Geelong Holiday Inn Match Preview: Royals look to turn around losing streak in road test against Boroondara

Essendon Royals’ senior men will look to get back on the winners list this Saturday afternoon, when they head on the road to take on Boroondara-Carey Eagles at Wilcox Field.

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 fell to a second successive defeat last Friday night, going down 1-0 to second placed Altona City at Cross Keys Reserve.

Watch the highlights from our 1-0 defeat to Altona City.

The loss saw Royals fall six points behind Altona in the race for promotion this season, along with six points behind league leaders Brunswick Juventus, five points off third placed FC Melbourne Serbija and four points behind fourth placed North Sunshine Eagles.

Michael Ferrante’s side will have to dust themselves off quickly ahead of this weekend, when they take on the Eagles, who sit four points behind Royals in seventh.

Boroondara come into the game off the back of a lean run in form, losing three of their last four matches including a 2-0 defeat against North Sunshine last Saturday and a 3-0 loss to Pascoe Vale the week before.

The two sides met twice last year, with the first contest at Wilcox Field ending 2-2 before Essendon won the reverse fixture at home 4-1 thanks to a brace from Dean Clarke and goals from Davey Van’t Schip and Daniele Ferri.

Royals have a pretty clean bill of health coming into the contest, but Graham Kelly will miss again this week through injury.

The match kicks off at 3 PM, with the Under 23s taking the field the following day on Sunday at the same time.

The Under 23s suffered a 3-2 loss to Altona last week, their second loss in succession, while Boroondara came away with a 3-0 victory over North Sunshine.

Boroondara currently sit fifth, five points clear of Essendon – who are in seventh on the ladder.