NJL Match Report: Essendon Royals rue missed chances against FC Strathmore
The Essendon Royals were left ruing several missed chances as they were forced to share the spoils with FC Strathmore on Friday night.
In the end, it was an 80th-minute header from substitute Joshua Markovski that secured a point for the Royals, adding to Kristian Konstantinidis’ earlier goal for the Royals.
Had the Royals been more clinical, they may have won by a two or three-goal margin, but thanks to the woodwork and some solid goalkeeping, they had to settle for a point at home.
Coaches Mick Ferrante and Davey Van’t Schip welcomed back James Brown into the starting line-up, with Mario Piraino the other to come into the starting XI.
A tense opening 20 minutes saw neither side give much away, with the Royals arguably enjoying the greater share of possession and territory.
Van’t Schip was the first to force a save of note, hitting a well-struck effort to cap off a good attacking move from the Royals, only to be denied by the keeper.
It was proving a quiet half from Royals keeper German Schacht at the other end, but he did have to pick the ball out of his own net in the 38th minute when former Royal Chris Talajic was quickest to react to a spill in the box following a Strathmore corner.
Talajic, who played for the Royals in 2019, pounced on the loose ball and poked home to put the visitors 1-0 up.
With the Royals chasing the game at half-time, a fast start to the second half was going to be crucial.
And a fast start is what was delivered by the home side.
Konstantinidis had the Royals level within three minutes of the restart, converting from a corner.
The towering defender has been a threat from set-pieces all season, and his goal was just reward for some fine aerial play this season.
Strathmore spurned a good opportunity in the 52nd minute before a Royals flurry of chances followed.
Some solid work from Nobu Usui down the left flank created a tight opening for Graham Kelly at the back post in the 55th minute, but the angle proved too tight for even the usually lethal marksman to convert.
If the angle was tight for Kelly in the 55th minute, it was anything but three minutes later.
Some lovely play from the Royals released Van’t Schip down the right thing. With all the time in the world he picked out an unmarked Kelly who had made one of his trademark late runs into the box, but the usually dependable Irishman fluffed his lines, knocking the ball over the crossbar.
On the hour mark, more solid work down the right wing saw the ball crossed into Usui, who from close range just could not get the ball beyond the Strathmore keeper.
His save spilt the ball back into play where Brown was waiting, but his effort could only find the post.
The visitors ruthlessly punished the Royals’ wastefulness less than 60 seconds later, taking the ball up the other end and scoring via Josh Brekalo in the 62nd minute.
The goal undoubtedly deflated the Royals, until the introduction of sub Markovski livened things up.
With his first proper involvement, he found the back of the net in the 80th minute, being left completely unmarked at the back post and coming up with a lovely looping header that the Strathmore defence just could not stop.
He had another good chance two minutes later, but was snuffed out by a desperate pack of Strathmore defenders who got enough bodies behind the ball to deflect his effort wide.
Usui forced a good save from the keeper from range with four minutes to play, before Brown and Matteo Ballan both sent headers from corners wide of the target.
In stoppage time, Van’t Schip hit the post with a fine effort on the turn in a moment that adequately summed up the Royals’ night in front of goal.
In the end, the match will feel like two points dropped for the Royals.
In the earlier kick-off, the Royals ran out 5-1 winners over Strathmore.
Continuing their strong start to the season, goals from Fabian Fotopoulos (2), Arjin Bagdas, Luke Croce and Ahmed Elmi secured the win for the Royals.
The Royals are back at Cross Keys next week to take on Sydenham Park on Good Friday.