ESSENDONRound 14: when the fixture list starts to become symmetrical – equilateral, if you will. Fittingly, ‘Pythagoras’ are coming to town.
Box Hill United arrive with the best attack in the league, the best defence and the ladder position to match. They sit on 28 points from 13 games, with a goal difference of +25. By every measure, they have been the benchmark side in the competition so far.
Back on opening day at Wembley Park, though, the Royals had their measure. Kelli McGroarty scored twice and set up another in a performance that showed exactly what this Royals side is capable of. Since then, the numbers have held up. 8 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses have us sitting third on the ladder on 26 points, just 2 off the pace and firmly inside the top 4 with plenty of football still ahead. Last weekend’s 4-1 win over South Melbourne was a statement, with McGroarty again among the goals in front of a boisterous home crowd.
Box Hill will come in full of confidence themselves. Erin Keyt is third in the Golden Boot race with 12, and hit another brace in last week’s 5-1 win over Melbourne City, while Kiara Bercelli has scored 3 goals across her last 2 matches, including a stoppage-time winner. Their only defeat in the last 5 games was a narrow loss away to Avondale, surrounded by clean-sheet victories on either side. The reigning champions are backing up last season’s triumph.
It shapes as the match of the round. The first half of the NPLW season closes with the league leaders travelling to face a top-3 side on its own ground, with both teams in strong form and both looking toward the top rather than over their shoulder. A win would lift us above Box Hill – and even top, if Bulleen falters. A loss tightens the pack behind us and makes the second half of the season that bit tougher.
Kick-off is 3pm Saturday at Cross Keys Reserve. Get down and support the girls.
Forza Royals.