With
only four rounds to go in the WPL, there’s still everything to play
for as both the race for the finals and the battle to avoid
relegation have yet to be decided. The top three are all guaranteed
to be involved in finals action, but there are more teams that are a
mathematical possibility of filling the remaining two places. At the
other end of the ladder, Ballarat’s fate has already been decided,
but again, there are five teams that could join it in Division One
next year.Bendigo Vipers get the action started on Saturday when they host Eastern Lions at Strathfieldsaye Sport Complex. The sides enjoyed differing fortunes in Round 18, with Bendigo suffering a narrow defeat against Brimbank, whereas Eastern Lions produced their first win for some time to defeat South. Bendigo came out on top when the sides met previously, defeating the Lions by two unanswered goals, but this match could produce a reversal of that result, as the Lions have more to play for as they are still in danger of being relegated. Bendigo have an outside chance of making the finals, but also of being relegated, and most likely will do neither.
South Melbourne will try to bounce back quickly from last weekend’s shock defeat by Eastern Lions when it takes on Ashburton at Henry Scott Oval on Saturday. Ashburton also goes into the game on the back of a defeat, having been soundly beaten by Cranbourne in its previous match. The Round 8 encounter between these sides produced a goal-fest, with South emerging victorious 5-3 after being 3-1 down. South is in the same position as Bendigo in that it could theoretically still make the finals or be relegated, but will more be looking for a win to turn its recent poor form around. Ashburton is still on track for the finals, as it currently occupies fifth spot on the ladder.
Keilor Park faces a tough encounter on Sunday when Box Hill Inter travels to Keilor Park Reserve. Keilor had an upset loss last weekend to Heidelberg United and it now faces a Box Hill side that hasn’t lost in seventeen games. Inter had a big win over Keilor last time the sides met, producing a 4-0 scoreline, and will aim for a similar result this time. Although both sides are guaranteed a place in the finals, it is Keilor that needs to lift its form and try and get a result in order to gain a psychological advantage over teams like Inter that it will face in the finals.
Heidelberg United faces the University of Melbourne at Epping Soccer Stadium on Sunday in a crucial game for both sides. Despite its victory over Keilor, Heidelberg still occupies sixth position on the ladder, three points outside the finals, and needs to win every game if it is to make it into the top five. The University is just as desperate for a victory, but for a very different reason, as it remains eleventh, in the second relegation position, two points adrift of tenth. Heidelberg had a big victory, 5-0, over the University earlier in the season, but with so much at stake for both sides, this should be a much closer encounter.
Two sides that have enjoyed vastly differing fortunes in the WPL this season meet at Comets Stadium on Sunday when Cranbourne hosts Ballarat and District. Cranbourne sits atop the WPL ladder, as it has down for virtually the whole season, whilst Ballarat is languishing at the foot of the ladder, and can already begin to turn its attentions to competing in Division 1 next season as it has nothing to play for now except pride. Cranbourne won the previous meeting between the sides 7-1 and will expect a similar result again this time. Although it is already virtually guaranteed to finish in the top two, Cranbourne will continue to push for victories, in order to seal top spot and consequently a more favourable finals run.
Partington Flats is the venue for a potentially interesting match between Eltham North and Brimbank, which has bearings on both the finals race and the relegation battle. Brimbank moved up to fourth last week, following its victory over Bendigo, and now enjoys a six-point advantage over the sixth placed side, but is not yet assured of a place in the finals. Victories for Eastern Lions and Melbourne Uni has meant that Eltham could now find itself relegated, as it is just two points ahead of the Lions and four ahead of the University, although facing a more favourable run in. The points were shared last time the teams met, but both sides will be pushing for a three point return from this match.