Geelong Holiday Inn Match Preview: Royals return to Cup action with clash against familiar foe Bulleen
Essendon Royals’ Dockerty Cup campaign continues on Tuesday night when they take on rivals FC Bulleen Lions at Cross Keys Reserve at 7:30 PM.
Our weekly previews are brought to you by the Geelong Holiday Inn, as we look ahead to the upcoming rounds of action in both the league and Dockerty Cup.
Royals go into the contest in red hot form, extending their unbeaten start in the league to seven straight games after an impressive 2-1 victory over Nunawading City last weekend.
Watch the highlights from our 2-1 win over Nunawading below.
Despite going down to 10 after an early red card to Davey Van’t Schip and a goal behind on the scoreboard, Royals showed tremendous spirit to battle back into the contest, with goals from Graham Kelly and William Thomason sealing the come-from-behind victory.
Essendon now sit equal second in the league, only goal difference behind Brunswick Juventus and North Sunshine Eagles, while a further two points afoot from league leaders Altona City.
Their opponents this week, VPL1 side Bulleen, come into Tuesday night’s match off the back of four consecutive games without a win.
After an impressive start to the season, the Lions have drawn two and lost two in their last four, including a 5-2 defeat to VPL1 league leaders Melbourne Victory in their last contest.
Despite their recent struggles, Bulleen have plenty of firepower in attack, headlined by VPL1 Golden Boot winner Luke Lofts, Dennis Menelaou and Mark Kurita – who have combined for 15 goals in the league this season.
Royals will be without Van’t Schip as he serves his suspension following his red card, along with Dean Clarke, who’s still suspended after his dismissal a week prior against North Sunshine.
Bulleen, meanwhile, welcomed back Carlton Westerdale from injury against Victory and should be at full strength for the clash with Essendon.
Both sides booked their place in Round 5 of the Cup after wins over Riversdale and Clifton Hill respectively, and will face the winner of Bentleigh Greens or Upfield in the next round at home, should they progress.
The two clubs have plenty of history with one another, due to their merger in 2008, which saw the formation of Bulleen Royals for a year.
However, the two clubs unbundled yet again the following year, with Essendon slowly making their way back up through the state leagues from 2009 onwards.
If you can’t get to Cross Keys, the match will be streamed on Football Victoria’s Facebook page.