ConnectOS Men’s Match Report: Royals Rampant as Adeyemi Hat-Trick Sinks Eagles
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Small pitch, big worries? Not this time.
Essendon Royals exorcised their Wilcox Field demons in emphatic fashion, crushing Boroondara-Carey Eagles 5-0 in a Saturday afternoon stroll highlighted by a superb hat-trick from Jordan Adeyemi.
The Royals arrived at the Carey Sports Complex with past collapses still fresh in the memory, but Adeyemi and his teammates wrote a very different script this time around.
Essendon were off to a flyer when, in the 12th minute, Adeyemi cut inside onto his left foot from a diagonal ball and fired the visitors into an early lead. Despite controlling large portions of the opening half, the Royals went into the break just 1-0 up, with Takumi Niwa picking up the only blemish on an otherwise spotless afternoon, a caution just before half-time.
If Boroondara hoped to mount a fightback after the interval, their plans quickly unravelled. Five minutes into the second half, Adeyemi and Julian Guzzardi forced a costly error from the Eagles’ goalkeeper, allowing Adeyemi the simplest of finishes into an open net to double the advantage.
The Eagles briefly threatened, pushing to claw their way back, but any hopes of revival were swiftly extinguished as Maze Ali made it three goals in two games, tapping home after brilliant lead-up work again from the unstoppable Adeyemi down the right flank.
The Royals weren’t done. Adeyemi completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Guzzardi was felled in the area, a just reward for his relentless effort and clever flick around the corner that created the opening.
The hat-trick hero wasn’t content merely scoring goals. He turned provider once more late in the game, intercepting the ball high up the pitch and drawing the keeper before laying a selfless pass across goal for Guzzardi to slot home number five.
The emphatic result was sweetened further by results from around the grounds, which catapulted the Royals into second place. They are equal on points with top-placed Eltham and only behind on goal difference.
Brunswick sits third, holding a game in hand.
After 13 rounds, Essendon Royals are well poised heading into the second half of the campaign, full of confidence and goals.
FULL-TIME: Boroondara-Carey Eagles 0 – 5 Essendon Royals
Goals: Adeyemi (12′, 50′, 76′), Ali (60′), Guzzardi (86′)