Gaffney Match Preview: Essendon Royals travel to Elwood City for Women’s State League 1 season opener
Essendon Royals will commence their Women’s State League 1 North-West campaign with a trip to Elwood City on Friday night.
Led by Senior Women’s Coach Vince Battiato, the Royals will turn their focus from Nike FC Cup duties to the new league campaign, with the Senior Women and Reserves Women looking to put all their hard work over pre-season into practice.
The Royals have endured a gruelling pre-season under Battiato, who has lined up a number of tests against Victorian Women’s Premier League and National Premier Leagues Victoria Women’s teams, as well as a tough run in the Cup which ended in a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Calder United.
Elwood City struggled in the competition in the ill-fated 2021 campaign, which was eventually cancelled due to COVID19 lockdowns, taking just seven points from the 10 games they played.
The Royals are an almost completely new side heading into the campaign but sat in fifth position on the table when the season was cancelled, having won five out of 11 games.
In the only game they played against one another last season, the Royals ran out 3-2 winners on a windy Sunday, having had to come from behind to secure the win.
The goals came from Marcela Marques, Emma Turnbull and Christina Sousa on the day.
The Royals team that travels to Elwood Park this time around will be significantly different and notably stronger with the additions of several VPLW and NPLW talents to the squad.
Beth Mason-Jones is going to take some beating in the Royals’ goal.
The former Melbourne Victory and Canberra United goalkeeper was a sight to behold against Calder United and largely to thank for the narrow scoreline, pulling off a number of incredible saves in the game and it is going to take something special to beat her during this campaign.
Rachel Alonso is another former A-Leagues Women talent in the team, and the forward will be looking to start the campaign off strongly.
Marie Rampal could be a doubt for the Royals having had to be substituted in the Nike FC Cup game last week with a calf complaint and with games to come against Spring Hills and Moreland Zebras in the coming weeks, Battiato may opt to rest the full-back, particularly with a wealth of options at his disposal.
Three points will be seen as a must for the Royals who come into the campaign with high hopes of promotion, particularly with games against fellow promotion contenders Spring Hills and Moreland to come over the next two weeks.
MATCH DETAILS
Football Victoria Women’s State League 1 North-West | Round One
Elwood City v Essendon Royals
22 April
Elwood Park, Esplanade Oval
Reserves: 6.30 PM | Seniors: 8.30 PM
AROUND THE GROUNDS
Elsewhere in the league, the match of the round could be the clash between Spring Hills FC and Bundoora United.
Having sat in second and fourth positions respectively in 2021, both sides will be looking to prove their promotion credentials in an interesting opening-round clash.
Moreland Zebras start the campaign at home to Keilor Park. The Zebras were humbled 5-1 against NPLVW side South Melbourne during the week in the Nike FC Cup and will be keen to bounce back with a big response.
League newcomers North Geelong Warriors and La Trobe University will also face-off in round one, whilst FC Clifton Hill welcome another new side in the competition, Craigieburn City.