CSF Match Preview: Royals host Georgies in State League thriller
Essendon Royals host Caroling Springs George Cross in a massive game of State League 1 football on Friday night.
Cross Keys Reserve will host a crucial contest as the Royals look to pin back the rampant Georgies who are nine points ahead of second-placed Sydenham Park and 10 points ahead of Essendon Royals, Banyule City and Brimbank Stallions.
Stallions and Royals have a game in hand, having yet to play their postponed Round Seven clash.
A win is more crucial for the Royals than it is for George Cross, which has been incredibly consistent and built a solid foundation for the remainder of their season, but the Georgies will be keen to keep their momentum up.
George Cross boasts both the most goals scored and the least conceded in the competition, having scored 35 and conceded just 10, showcasing their strength right across the ground.
Essendon has proven its quality in patches this season, however, will look to do so on a more consistent basis over the second half of the season.
The Royals have been lethal in front of goal in recent weeks and tight at the back, picking up three clean sheets and three wins from four games.
Since a shock loss with nine men against Corio in Round Eight, the Royals have scored 11 goals in four games, conceding just two.
Over the same number of games, George Cross has scored 13 goals and conceded three.
For both sides, the only flaw in their form chart has come against the same opposition – Keilor Park SC – with both teams having been held to a 2-2 draw by the Eagles.
With two teams in such a rich vein of form, Friday night’s clash is shaping up to be a thriller.
George Cross boast one of the bigger squads in the competition, with 28 names having featured on their team sheets this season.
The goals are well spread throughout the squad.
Jay Hart leads the pack with eight goals, but no less than five players have scored either three or four goals in the league this season, including former Royal James Brown.
The visitors have picked up 31 yellow cards this season, as well as two red cards, compared to the Royals tally of 23 yellow cards and two red cards.
This will be the third meeting of the sides in 2022, with the ledger split with one win each.
The Royals landed the first blow in the Australia Cup, winning 2-1 at City Vista Reserve.
In Round Two of the league season, the Georgies returned the favour, taking a 2-1 win.
The Royals will be out to tip the ledger in their favour for the season and make up some much-needed ground on the front-runners on Friday evening, as well as looking to take three points that few of their rivals will take this season.
The earlier kick-off is not to be missed either, with the first-placed Royals Reserves taking on third-placed George Cross.
Despite having a game in hand, the youthful Royals ressies are three points clear at the top of the table and have scored 34 goals in 11 games.
MATCH DETAILS
Football Victoria Men’s State League 1 North-West – Round 13
Essendon Royals SC v Caroline Springs George Cross
Friday 10 June
Cross Keys Reserve, Essendon
Reserves 6:30pm
Seniors 8:30pm
AROUND THE GROUNDS
With the Royals and George Cross kicking off proceedings in Round 12, Brimbank Stallions will be looking to bounce back from a draw against Corio last week when they travel to FC Clifton Hill.
The Stallions are one of three SL1NW sides hoping to make it to the national rounds of the Australia Cup and take on Avondale FC on Tuesday, making for an interesting balancing act for coach Andrew Marth and highlighting the quality of teams competing in the SL1NW division this season.
Corio is back in Geelong and welcomes Yarraville Glory FC.
FC Strathmore will look to make it three wins in a row when they host Banyule City, who may have one eye on their upcoming Australia Cup tie against Bentleigh Greens.
Altona City takes on Keilor Park on Saturday night.
On Sunday, Whittlesea United – which also remains in the Australia Cup – takes on Sydenham Park.