NJL Match Report: Royals roll on in Nike FC Cup

The Essendon’s Royals State One Women march onto the last 16 of the Nike FC Cup with another dominant display against higher league opposition after a solid 1-0 win against VPLW side South Yarra.

On the back of last week’s early lapse against Fawkner before going onto that crushing 8-1 win, it was the Royals who struck after 6 mins; a ball over the top from Marcela Marques putting Mary Hubeek through; her deft lob too precise for the Yarra keeper to get back in time.

Royals completely dominated the first half, their speed in transition from the central areas out wide just too much for the Yarra side to cope with.

However, for all the dominance the second goal didn’t come, Yarra hanging on and fortunate for the match to not be out of reach at the break.

To their credit Yarra began the second half well, but the Royals soon continued where they left off which also included lacking that clinical final effort.

Yarra defended bravely and despite several breakaway, the Royals keeper was never tested.

A shot count of 17-3 to Royals was indicative of the dominance they had across every area of the pitch. On another day, the win is as comfortable on the scoreboard as it was on the pitch.

A solid effort all round, that now being 4 consecutive clean sheets against VPLW opposition, except this time it meant a spot in the last 16 of the Cup.