Lifespan Osteopathy Men’s Match Report: Royals’ Early Dominance Overturned in Thrilling Encounter with Ballarat City

In a game that encapsulated their season, Essendon Royals started with a bang but ultimately succumbed to a 3-2 defeat against a resilient Ballarat City side.

The Royals hit the ground running, with Graham Kelly reacting quickest to a loose ball inside the box, smashing it home to put the Royals ahead just three minutes into the game. The lead was doubled in the 20th minute when a well-placed free kick from Matthew Breeze found its way into the danger area. Ballarat’s keeper failed to secure the ball, and Davey Van’t Schip was on hand to slot the ball into the net from a tight angle.

However, Ballarat City quickly clawed its way back into the game. Kenta Futami, capitalizing on a slick passing move, raced through on goal and coolly slotted past Royals keeper Kieran McDowell. The hosts then levelled the scoreline in the 37th minute when a seemingly harmless kick from Oscar Cherry took a wicked swerve, catching McDowell off-guard and floating into the goal.

The second half had barely started when Ballarat seized the lead. A successful overload on the Royals’ left-flank created an advantageous situation in the box. McDowell well saved the initial shot on target, but the Ballarat player recovered possession and played a calm pass across the box to Michael Trigger, who smashed home to score what would be the decisive goal.

The Royals rattled the bar twice in a frantic second half as they sought to claw back the deficit. Kelly and Will Abbott both struck the woodwork, but the equalizer remained elusive. Ballarat also created some good chances late in the game as the Royals pushed hard for parity.

Ballarat had to navigate the final 17 minutes with ten men after Shaun Owens received his second yellow card in the 73rd minute, but the Royals couldn’t capitalize on the man advantage.

The result was a bitter pill for the Royals, who find themselves in a three-way battle for NPL3 survival with Ballarat City and Geelong SC, all stuck on 17 points. The Royals remain out of the relegation zone courtesy of goal difference, but with just three games remaining, the pressure is mounting on all sides to start collecting points.

Despite the challenging position, the Royals squad and coaching staff remain committed to working hard to secure their place in the league. The Royals will undoubtedly be looking to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures, displaying the resilience and determination that has characterised their season.