Holiday Inn Match Preview: Royals take on league leading North Sunshine under Friday night lights

Essendon Royals’ senior men’s side will look to become the first team to defeat VPL2 league leaders North Sunshine Eagles when they meet on Friday night at Larissa Reserve.

Our weekly previews are brought to you by the Geelong Holiday Inn, as we look ahead to the upcoming rounds of action.

Royals’ six game homestand ended in a hard fought 3-2 loss against Pascoe Vale. Essendon twice got back within a goal courtesy of strikes from Dean Clarke and Jordan Adeyemi but were unable to find the all important equaluser at Cross Keys.

Watch the highlights from our 3-2 loss to Pascoe Vale.

The loss means Royals sit in seventh on the ladder, eight points behind fourth placed Altona City with six games to go.

They will be hoping to record their seventh of the season this weekend, when they face North Sunshine, who are still yet to lose in 16 league matches.

The Eagles sit a point clear of second placed FC Melbourne Serbija after they were held to a 1-1 draw with Nunawading City last weekend.

However, they’re still in a great spot to be promoted to VPL1 next season, and will be aiming to edge even closer with a win at home.

Ndue Mujeci (nine goals), Corentin Chauve (eight goals) and Redouane Sarakh (seven goals) have been brilliant in attack all season, with the Eagles scoring a league-high 38 goals. They also have the second best defensive record in the league, conceding only 15 goals.

The two sides played out a 1-1 draw earlier this season where both Adeyemi and Mujeci found the net at Cross Keys.

Watch the highlights from our 1-1 draw with North Sunshine.

Kick-off is at 8:30 PM, with the Under 23s taking the field at 6:15 PM.

Royals drew 3-3 with Pascoe Vale last week and sit in ninth, while North Sunshine are bottom of the league and lost 6-1 to Nunawading.