12 players, one disallowed goal and disbelief: Victoria's bizarre night

Hume City had a goal disallowed after an extraordinary substitution mix-up left them with 12 players on the pitch as Round 20 of NPL VIC delivered one of the most bizarre incidents of the season.

Trailing Preston Lions 2-0, Hume thought they had pulled a goal back after Josh Bingham entered the game in the 77th minute.

The problem? Nobody had left the field. Preston head coach Zoran Markovski and his staff protested, the officials consulted and the goal was eventually ruled out.

Hume later reduced the deficit, but Preston held on for a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Stefan Zinni and Luca Tevere.

The defeat proved even more costly as Oakleigh Cannons opened a four-point lead at the summit with a statement 2-0 win over Avondale FC.

New signing Matt Millar scored on debut against an Avondale side featuring former Socceroo and Golden Boot leader Bruno Fornaroli and 13-time Ivory Coast international Adama Traore.

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Reigning champions Heidelberg United were held to a 2-2 draw by Melbourne City.

In-form youngster Roland Ballah continued his impressive run with another goal for City, while former City academy prospect Marcus Humbert scored against his old club.

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Sebastian Pasquali produced one of the goals of the round as South Melbourne defeated Dandenong City 2-0. The former Ajax youngster found the top corner inside two minutes to score his first goal of the season.

Joshua Gulevski struck twice as St Albans Dinamo drew 2-2 with Caroline Springs George Cross, while Dandenong Thunder landed a crucial blow in the relegation fight by beating fellow strugglers Bentleigh Greens 2-1.

Altona Magic completed the round with a 3-1 win over bottom side Green Gully.