Gaffney Match Preview: Royals look to bounce back against Moreland Zebras
Essendon Royals Senior Women will have to bounce back quickly from defeat when they welcome State League 1 North-West front-runners Moreland Zebras to Cross Keys Reserve on Friday night.
The Royals came undone on Sunday evening, going down 3-1 to Spring Hills Stallions in a game where despite enjoying the majority of possession and territory, careless mistakes cost Vince Battiato’s team.
The disappointing result will have served as a wake-up call to Battiato’s team that despite a strong pre-season with plenty of good results against higher-class opposition, the threat teams pose in the State League 1 division is very real.
And Moreland Zebras have plenty of threat about them.
A squad with an astonishing array of individual quality will look to continue its fine start to the season when it arrives at Cross Keys on Friday night.
The Zebras are two from two, having already scored 19 goals this season.
Laura Spiranovic and Cindy Lay have been chief tormenters of opposing defenses this season, and the Royals will need to defend as a unit to contain the various goal threats that the Zebras boast.
With their pride wounded following defeat last week, however, Battiato will be seeking a big response from his players as they look to get back on the winner’s list.
Playing under lights on Friday night should create a fantastic sense of occasion for the Royals women and with a strong home crowd comprised of junior families there to cheer the Royals on.
With the Royals boasting plenty of goal threats themselves, this could well be one of the most entertaining senior games at Cross Keys this season!
In the earlier kick-off, the Royals and Zebras Reserves will face off in a third versus second clash.
Both sides have six points, with the Zebras boasting a better goal difference by one.
MATCH DETAILS
Football Victoria Women’s State League 1 North-West | Round Three
Essendon Royals v Moreland Zebras
Friday 6 May
Cross Keys Reserve, Woodland St
Reserves: 630 PM | Seniors: 830 PM
AROUND THE GROUNDS
Friday night action at Cross Keys Reserve kicks off the Round Three action in Women’s State League 1 North-West.
Four games will be played on Sunday with Craigieburn City hosting La Trobe University.
Keilor Park will make the trip to North Geelong Warriors, whilst FC Clifton Hill host Bundoora United.
Bundoora United could be in hot water, having failed to field a Reserve team thus far this season.
In the other game of the round, Spring Hills Stallions take on Elwood City.