It’s decided. The Goulburn Valley Suns will play for NPL2 survival in a relegation play-off in August after a 4-0 defeat on the weekend leaves them mathematically unable to climb off the bottom rung of the ladder.
With just three rounds remaining, the Suns are winless, recording three draws and a staggering 15 losses in what has been a troubling season for the club’s senior side.
A 4-0 defeat on Saturday at the hands of Northcote City was a reflection of the season so far — the Suns were simply outclassed by an in-form Northcote side.
City’s Dennis Menelaou put his side in the box seat with an opener in the 29th minute, hanging on to a slim advantage heading into half-time at John Cain Memorial Park.
It didn’t take long for Northcote to double its advantage in the second half, Yug Gandhi putting one in the onion bag in the 48th minute.
Zachary Bates slotted another past Suns keeper Lucas Enders in the 53rd minute, and was at the double not long after, converting his side’s fourth to ice the game just nine minutes later.
The game was not without drama, with Northcote’s Fuki Ishibashi given his marching orders late in the piece.
Attention now turns to a season-defining match for the Suns next month.
A number of NPL3 clubs hover in spots from third to fifth in the league below, with Melbourne Victory, Western United and Nunawading City all potential opposition for the Suns in August.
President Michael Criscera said the club was very much looking forward to the play-off in a month’s time.
“This presents a new challenge, it’s definitely going to be a challenge to stay in NPL2,” he said.
“But we will be doing everything we can to stay, and the next four to five weeks will be about preparing for that game as best we can.”