- Langwarrin SC have won three, drawn one and lost only one of their last five NPL Victoria 2 fixtures.
- Port Melbourne Sharks SC have failed to win any of their last five, losing four times.
- Langwarrin SC have won three, drawn one and lost three of their seven home league fixtures, scoring 15 times.
Sharks are in deep trouble
Langwarrin SC come into Friday's NPL Victoria 2 fixture with Port Melbourne Sharks SC with some solid form behind them, having lost just one of their last five fixtures.
The hosts are 12th in NPL Victoria 2 with 19 points from 17 games, but they are 10 points ahead of the 14th-placed Sharks, who are in the thick of the relegation battle with only nine points from the same number of games.
The Sharks are winless in their last five with four defeats, a run that began with a 3-1 home loss to Brunswick City and was followed by a 0-0 away draw against Western United FC Youth. Langwarrin SC's last match saw them bounce back from a 3-1 defeat away to Northcote City with a 4-1 win at home to Manningham United Blues.
Opposites attract in this fixture
Port Melbourne Sharks SC have switched coaches in an attempt to stem the tide of results and have played in a much more compact, risk-averse style. Jamie Skelly's side have the opposite playing philosophy and are a pragmatist's side that have stability and a build-up at the foundation of their game.
One or the other of these teams should have an answer to the other's game plan on Friday, but this is likely to be a tight fixture with Langwarrin in possession of more quality. The last meeting between these sides finished 1-1 at Port Melbourne three months ago and there are similarities between those two sides' set-up now.
The 1.38 odds on Langwarrin to take the full points at home are very short for a side with such a modest record, but the 6.17 on offer for a Sharks side that are desperate for points is a long shot.
Back the home side to nick it
The away side are conceding an average of 2.5 goals per game on their travels in NPL Victoria 2 this season and have shipped 20 in eight road matches. Langwarrin are capable of scoring plenty at Lawton Park, having scored 15 in seven home assignments this term.
The 'both teams to score - Yes' market is 1.47 and that is heavily favoured by the bookmakers, but we're taking the home team to edge this one by one goal because they have the late runners in midfield and width that can hurt the Sharks.
This match will probably hinge on which side deals better with transitions and set-piece situations, and Langwarrin's controlled, organised style should be enough to see them home.
