Queens Birthday Clash

By John Fotinos

Two teams, each with a huge incentive for the three points, square off in a highly anticipated Queen’s Birthday match up at Jack Edwards Reserve. The outcome of this second versus seventh clash might have major ramifications well beyond the long weekend.

With both clubs through to the National Round of 32 in the Australia Cup on the back of midweek Preliminary Round 7 wins over fellow NPL clubs, the attention is squarely back on the NPL subplots.

The ‘Bergers need to win to climb back to within a point of sixth spot, and the Cannons will be equally keen to maintain pressure on top of the table South Melbourne.

Heidelberg United coach George Katsakis will be firing up his charges, who will be seeking a season double over Chris Taylor’s Oakleigh. The Warriors defeated the Cannons 2-0 earlier this season in an emotion-filled afternoon celebrating the lives of two club legends at the Olympic Village.

The game will feature two of the leading strikers in the NPL this season, with Oakleigh’s Wade Dekker and Heidelberg United’s Kaine Sheppard both in great form and in the hunt for the Golden Boot honours.

With the overall record between the clubs, who first met in 1988, standing at Heidelberg 17 wins, Oakleigh 11 wins, and 15 draws, it’s hard to go past another tight tussle, particularly with the stakes so high.

The action for this fixture, which will complete Round 17 in the NPL, kicks off at 4:30 PM on Monday, June 13, at Jack Edward Reserve, Oakleigh.

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