Western United will take on Northcote City in Round 12 of the NPL 2 Victoria season and North Geelong Warriors in JBNPL 1, while Calder United faces FV Emerging in NPLW Victoria.
Match Details
NPL 2 Victoria Round 12
Western United vs Northcote City
Sunday, 7 May
Kick-off: 3:00pm AEST (Under 23’s), 5:30pm AEST (Under 21’s).
City Vista Pavilion and Sports Field, Plumpton
Last time out
Western United’s Under 23’s fell to a 1-0 defeat away from home against Kingston City last weekend. An early goal and a red card gave United a mountain to climb, but the defeat wasn’t for lack of effort as the Green and Black pushed to find an equaliser.
Diogo Ferreira’s side remains in second place on the table with the top end of the division becoming increasingly tight at the season approaches its halfway point.
The Under 21’s continued their charge at the top of the league with an 11th straight win, defeating Kingston City 3-0.
A brace from Luke Vickery and a Campbell Dovison strike secured the win, keeping Vaughan Coveny’s men clear at the top of the league with a perfect record.
The Opponent
Northcote City had a difficult start to the 2023 season, losing four of the first six matches and falling towards the bottom of the table.
They have managed to flip that form around recently, though, with just one defeat in the last five matches and big wins against sides above them in the table in Pascoe Vale FC, Dandenong City and Eastern Lions.
That run has propelled Northcote up into eighth place, with a win potentially taking them as close as two points away from United and the top two.
Northcote’s Under 21’s results have almost mirrored those of their senior side with only one extra draw proving the difference in the two teams’ points totals.
Despite being only one point better off than the senior’s on the table, the Under 21’s are simultaneously closer and further away from the top of the league – being that they are in fifth place on the table but 13 points away from the top two.
Western United Junior Academy teams meet North Geelong again
The second round of the JBNPL 1 seasons will see Western United go up against a familiar opponent in the form of North Geelong Warriors.
Both sides met in the pre-qualification period in mid-March, splitting the results with Western United winning the Under 14’s and Under 18’s matchups and North Geelong claiming the other two.
Western United’s junior sides faced their toughest test of the season straight off the bat, taking on Melbourne Victory with three defeats before a brilliant win for the Under 18’s.
Each of North Geelong’s side will come into the meetings having won in Round 1, except for the Under 14’s who lost to Malvern City last week.
This matchday will mark Western United’s first at the brand new facility in Truganina at Alcock Road Reserve, the venue which United will call home for the JBNPL 1 season.
Western United Junior Academy Match Details
JBNPL 1 Round 2
Western United vs North Geelong Warriors
Sunday, 7 May
Kick-off: 10:00am (Under 14’s), 11:30am (Under 15’s), 1:15pm (Under 16’s), 3:15pm (Under 18’s)
Alcock Road Reserve, Truganina
Calder United to face off against FV Emerging
Calder United will look to carry on from its big win against Heidelberg United last week when it travels to face FV Emerging.
A so far stuttering season appears to be moving back on course for Calder with a positive result against Emerging potentially shooting the side up the table.
The Under 19’s matchup will be a significant one, with at least one of the final two remaining perfect records in the division set to come to an end.
Both Calder and the NTC U17 side approach the fixture with six wins from six to start the season, and either side will be looking to make an early statement against the other in the Premier’s Plate race.
Match Details
NPLW Victoria Round 8
FV Emerging vs Calder United
Friday, 5 May
Kick-off: 6:30pm (Under 19’s), 8:30pm (Senior’s)
Knox Regional Football Centre, Knox
Broadcast: The match will be streamed live and free on NPL.tv
Calder United Juniors face big clashes against Bulleen Lions
Sunday morning will see Calder United’s three junior sides face important matches against FC Bulleen Lions in their respective divisions.
Calder will meet Bulleen for the second time this season, with both clubs sitting in the top four in each junior division.
A win for the Under 13’s would open up a five point gap to Bulleen behind them, while the Under 15’s and Under 17’s could slash their deficits to one point at the top end of the table.
Calder United Junior’s Match Details
Sunday, 7 May
FC Bulleen Lions vs Calder United
Kick-off times: 9:15am (Under 13’s), 10:30am (Under 15’s), 12:00pm (Under 17’s)
Veneto Club, Bulleen
