By Tara Murray
Hume City’s National Premier League fate will come down to the final round.
Hume had chances on Saturday night against 12th-placed Green Gully to ensure its place in the state’s top grade next season, but couldn’t come away with the three points.
Hume took the lead twice in the match, but the Cavaliers hit back both times.
Captain-coach Nick Hegarty opened the scoring in the sixth minute for Hume, before the Cavaliers equalled through an own goal to Will Hendon.
Hume looked the better of the two sides and was rewarded with a second goal through Harry Monaghan in the 32nd minute to regain the lead.
The chances kept coming for Hume, but it was the Cavaliers that found the back of the net, through Kieran Dover in the 61st minute.
Hume didn’t goal again and had to settle for a draw.
The result leaves Hume in 11th place, one point clear of the Cavaliers heading into the final round.
Whichever team finishes 12th will play in a play-off against an NPL2 side, to remain in the top flight.
Hume faces fourth-placed Pascoe Vale while the Cavaliers face ninth-placed Kingston.
In NPL2 west, Whittlesea Ranges had a good win against Melbourne Victory.
Victory scored early on before the Ranges leveled the score in the 33rd minute through Anthony Ramzy.
It was the Ranges through Jose Luis Ramires Soto that hit the front in the 85th minute. The Ranges hung on to win 2-1.
The Ranges sit sixth with two rounds remaining.
