Gaffney Match Preview: Essendon Royals take on Spring Hills Stallions
The Essendon Royals Senior Women will be out to build on a hugely impressive start to the season when they welcome Spring Hills Stallions to Cross Keys Reserve on Sunday night.
With the Senior and Reserves Women’s sides plundering 17 goals past Elwood City across the two games last weekend, the Royals have made the best possible start to the Women’s State League 1 North-West competition.
However, Coach Vince Battiato will know that the task ahead of them this weekend will undoubtedly prove much tougher, with Spring Hills likely to be one of the main challengers for the league title and promotion in 2022.
Of the competition favourites, Spring Hills had the toughest test in Round 1, taking on Bundoora United and earning a narrow 2-1 win, courtesy of a 90th minute penalty from Kelly Lam.
Bundoora had taken a 1-0 win over the Stallions, scoring through Ellen Johnston in the 12th minute and took the lead into the half-time break, before Isabella Dimoska levelled the scores in the 50th minute before Lam broke Bundoora hearts with her last-minute spot-kick.
After a brilliant start to the season and a strong pre-season with plenty of good results against teams from higher divisions, the Royals will be quietly confident that their best football should get the job done against Spring Hills, but will know that any sense of complacency could come back to bite them.
Battiato – as always – will have a lot of tough decisions to make at the selection table.
With strong performances in both the reserves and the seniors, there will be plenty of players who have staked their claim for a spot in Battiato’s senior squad.
In the earlier kick-off, the Royals Reserves will look to maintain top spot, where they currently sit level with Moreland Zebras.
MATCH DETAILS
Football Victoria Women’s State League 1 North-West | Round Two
Essendon Royals v Spring Hills Stallions
1 May
Cross Keys Reserve, Woodland St, Essendon
Reserves: 5 PM | Seniors: 7 PM
AROUND THE GROUNDS
Around the grounds, all other games in the competition will be decided before the Royals kick off on Sunday evening.
Craigieburn City welcome North Geelong Warriors, with the Moreland Zebras travelling to Bundoora United in what should be an interesting clash.
Elsewhere, Keilor Park takes on Clifton Hil with the other game pitting La Trobe University against Elwood City.