Nicholas James Lawyers Men’s Match Report: Five at Cross Keys as Royals Right the Round-One Record
The Essendon Royals produced an emphatic performance under the Friday night lights at Cross Keys – putting five past the side who bested them in Round 1.
Essendon seemed to have Nunawading’s measure from the opening whistle, forcing mistakes and turnovers off the high press. Dean Clarke took advantage within five minutes, as his shot looked bound for the bottom left corner, before a sizeable deflection took it in off the right-hand post.
Nunawading hung in the contest for half an hour. Andre Russo was barely troubled, while Thom Jonkerman produced a string of impressive saves. Clarke rattled the crossbar with a close-range header. Then, in the 36th minute, Takumi Niwa squirmed his way through two challenges and curled his effort into the far corner. 2-0.
Josh Markovski took less than a minute to make it three, reacting quickest after another Royals long-range effort came back off the bar.
Jordan Adeyemi made it four shortly after halftime, converting confidently from the penalty spot after the impressive Anthony Trajkoski was brought down. That makes it 12 for the season for Adeyemi, who still leads the VPL2 Golden Boot race ahead of Malvern City’s Michael Hornsby.
Adeyemi had tormented the Nuna defence all evening, and netted another from a stunning free kick, only to have his superb strike disallowed – Dean Clarke adjudged to have interfered with the Nunawading wall.
Phil Riccobene’s red card in the 66th minute was the only blemish on an otherwise perfect night for the Royals. After playing a shallow backpass towards his goalkeeper, Riccobene hauled down Patrick Ayoul Both, and rightly received his marching orders for a professional foul.
Sean Grella soon netted a consolation for the visitors, with a goal that resembled a rugby scrum more than a football match, as a flick-on from a long throw caused goal-line chaos.
But Clarke had the last word as well as the first – and it was the best of the lot. A super strike from 25 metres, low and hard to beat Jonkerman at his near post.
The result leaves Essendon 3rd on the VPL2 table, leading the pack of four teams in the playoff places separated by just four points.
Round 15 takes the lads on the road to Goulburn Valley Suns, the side sitting second on the table with a game in hand. Away trips don’t come much tougher – but the Royals will travel to Shepparton in high spirits.
Forza Royals.