CSF Match Preview: Royals welcome Avengers to Cross Keys Reserve in Australia Cup action

Essendon Royals and Avondale FC will welcome a midweek shot at redemption in the Australia Cup on Tuesday night.

After a difficult weekend for both sides in their respective league campaigns, the Moonee Valley giants will collide at Cross Keys Reserve in midweek Cup action, as the State League 1 Royals welcome National Premier Leagues Victoria outfit Avondale FC.

Both the Royals and Avondale suffered defeats at the weekend, as the nine-man Royals suffered a shock 3-0 loss to Corio, with the Avengers going down 3-1 against Heidelberg United at home.

The Royals will need to deal with the suspensions of top goalscorer Graham Kelly and experienced defender Greg Lombardo for the tie against Avondale, who will have all the pressure that comes in these cup ties with being the higher-ranked team.

The Avengers sit in third position in the NPLV – the highest competition in the state – having won seven, drawn one and lost four of their opening 12 games.

Last week’s defeat to Heidelberg means Avondale has fallen into third place on the table and sit some nine points off league leaders Oakleigh Cannons.

The reigning Dockerty Cup champions have been no strangers to the latter stages of the Australia Cup and are regularly involved in the national rounds of the competition, leaving little doubt that this will be a game taken very seriously by the NPLV unit.

Coach Zoran Markovski may have to consider some rotation, however, with a big game against South Melbourne on Friday night.

Avondale knocked out South Melbourne in an all-NPLV affair in Round Four, before progressing via penalties against Kingston City in Round Five.

The Royals’ Cup journey started back in Round Three, where they faced Caroline Springs George Cross, before big wins against NPL2 outfit Moreland Zebras and Eltham Redbacks in Rounds Four and Five respectively.

Whilst Essendon’s cup campaign has thrown up some big results already, the challenge of Avondale is undoubtedly the biggest one yet faced by Michael Ferrante’s men.

With two suspensions to contend with and an important game against Clifton Hill to come in the league – particularly after Saturday’s result – Ferrante and his coaching staff will have some big decisions at the selection table.

The victor will progress through to Round Seven of the Australia Cup Victorian Preliminaries and be one step closer to an appearance in the national rounds of the competition.