Gaffney Match Preview: Royals host Keilor Park in two crucial games
Essendon Royals can take a giant step closer to promotion with a strong performance against Keilor Park SC at Cross Keys Reserve on Friday night. The Reserves could all but mathematically seal the title.
The Royals Senior and Reserves Women’s teams have been in fantastic form all season, and wins on Friday night will put the club in a fantastic position to seal promotion and a flag in 2022.
After a refreshing week off, the Royals Seniors will be looking to find their form quickly against a Keilor Park side that has struggled this season.
Keilor sits second-bottom on the table, equal on points with bottom side Elwood City SC, having won just one game and drawn twice all season.
On the other hand, the Royals sit in second with a three-point buffer on third-placed Spring Hills and a 10-point buffer on fourth-placed North Geelong Warriors.
A recent Football Victoria directive has suggested that the top three could be promoted. Still, Women’s coach Vince Battiato has insisted that promotion should not be considered complete until a top-two position is secured.
The Royals have won all but three of their 15 games this season, drawing once and losing twice, and have the best defensive record in the league, with just 11 goals conceded.
Their 68 goals scored gives them the second-best attacking record in the league.
Up front, it’s a three-way battle for the club golden boot, with Rachel Alonso and Mary Hubeek level on 17 goals each. Linda Sawa sits in third with 13 goals.
With a goal difference that is a whopping 71 goals greater than Clifton Hill, a win on Friday would effectively win the league for the Reserves.
The club expects a fantastic turnout from our junior girls players and our women’s sponsors to cheer the Royals women on in their second last home game of the season.