Men’s Geelong Holiday Inn & Suites Match Preview: Three Decades On, Royals & Werribee Finally Meet Again
Back on the winners list, the Essendon Royals men have a second straight home game at Cross Keys on Friday night, with a chance to cement their status as promotion contenders.
The Royals emerged as deserved victors from Saturday’s tussle with Box Hill United, dictating terms for the majority of proceedings. Essendon found the breakthrough in the 74th minute as Marcus Kotronis made amends for a first-half miss, battling past his marker down the left flank and finding an unmarked Dean Clarke, who coolly converted from 8 yards.
Takumi Niwa doubled the home side’s lead just three minutes later with a searing volley into the roof of the net, after the Box Hill defence blocked his initial effort but failed to clear. Box Hill had a late chance to halve the deficit, only to see the ball heroically blocked on the line by substitute Ali Eyigun.
This weekend’s opponent, Werribee City, sits 8th in the VPL2 table with a game in hand, after a surprise 1-0 home win over North Geelong in Round 9. The Bees have been anemic in attack, scoring a paltry five goals from eight games, the lowest return in the competition this season.
20 year-old John Mabok has three of those five goals to his name, and seven of Werribee’s 11 points have been won off his boot. The former Melbourne Knights junior netted the winner last Friday, and has also scored in a 1-0 win over Boroondara-Carey Eagles, and a 1-1 draw with Geelong.
Werribee’s defence, however, ranks among the sternest in the competition, shipping just eight goals – only Springvale White Eagles have conceded fewer. The Bees’ backline is anchored by Dau Akol, who represented Manningham United Blues in the top flight last season, and returned from suspension over the weekend after a red card against Eltham.
Incredibly, this is our first meeting with Werribee in nearly 34 years, when the Royals – then known as Essendon City – drew 1-1 at Galvin Park on June 9, 1991. Club legend and current U23s head coach Michael Giacomi scored Essendon’s goal that day, as well as the opener in the reverse fixture, a 2-0 win in Round 1 at Ormond Park.
The Royals will welcome back Jordan Adeyemi and James Tieri from suspension, who both received their fifth yellow cards of the season in Round 8 against Geelong.
Graham Kelly remains top of the VPL2 Golden Boot race, now level on six goals with Redbacks forward Billy Romas.
With just two points separating third and seventh on the VPL2 table, a home win is a must if Essendon is to keep pace with the top two. Get down to Cross Keys Reserve, enjoy the hospitality and cheer on our senior men!
🆚 Essendon Royals SC v Werribee City FC
📍 Cross Keys Reserve
📅 Friday, 11 April
⏰ Senior Men at 7:30PM, U23s on Sunday at 3PM