CSF Match Preview: Essendon Royals welcome Keilor Park to Cross Keys Reserve
By Jordan Cvitkovic
With round nine of the State League One North-West competition being wrapped up with a much needed 3-0 win over FC Clifton Hill, the Essendon Royals will be back at Cross Keys Reserve to take on Keilor Park for the 10th round of the competition.
The big three points the Royals took away from the game versus Clifton Hill bumps Mick Ferrante’s team up to 5th place in the table and eight points off the leaders George Cross and four points off second-place Banyule City, with a game in hand on both sides.
For this week’s important match, Ferrante will be looking to build on the momentum his side has created in the past week after a competitive display against top NPL 1 side Avondale and the convincing 3-0-win over Clifton hill.
There is also a big boost for the Royals with top goalscorer Graham Kelly returning from his two-game suspension, which will make a huge difference to an already goal-threatening Royals side.
Keilor Park has taken 11 points from their opening nine games and they are currently sitting in eighth place out of the 12 teams in the competition.
This Keilor side should not be taken easily, having just recently drawn 2-2 with top-of-the-table George Cross.
Whilst they may feel frustrated that they have failed to win games against teams lower than them on the table, their form against the better sides in the competition demonstrates they should not be taken lightly.
Keilor Park’s two joint top goalscorers are Bajiou Yousif and Connor Bencich.
They have six goals each in the competition and they have a combined total of 12 goals in just 14 games played.
If the Royals can keep these two dangermen quiet, they could look to have a solid defensive display as no other players in the Keilor side have scored over more than two goals this season.
Keilor Park has kept the referees busy this season, receiving a total of 24 yellow cards and three red cards.
There are some familiar faces in the Keilor squad with former Royals players Aaron Ward, Andrew Miano, Albert Zorzanello and Callum Freeman having all featured for Keilor Park this season.
MATCH DETAILS
Football Victoria Men’s State League 1 North-West – Round 10
Essendon Royals vs Keilor Park
Friday 20th May
Cross Keys Reserve, Essendon
Reserves 6:30pm
Seniors 8:30pm
AROUND THE GROUNDS
With the Royals kicking off the Round 10 action on Friday night, the Saturday games throw up some interesting clashes.
Corio SC will welcome red-hot Sydenham Park, who are fresh off a 4-0 drubbing of Brimbank Stallions.
The Stallions will look to get back on the winner’s list when they welcome Altona City to Club Italia, whilst second-placed Banyule City will be out for three points when they head to McIvor Reserve to take on Yarraville FC.
FC Clifton Hill and FC Strathmore round out the Saturday games, with Whittlesea United hosting George Cross on Sunday.