38 years old. Another hat-trick. Bruno Fornaroli refuses to fade away

Bruno Fornaroli is showing no signs of slowing down in NPL VIC.

Football has a way of moving on. New stars emerge. New names take the headlines. Careers that once seemed untouchable eventually come to an end.

Fornaroli, however, continues to ignore the script.

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The 38-year-old striker scored his second hat-trick of the season as Avondale FC swept aside Bentleigh Greens 4-0, strengthening his grip on the NPL VIC Golden Boot race.

A retired Socceroo, Uruguayan-born Fornaroli has now scored eight goals in his last five matches, and 13 for the season.

Years after becoming one of the A-League's most prolific forwards - he is third on the all-time goalscorers list, Fornaroli is still doing what he has always done best.

Scoring goals.

George Ott was also on target as Avondale kept the pressure on the league's frontrunners - Oakleigh Cannons, who were too good for relegation-threatened Altona Magic 2-0.

Defending champions Heidelberg United remain three points off the pace after a 4-2 win over Dandenong Thunder.

The Bergers raced into a two-goal lead before Thunder clawed their way back into the contest at 2-2. But late strikes from Chok Dau and Joseph Lee settled the affair and ensured Heidelberg would keep pace with leaders Oakleigh Cannons.

Hume City missed the chance to move level with the league leaders after being held to a 1-1 draw by South Melbourne.

In their first match since the shock sacking of coach Sinisa Cohadzic, South traded second-half goals with Hume.

The point extended South’s winless run to five matches, while Hume remain firmly in the title race in third spot.

Preston Lions edged St Albans Dinamo 1-0 thanks to an own goal as Joey Monek celebrated his 250th appearance for the home side, while Dandenong City halted Melbourne City's four-game winning streak with a narrow victory.

The Maltese derby between Caroline Springs George Cross and Green Gully finished goalless.