CSF Match Preview: Essendon Royals travel to Keilor Park on promotion hunt
Essendon Royals can seal promotion to NPL3 with three points on Saturday.
However, nothing is a given with a tough Keilor Park Soccer Club waiting and willing to upset the Royals party at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve.
The Eagles have proven a thorn in the side of some of the best teams in the league this season – and whilst they have struggled for the consistency that the teams above them have generated – they have certainly proven that on their day, they can take points off anyone, particularly at home.
It makes for an interesting challenge for Senior Men’s coach Mick Ferrante, who has done an outstanding job after stepping into the role at the 11th hour at the start of the season.
With the players up and about and on the cusp of promotion, Ferrante’s job remains to keep the players focused on the task at hand.
With just two points required to seal promotion from the last two games, regardless of what happens with third-placed Sydenham Park, the Royals are almost there but will need to be at their best against a tough Keilor Park outfit.
The Royals have been in fine form in recent weeks, plundering eight goals past their last two opponents without conceding one.
Keilor Park proved a big test for the Royals last time out, though, clawing back a two-goal deficit at Cross Keys to take a point from Ferrante’s team.
Ferrante has often credited that moment as the turning point for the Royals’ season, and the Royals have only dropped four points since.
Keilor Park sits seventh on the table, with only pride to play for in their remaining games.
In the Reserves, the Royals are out to hold onto first place on the table, following an important 5-1 win over Brimbank midweek in their catch-up game.
Arjin Bagdas and Diarmaid Harrington scored a brace each, with Ziyad Eltahir also got on the scoresheet.
The Royals are top of the table thanks to goal difference over second-placed Corio SC, with a seven-goal advantage.
Keilor Park’s reserves are 10th on the table, with 20 points from 20 games.