Men’s Geelong Holiday Inn & Suites Match Preview: Royals Return Home To Cross Keys
Home, sweet home!
The Essendon Royals men are set to return to our beloved Cross Keys Reserve for the first time this season, facing Box Hill United in the second act of Saturday’s massive double-header with our NPLW side.
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The Royals suffered a disappointing defeat away in Geelong in Round 8, creating plenty of chances but failing to put the game away.
Essendon led 1-0 at halftime through Graham Kelly, but conceded directly from the second-half kickoff, as Rory McKeown lobbed Andre Russo from the halfway line.
Tommy Semmy then netted a late winner for Geelong as the Royals were forced to leave Stead Park empty-handed.
Despite the result, Essendon remains in 4th place, just a point behind North Geelong in 3rd.
Kelly’s sixth goal of the VPL2 campaign puts him clear at the top of the league’s golden boot standings, ahead of North Geelong’s Angus Chapman and Sonny Brimmer and Pascoe Vale’s Thomas Barforosh on five goals apiece.
Essendon has performed well at our ‘home away from home’ JH Allan Reserve, winning two of three, and that advantage will no doubt be enhanced by the familiar creature comforts of Cross Keys.
Box Hill, meanwhile, sits in eighth after suffering a surprising 1-0 reverse at home to Werribee City on Friday night. The loss arrests a rich recent run of form, stunning Brunswick Juventus 3-0 away from home and toppling Geelong 3-2 at Wembley Park.
Pythagoras was victorious in its last visit to Cross Keys, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 in June last year.
Dean Clarke had the home side ahead with a low drive, but a fine finish from Ruben Sanchez Marcano levelled the contest in the 75th minute, and Luke Pickett seized on a loose ball from a corner to fire home the winner in the 81st.
With three goals this season, Spanish playmaker Marcano looms as the danger man again this Saturday.
Essendon hasn’t beaten Box Hill since August 2023, with one win, two draws, and one defeat against Pythagoras since being promoted to the third tier.
But with a big home crowd behind them, the Royals have every chance of returning to the winners’ list.
Get down early and celebrate the return to Cross Keys by enjoying a fantastic day of football!
🆚 Essendon Royals SC v Box Hill United FC
📍 Cross Keys Reserve
📅 Saturday, 5 April
⏰ Senior Men at 3 PM, Senior Women at 12:30 PM, U23 Men at 12:30 PM (Pitch 2), U20 Women at 10:00 AM (Pitch 1), U19 Men at 10:00 AM (Pitch 2)