Women’s Match Preview: Royals gear up for third game in a week as they head on the road to face Brunswick Juventus

Essendon Royals’ senior women are back in action for the third time in the space of seven days, when they take on Brunswick Juventus at CB Smith Reserve on Saturday.

The Royals face a tough turnaround having had to play mid-week in the Round 7 catch-up game against FV Emerging, but they will be thankful for the opportunity to get back on the winner’s list, having lost that game 3-1.

It sets up yet another huge clash for the Royals, who can take another huge step towards playing finals football with a win this weekend against Juventus.

Their gap ahead of fifth-placed South Melbourne currently sits at six points with four games remaining. They are hot on the heels of first-placed FC Bulleen Lions in the race for the Premiership, with the latter sitting six points clear.

Juventus, meanwhile, are in a fight to stave off relegation and secure a second consecutive season in NPLW Victoria.

Brunswick currently sit one point clear of bottom two sides Bentleigh Greens and Calder United, and can take a huge step towards safety with a result against the Royals – who joined them in promotion from the Victoria Premier League at the end of last season.

Juve have been much improved in the last five weeks, defeating both Calder (5-0) and Bentleigh (2-1), before losing their last three matches which included tight defeats against Alamein (2-3) and Bulleen (0-1).

Nicole Cooper has been a star all season for the Bianconeri with 10 goals to her name.

Essendon won the reverse fixture earlier this season 1-0 at Cross Keys Reserve, thanks to a goal from Audrey Oastler.

Watch the highlights from the 1-0 win over Brunswick Juventus earlier this season.

Kick-off is at 3 PM, with the Under 20s in action at 12:45 PM.

Essendon – who are 9th – lost to the NTC Under 17s last weekend 2-0, while Juventus suffered a 4-0 defeat against Bulleen and remain a point clear of the Royals in eighth.