Western United will look to take another step towards promotion to NPL Victoria when it travels to face Northcote City in the penultimate game of the season on Friday night.
United’s junior teams will each play at home on Sunday, while Calder United’s Senior Women will be gunning for a sixth straight NIKE F.C. Cup crown when they take on FC Bulleen Lions in the final.
Match Details
NPL 2 Victoria Round 25
Northcote City vs Western United
Friday, 11 August
Kick-off: 6:30pm AEST (Under 21’s), 8:30pm AEST (Under 23’s)
John Cain Memorial Park, Thornbury
Last time out
Despite having a week off last weekend, Western United will still be on a high from its 4-1 win over Kingston City in the previous round of action.
A rampant first half helped Diogo Ferreira’s team over the line against the then-league leaders and propelled United into the top two places on the table with two matches remaining.
That means that United could clinch promotion on Friday with a win over Northcote and Manningham United win over Kingston City in their match.
The Under 21’s also took care of business against Kingston City two weeks ago, sweeping aside their opponents 8-0.
Vaughan Coveny’s side is still in a race of its own at the top of the league table with just a three point gap to Melbourne City at the top of the league.
The Opponent
Northcote City will be difficult opponents for Western United, having well and truly distanced themselves from any relegation threat after a superb second half of the season.
In fact, Northcote have risen to within seven points of the top of the division, a height that perhaps seemed unreachable after a slow start to the campaign.
Defeat last time out against Dandenong City ended a run of five matches unbeaten for Northcote, a run that included big wins against Eastern Lions and Preston Lions.
Northcote will also come into the game with confidence from a 1-0 win over Western United in the reverse fixture in early May, with the Green and Black out to exact revenge in its bid to earn promotion.
Northcote City’s Under 21’s have also enjoyed a strong campaign, sitting in fifth place on the league table.
The fifth-placed side be eager to claim the scalp of Western United heading into the finals, a place in which they have almost all but secured.
Western United Junior Academy teams return home on super Sunday
Western United’s four Junior Academy teams return home to Alcock Road Reserve on Sunday, looking to continue picking up points heading into the final stage of the season.
The Under 14’s will take on Altona Magic in the early morning kick-off before the Under 15’s, just like their senior counterparts, meet Northcote City.
United’s Under 16’s and Under 18’s teams will both go head to head against South Melbourne in search of important points at the top end of the table.
Western United Junior Academy Match Details
JBNPL 1 Round 17
Sunday, 13 August
Under 14’s: Western United vs Altona Magic, 10:00am, Alcock Road Reserve
Under 15’s: Western United vs Northcote City, 11:30am, Alcock Road Reserve
Under 16’s: Western United vs South Melbourne, 1:15pm, Alcock Road Reserve
Under 18’s: Western United vs South Melbourne, 3:15pm, Alcock Road Reserve
Calder United battles FC Bulleen Lions for NIKE F.C. Cup title
Calder United will skip league action this weekend and go in search of more silverware, taking on FC Bulleen Lions in the NIKE F.C. Cup Final on Sunday.
Calder has won each of the last five editions of the NIKE F.C. Cup and will aim to continue a perfect streak against Bulleen over three meetings in the competition to date.
Bulleen are currently the NPLW league leaders and will be putting their best foot forward in search of a potential treble at the end of the season.
The two sides drew 0-0 in league action just last week, leaving things wide open for one team to take bragging rights on Sunday.
Calder’s Under 19’s will also sit out this weekend, following the Seniors’ schedule after falling to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Bulleen last weekend.
Read the full NIKE F.C. Cup Final Preview
Match Details
NIKE F.C. Cup Final
Sunday, 13 August
FC Bulleen Lions vs Calder United
Kick-off: 5:00pm AEST
The Home of the Matildas, Bundoora
Broadcast: The match will be broadcast live on NPL.tv
Calder United travel for tough test against South Melbourne
Calder United’s junior outfits will hit the road and need to be at their best to pick up points against South Melbourne.
South sit ahead of Calder in both the Under 13’s and Under 15’s divisions, but the Under 17’s will be eager to win and remain ahead of their opponents.
Calder United Junior’s Match Details
Saturday, 12 August
South Melbourne vs Calder United
Kick-off times: 11:00pm (Under 13’s), 12:30pm (Under 15’s), 2:15pm (Under 17’s)
Henry Scott Oval, Albert Park
