Women’s Match Preview: Royals gear up for heavyweight clash at home against red-hot Bulleen

Essendon Royals will welcome fellow NPLW Victoria highfliers FC Bulleen Lions to Cross Keys Reserve for a titanic bout on Saturday afternoon.

Royals’ five game winning streak came to an end over the weekend, going down 2-1 away to Alamein at Dorothy Laver West Reserve.

Rebecca Saber and Catherine Renehan built a two goal advantage for the home side before Dani Marshall found the net late, but it was nothing more than a consolation.

Watch the highlights from our 2-1 defeat against Alamein.

Essendon now return home for a return fixture against Bulleen – who now sit atop the NPLW standings off the back of an incredible ten game winning streak.

Caitlin Friend’s side dismantled Calder United 3-0 over the weekend, continuing their brilliant run of form that’s seen them beat all comers over the last couple of months, with their only blemish coming against none other than Essendon back in Round 1.

Royals shocked Bulleen on their home deck in their first game in the top flight, with Ava Groba and Audrey Oastler findig the back of the net in the 2-1 victory at the Veneto Club.

Since then, Bulleen have found their feet, and been led brilliantly by American defender Isabel Dehakiz, while the likes of Alana Cortellino, Maja Markovski, Lourdes Gonzalez and Katrina Nikpour have been dynamite in attack.

Bulleen have shipped a league-best eight goals for the season, along with scoring 35 goals, which is also the most potent attacking record in the competition.

Royals will be sweating on the fitness of Ayano Koizumi, who came off the field in the 35th minute on the weekend.

Kick-off is at 3 PM, with the Under 20s taking the field at 12:30 PM.

Royals’ Under 20s lost 5-3 to Alamein on the weekend, and sit in ninth on the ladder, while Bulleen faced off against Calder last Sunday.