The Dominic Barba-coached outfit refuses to give in, keeping their slim promotion hopes alive with a 2-1 win over third-last Banyule City at Keilor Lodge Reserve on Saturday. Sydenham is three points and a hefty wad of goal difference away from the safety zone with only two matches remaining.

You can be guaranteed they will not give up without a fight in their final two games of the season against Moreland City on the road on Saturday and Altona East Phoenix at home a week later.

■Westgate is putting its hand up for promotion in the men's state league 3 north-west.

The Ardeer-based outfit downed a 10-man Lalor 2-0 after goals to Henry Nunez and Kwabee Otou-Acheampong to move one point behind second-placed Geelong and two in arrears of league leaders Keilor Park, whom they meet in a blockbuster this weekend at Ardeer Reserve.

Cairnlea, led by two-goal hero Adam Aleksovski, remain in the running for promotion after a 4-1 hammering of Essendon United at Cairnlea Park.

■North Sunshine Eagles played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with the Northern Falcons in the provisional league 1 north-west.

Westvale also shared the points in a 1-1 draw with Whittlesea United at McKechnie Reserve.