THE GEELONG HOLIDAY INN & SUITES MEN’S MATCH PREVIEW: Royals head into second half of season in need of NPL3 points

As the second half of the NPL3 season officially gets underway, Essendon Royals SC is preparing for a crucial encounter against North Sunshine Eagles FC on Friday, June 2nd at 8:15 PM at Cross Keys Reserve.

The Royals are in a precarious position, sitting in 11th place after 11 games, and three points behind the 10th-placed Box Hill United. The squad will be hoping to break away from the relegation places and claw their way up the ladder as the season progresses.

The stakes are high, and the team will be hoping to make more of the chances they create than they did in their last encounter with the Eagles in Round 1, which ended in a narrow 1-0 loss at Larissa Reserve. The Royals have been working hard on finding the back of the net, aiming to rectify their previous missed opportunities – a theme that has been all too constant this season.

On the other hand, North Sunshine Eagles FC are sitting comfortably in second place on the leaderboard, following a string of impressive performances. Their key goal threats this season have been Redouane Sarakh, who has 9 goals to his name, including two goals against Ballarat City last week, and Nick Epifano, who has contributed 7 goals. The Royals’ defence will need to be at their absolute best to keep these Eagles’ sharpshooters at bay.

In terms of squad updates, the Royals have some mixed news. A-League veteran Vince Lia is set to make a comeback from suspension, which will undoubtedly bolster the Royals’ midfield. However, they will be without Davey Van’t Schip, who will miss out having picked up his fifth yellow card of the season last week against Caroline Springs George Cross.

Royals’ forward Nobuyuki Usui will be one to watch in this encounter. Having scored five goals this season, Usui has been in fine form in front of goal and will be looking to add to his tally against the Eagles.

With a lot on the line, the stage is set for an exciting and hard-fought contest. The Royals need to seize this opportunity to turn their season around and move out of the relegation zone. All eyes will be on Cross Keys Reserve come Friday night as the second half of the NPL3 season kicks off.