Physical play: Essendon United's Andrew Imvriotis slides in on FC Strathmore's Ilija Cicak. Picture: Darren Howe
ESSENDON United claimed bragging rights in its Moonee Valley derby against FC Strathmore with a 2-1 win at JH Allen Reserve on Saturday.
The victory keeps United on course for promotion from FFV provisional league 1 north-west with a five-point cushion in the top two.
United's 19 points leads the table from Moreland United on 16 and three teams tied for third on 14.
FC Strathmore lost ground in the top-two race, falling to seventh with 13 points.
Click on the image below for our gallery of the big game.
In state league 3 NW, Avondale Heights now holds its promotion place on goal difference only after a 0-0 stalemate against relegation-threatened Geelong.
The 10th-placed visitors to Doyle Street Reserve managed to hold the Heights (second, 16 points) allowing Whittlesea to escape on top (22 points) while third-placed Sydenham Park (16) moved to within three goals difference.
In provisional 2 NW, Essendon Royals was bumped into the lower half of the table with a 4-1 defeat away at Hoppers Crossing.
The Royals sit eighth on the table with nine points, five above the relegation zone.
In provisional 3 NW, Melbourne Tornado drew 1-1 in its top-of-the-table clash with Darebin United.
Darebin still leads the ladder with 17 points and plus-five goal difference from Tornado (17, +3) while Melton is within a point in third (16, +10).