Evado Studios Women’s Match Report: Essendon Royals 3-1 Avondale FC

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Kelli McGroarty was missed. Now everyone knows how much.

One game on the sidelines after her disputed red card in Round 4, the American returned to the Royals lineup at Ironbark Fields and did what she does best. Twice. A brace, five saves beaten, a crossbar rattled, and a performance that confirmed what the previous week without her had already made obvious.

The Royals were dominant from the opening minute. Playing a high defensive line and pressing aggressively in their 4-2-3-1 shape, they squeezed Avondale out of the contest long before the goals arrived. Ayano Koizumi controlled the tempo from midfield, finding pockets of space and delivering set pieces that kept the Avondale defence on edge. Amy Parkinson was relentless on the right, beating her marker repeatedly to put crosses into dangerous areas.

The breakthrough came on 34 minutes. Isabella Sewards delivered a pinpoint ball from the right, and McGroarty rose highest to power a header into the top corner. Facing into the late afternoon sun, no easy finish, and she buried it. Two minutes later, Sewards turned provider into scorer. A through ball from Koizumi found her in space, and she worked her way past defenders before firing home. Two goals in two minutes. 2-0 at the break, and the Royals celebrated with group huddles near the corner flag that told you everything about the mood in this squad.

The second half continued in the same vein. McGroarty crashed a long-range strike off the crossbar early on, and Brooke Bennett in the Avondale goal produced several more stops to keep the deficit manageable. Bennett deserves credit; she made at least five quality saves across the 90 minutes, and without her the scoreline would have been far uglier.

But Avondale had Hannah Wilkinson, and the New Zealand international is not the type to go quietly. Sydney Allen had a goal ruled out for a tight offside moments before Wilkinson broke through the centre on 68 minutes, outmuscled her marker, and coolly slotted past Zara Board. 2-1. Suddenly the final twenty had an edge.

The Royals’ response was emphatic. A penalty on 82 minutes, and McGroarty stepped up and placed it low to the right. Bennett dived correctly but could not keep it out. 3-1. McGroarty walked off a minute later to the ovation she had earned several times over.

Three wins from six now for the Royals, level on 9 points with Avondale and climbing the table. Koizumi’s vision, Sewards’ clinical finishing, Parkinson’s energy down the right, and Kendrah Smith’s composure at the back. This was a complete team performance under the golden hour light at Tarneit.

Forza Royals.