“Danger game” will be the theme for the fourth-placed Heidelberg United outfit this Friday at Jack Edwards Reserve. The ‘Bergers, who have won their last three games in succession, will be up against what will be a desperate Oakleigh Cannons, who have only a point from five games so far.
After a somewhat indifferent start to its Championship defence, Heidelberg United is finally showing signs of its stellar form of the past two seasons – all this without the services of key players of the ilk of Steven Pace, Jack Petrie, Adrian Zahra, Sean Ellis and new recruit Lucas Derrick, who have all missed games this season through injuries and suspension.
Coach George Katsakis has mused about this, saying:
“We knew we were a little underdone with our pre-season ….. (but) now with getting a few players back and match-fit, we’re starting to get our sharpness back and play our game – the style that we’re used to playing.”
Despite an extensive off-season turnover of players and an ambitious recruiting drive that netted players of the calibre of Lujic, Foschini, Guest and Epifano, Oakleigh has yet to win a game in the 2019 season – its only point coming through a late equaliser in the Round 4 match against Kingston.
Despite a comfortable 3-1 win in the corresponding match in 2018, Heidelberg will know it’s travelling to what has been a traditionally tricky venue for the ‘Bergers in previous years. As one of four Friday night fixtures in Round 6 of the NPL Victoria competition, the ‘Bergers will be hopeful of nothing less than all three points against an increasingly under-fire opposition in a bid to keep pace with the top three sides on the table.
The action kicks off this Friday (March 22) at 8:30pm at the Jack Edwards, Reserve in Oakleigh, with the preceding Under 20s match to start at 6:15pm.
