Women’s Match Preview: Royals gear up for heavyweight clash against fellow finals contender Preston
Fresh off securing a top-four finish, Essendon Royals’ senior women’s side will look to continue their momentum heading into the finals when they head to BT Connor Reserve to face fellow contender Preston Lions on Friday night.
Royals’ place in the top-four was locked in after coming back from a goal down to defeat Bentleigh Greens 3-1 at Cross Keys Reserve.
Raquel Deralas, TJ Vlajnic and Filomena Delic all hit the scoreboard as Essendon came from the clouds to wrap up their 14th victory of the season, after falling behind before half-time courtesy of a goal from Gabby Simpson.
Watch the highlights from our 3-1 win over Bentleigh Greens at Cross Keys.
The win, coupled by South Melbourne’s defeat at the hands of Box Hill United, ensured the Royals would play finals football on the first time of asking after only achieving promotion to NPLW Victoria for the first time at the end of last season.
Additionally, Essendon are still in the hunt for the NPLW Victoria Premiership as a result of Preston defeating FC Bulleen Lions on Monday night, meaning the Royals and their opponents this Friday are three points behind the league leaders with two games remaining.
Preston avenged their defeat in the Nike FC Cup Final to Bulleen by coming away with a 2-1 victory over Caitlin Friend’s side courtesy of goals from Miri Nishimura and Ellie Lamonte.
The win took Preston into second and they sit clear of the Royals on the table on goal difference heading into this weekend’s contest in Reservoir.
Dan Foden’s side have been brilliant all season, led by the likes of Haley Johnson (17 goals this season), Lamonte (13 goals), Nishimura, Georgia Henderson and Elle Talevski, and have been bolstered by the mid-season arrivals of Emma Checker, Susan Phonsongkham and Mebae Tanaka – who also has 10 goals to her name.
The winner of this weekend’s contest will not only keep their hopes of securing the Premiership alive, but put themselves in the box seat to secure a home semi-final, with the loser potentially falling to fourth depending on Heidelberg United’s result against Bentleigh Greens.
Royals won the reverse fixture earlier this season, with both Emma Robers and Vlajnic hitting the scoreboard in the 2-1 win at Cross Keys.
Watch the highlights from our 2-1 win over Preston earlier this season.
Kick-off is at 8:30 PM, with the Under 20s taking the field at 6:30 PM.
Royals’ Under 20s defeated Bentleigh 1-0 on Saturday afternoon and are in 9th on the table, while Preston fell to a defeat by the same scoreline against Bulleen and remain in eighth.