Women’s Match Preview: Royals look to continue finals charge against FV Emerging
Essendon Royals’ senior women will look to take one step closer towards sealing a finals berth when they face FV Emerging at Cross Keys Reserve.
Royals recorded a huge come-from-behind victory on Friday night, defeating Box Hill United 2-1 at Wembley Park.
Goals from Danielle Marshall and Reona Omiya cancelled out Rhianna Pollicina’s opener for the home side. At the same time, a string of brilliant stops from Bethany Mason-Jones helped preserve the win and the Royals’ place inside the top four.
Watch the highlights from our 2-1 win over Box Hill United.
Essendon now sit third – goal difference behind second-placed Preston Lions – and three points clear of fifth-placed South Melbourne, with five rounds remaining in the season.
However, Vince Battiato’s side still has a game in hand against this weekend’s opponents, FV Emerging, who they will face again on Wednesday night at the Home of the Matildas.
But before then, they take on FV Emerging at home, who come into the contest in eighth spot on the ladder and 12 points off fourth-placed Heidelberg United.
FV Emerging lost their second consecutive game, going down 3-1 against league leaders FC Bulleen Lions on the weekend.
However, they have shown an incredible ability to push some of the best in the NPLW Victoria competition, including defeating and drawing against Preston Lions, recording a stalemate with Heidelberg and losing 4-3 to South Melbourne.
Key to their success has been the form of players like Carina Rossi—who has six goals this season—and Junior Matilda Ehva Gutzmit. A-League Women’s young stars Keira Meyers, Caitlin Karic, Isabella Accardo, and Anika Dovaston have all plied their trade for the side in recent weeks.
Kick-off is at 3 PM, with the Under 20s in action just beforehand at 12:30 PM.
The ninth-placed Royals lost 4-1 to Box Hill last week, while their opponents – NTC U17s – continued their brilliant season with a 3-1 win over Bulleen to preserve their place atop the ladder.