Men’s Match Report: Royals Edged Out in Thrilling Derby Against Pascoe Vale
Essendon Royals endured a challenging night at Cross Keys Reserve, falling 3-2 to local rivals Pascoe Vale in a match that showcased moments of resilience but ultimately ended in disappointment for the home side.
The Royals were on the back foot early, with Pascoe Vale opening the scoring in the 3rd minute. Aydin Mustedanagic found the net after a well-placed cross from the right wing led to a header at the far post. Andre Russo made an initial save, but Mustedanagic reacted quickly, tucking the ball away to give the visitors an early lead.
Essendon fought back with several opportunities in the first half. Jordan Adeyemi had a half-chance in the 21st minute, racing onto a long ball into the box, but his shot went over the bar from a tight angle. Adeyemi continued to threaten with another effort from outside the box in the 29th minute, following a break orchestrated by Graham Kelly. However, his shot failed to find the target.
Despite the Royals’ efforts, Pascoe Vale doubled their lead in the 44th minute. A long throw into the box caused chaos, and as the Royals struggled to clear, Justin Riescher, making his debut for Pascoe Vale, was on hand to flick the ball to the back post and score.
The first half ended with Essendon trailing 2-0, and the Royals needed to regroup for the second half.
Pascoe Vale almost extended their lead early in the second half, with Mustedanagic missing a golden opportunity in the 49th minute. However, the Royals found a lifeline in the 51st minute. Marcus Kotronis delivered a dangerous ball into the box, which Kelly flicked on to Dean Clarke, who smashed it home to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
The Royals continued to press, with Clarke forcing a sprawling save from Alex Pavlidis with a powerful free-kick in the 62nd minute. However, Pascoe Vale restored their two-goal cushion in the 77th minute when Mustedanagic was left unmarked at the back post to tap in a simple cross, making it 3-1.
Essendon showed their fighting spirit, pulling another goal back in the 81st minute. Adeyemi capitalized on a breakaway, racing through and finishing calmly to make it 3-2.
Despite a late surge and relentless pressure, the Royals couldn’t find the equalizer, and the match ended 3-2 in favour of Pascoe Vale.
The defeat marks a setback for the Royals, who showed glimpses of their potential but were ultimately undone by defensive lapses and missed opportunities. As they prepare for their next fixture, the team remains focused on bouncing back and climbing up the VPL2 ladder.