Women’s Match Report: Royals edge closer to finals berth with victory over FV Emerging

Essendon Royals’ charge towards a finals berth continued on Saturday afternoon, with a 1-0 victory over FV Emerging at Cross Keys Reserve.

Audrey Oastler’s 11th goal for the season was the difference between the teams, as Royals extended their gap inside the top four to six points with the victory at home.

Essendon now sit in third place and only goal difference behind second-placed Preston Lions with four rounds remaining and can kick clear of Preston with a win against FV Emerging in a catch-up game on Wednesday night at the Home of the Matildas.

Watch the highlights from our 1-0 win over FV Emerging.

Royals carried the momentum from their hard-fought victory over Box Hill United a week prior in the earlygoing as Oastler opened the scoring in the eighth minute.

The in-form striker was expertly played through by Raquel Deralas’ deft first-time touch, before slamming the ball into the back of the net to give Essendon an early advantage.

Oastler almost had a second just under 20 minutes later as Deralas pounced on a mistake from the FV Emerging defence, with the ball finding its way to the former whose initial shot from outside the box went through the hands Sophie Deane, but the goalkeeper did well to desperately clear the ball off the line.

However, seconds later, Emma Robers came close to scoring on two occasions, having two efforts from inside the box blocked by some desperate defending.

Oastler continued to cause havoc for the FV Emerging defence, this time being fed through by Julia Sardo, but had her effort well saved by Deane.

FV Emerging had a great chance to level the scores after the half-time break as Fiorina Iaria got on the end of a brilliant ball from Ehva Gutszmit at the back post, but her effort was straight at Bethany Mason-Jones.

From the same play, Mason-Jones kickstarted a Royals attack and her clearance was headed by Deralas into the path of Oastler, who was once again denied by a smart save from Deane.

Deralas’ impact continued as the second-half wore on, this time playing through TJ Vlajnic, but the Serbian international dragged her effort just wide of the back post.

Emerging almost made the Royals pay for their lack of cutting edge, when Iaria found herself one-on-one with Mason-Jones, but was unable to turn her effort on target after rounding the Essendon keeper.

With time expiring, Reona Omiya had the chance to add a second for Essendon but also put her effort wide of the mark.

In the end, Royals were able to hang on to an all-important three points as they continue their surge towards finals football in their first year of NPLW Victoria football.