NJL Match Report: Royals secure all-important three points at Cross Keys Reserve
The Essendon Royals secured another important three points as the Men’s State League 1 North-West competition draws to a thrilling conclusion, defeating Corio SC 4-2 at Cross Keys Reserve on Saturday.
The Royals did it the hard way, needing to come back from a goal down in the first half to secure the win.
The home side triumphed from goals from Ryan McEvoy, Graham Kelly, Nobuyuki Usui and substitute Joshua Markovski.
The win keeps the Royals in second place and four points clear of third-placed Sydenham Park with four games to play.
On a rare Saturday home game for the Royals, Mick Ferrante made a few changes to his squad.
Davey Van’t Schip came into the starting line-up, with Luca Simeoni dropping into a more familiar midfield role.
Ferrante named an unchanged back four, with Mario Piraino, Matteo Ballan, Will Abbott and youngster Jake Montagnese all retained, as German Schacht continued in goal behind them.
The game was played in tricky conditions, with the Cross Keys pitch given a good soaking by the heavens overnight and the morning prior.
Corio took full advantage of the conditions and took the lead after Yuito Nakamura opened the scoring.
Ryan McEvoy quickly responded for the Royals, levelling the scores in the 33rd minute.
The two sides could not be separated before the break and went into half-time level at 1-1.
It was clear that the Royals were the more desperate for the three points in the second half, with so much at stake in the promotion race, and they played a much more complete second half.
Kelly put the Royals in front in the 51st minute to settle the nerves, with Usui scoring his second goal in as many games in the 62nd to give the Royals a two-goal buffer.
Corio hit back via Chol Chol in the 87th minute as the visitors threatened a late comeback, but Markovski put the result beyond doubt in the 89th minute, sealing the win for the Royals.
In the earlier kick-off, the Royals came unstuck as they lost 2-1 to Corio.
The Royals retain a game in hand on Corio, who have leap-frogged the Royals into first place, meaning the Royals will need to win their game in hand against Brimbank to take back first place or hope that Corio slips up in the run-in.