Green Gully SC will look to continue their unbeaten start under new coach Ramon Falzon when they take on Oakleigh Cannons at Green Gully Reserve on Saturday afternoon.
Gully’s undefeated start under Falzon’s tutelage continued on Saturday evening in a hard-fought 0-0 draw away to Altona Magic, which made it one win and two draws in the three games the former Perth SC coach has sat at the helm.
Despite the turn in results, it’s done little to improve Gully’s finals hopes. With eight games remaining this season, they remain nine points behind sixth-placed Port Melbourne Sharks.
Their next test comes against Oakleigh, who are in the midst of a downturn in form, losing their last two games in the league.
The Cannons suffered a shock 3-1 defeat at the hands of Dandenong Thunder last Saturday night, five days after losing 2-0 at home against Dandenong City.
As a result of their loss and Avondale’s win over Hume City, Oakleigh are now in third place on the ladder, two points behind the reigning NPL Victoria champions and only a point clear of fourth-placed Heidelberg United.
Gully will be looking to extend Oakleigh’s winless run this weekend and should be bolstered with the return of Mohamed Adam from international duty.
The last time these two teams met ended in a comprehensive 4-1 win to Oakleigh at Jack Edwards Reserve, with Joe Guest scoring twice and former Gully striker Alex Salmon and Moonib Adus scoring one apiece.
Guest and Salmon have been brilliant all season for Oakleigh, combining for 20 goals (Salmon 11 goals, Guest nine goals).
Josh Hope scored the solitary goal for Gully on a tough evening in the southeast.
Kick-off is at 1 PM, with the Under 23s taking the field shortly after at 3:30 PM.
Gully’s brilliant season continued in the Under 23s over the weekend, with a 4-1 win over Altona, which keeps them atop the ladder heading into Round 19. Oakleigh, meanwhile, are in sixth after a 1-0 win against Thunder.
