with South Melbourne defeating Avondale FC 0-2 thanks to goals from Tom Lakic and Nash Hussainy.

FINAL SCORE: AVONDALE FC 0-7 SOUTH MELBOURNE (HT: 0-2)

Goal Scorers:
0-1: Own Goal (11′)
0-2: Milos Lujic (34′)
0-3: Milos Lujic (62′)
0-4: Iqi Jawadi (64′)
0-5: Nick Epifano (65′)
0-6: Andy Kecojevic 85′)
0-7: Milos Lujic (90+4’p)

Avondale FC:
1. Chris MAYNARD (GK), 5. Jeff FLEMING (C), 8. Massimo MURDOCCA, 11. Francesco STELLA, 13. Michele CRAZIA, 16. Matthew SANDERS, 18. Jonathan MUNOZ, 19. Jason PRINCIPATO (sent off 86′), 24. Daniel SLOVACEK (4. Jacob COLOSIMO 55’), 28. Anthony FALLONE (sent off 90+3′), 31. Omar AMMACHE (10. Burakhan KOCA 55’).

Unused Subs: 20. Frazer SIDDALL (GK), 17. Luke COLAIANNI, 37. Dean CAMPELJ.
Yellow Cards: Crazia 48’, Principato 81’ & 86’, Fallone 77’.
Red Cards: Principato 86’, Fallone 90+3

South Melbourne FC:
1. Nikola ROGANOVIC (GK), 2. Tim MALA, 4. Michael EAGAR (C), 5. Luke ADAMS, 7. Nick EPIFANO (23. Andy KECOJEVIC 84’), 8. Mathew THEODORE (10. David STIRTON 77’), 9. Milos LUJIC, 11. Brad NORTON, 12. Iqi JAWADI, 27. Leigh MINOPOULOS (14. Chris IRWIN 71’), 77. Stephen HATZIKOSTAS.

Unused Subs: 22. Fraser MacLAREN (GK), 16. Andy BEVIN.
Yellow cards: None.
Red cards: None.

SMFC Fix Hellas Beer Man of the Match: Milos Lujic
Venue: Doyle Street Reserve
Date: Saturday 15 August 2015

 

 

South Melbourne FC will be looking to keep the pressure on at the top of the PS4 NPL Victoria table when they travel to Doyle Street to face Avondale FC today.

South are currently in third place on the ladder, three points behind first-placed Bentleigh (but with a game in hand) and one point behind second-placed Melbourne Knights (but with two games in hand). Following the Avondale match, South finish the home & away season with home matches against Hume City (19 August) and Northcote City (23 August). Bentleigh travel to Northcote today, before finishing the regular season at home against the Oakleigh Cannons next Sunday.

South come into the weekend on the back of two fantastic attacking performances and results. After putting Oakleigh to the sword in the Dockerty Cup final on Sunday 2 August, Nick Epifano and Milos Lujic combined for four goals last Friday 7 August as South saw off local rivals Port Melbourne 4-2 at Lakeside Stadium. The pair have 34 goals between them in all competitions this season and will be the key men in attack on the miniscule pitch at Doyle Street today.

Today’s match represents a significant hurdle for Chris Taylor’s men, given Avondale did South a great favour by holding Bentleigh to a 1-1 draw at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex last Friday night. Avondale sit in tenth position on the NPL Victoria ladder but are 13 points clear of relegation and have generally impressed in their first season in Victoria’s top flight.

Oleksiy Khrapko has scored seven goals this season to be the leading goal scorer out west, whilst former Green Gully favourite Matt Sanders is always a handful for defences.

As the home & away season draws to a close, today’s match is yet another absolute must-win game for South if they are to chase down Bentleigh in the race for the Minor Premiership and the resultant qualification for the National Premier Leagues Australia Playoffs.

This afternoon’s match against Avondale FC kicks off at 3pm at Doyle Street Reserve, Avondale Heights. Those unable to make the match can follow live updates on the Club’s Facebook and Twitter accounts by using the handles #SMFC and #PS4NPLVIC.

South Melbourne FC is thrilled to announce that Vice Captain Brad Norton has re-signed for a further two seasons. His new deal will keep him at the Club until the conclusion of the 2017 season.

Norton arrived at Lakeside Stadium ahead of the 2012 Victorian Premier League season. Since then, the 24 year old has played 95 League matches for the Club (111 across all competitions) and scored eight goals (nine across all competitions). He is the longest serving current SMFC player.

Norton was appointed as Vice Captain in 2013 but captained the side for most of the second half of the season following the exit of South’s captain that year. Since then, he has remained part of South’s leadership group and has continued to captain the side on occasions.

Norton played an integral part in South’s NPL Victoria Championship last season and the recent Dockerty Cup triumph in early August. He was also one of South’s best players during the Club’s inaugural FFA Cup match against Palm Beach in July.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Football Director Nicholas Maikousis was delighted that Norton had extended his stay at South Melbourne for a further two seasons. “Brad has been a huge part of our recent history and our cultural change around the Club. He has been with us for almost four years and this contract extension will ensure that he will be a South Melbourne player for at least six seasons. We welcome this news and hope that he can continue his excellent form.”

South Melbourne FC congratulates Brad Norton on his contract extension.