ConnectOS Men’s Match Report: Depleted Royals Undone Late by In-Form Warriors
Sometimes, football tests depth as much as it tests character. On Saturday evening at Elcho Park, a significantly reshuffled Essendon Royals side battled valiantly but ultimately fell short, losing 2-0 to an impressive North Geelong Warriors outfit.
Heading into the match level on points at the summit, Essendon faced a major test even before kick-off, with a string of late withdrawals seriously weakening their backline. Experienced defender Phil Riccobene and the hugely impressive youngster Diarmaid Harrington were both forced out through injury, Brad Norton was unavailable due to prior commitments, and defender Rashid Hayek was another late omission after being initially included in the squad.
The defensive reshuffle was noticeable, but the Royals held firm for the vast majority of the contest, the makeshift back four admirably coping under significant pressure. North Geelong, enjoying a purple patch of form, pushed the tempo, but the Royals dug deep and remained organised throughout a scoreless first half.
As the second half wore on, tired legs and mounting pressure took their toll. Despite the midfield leadership of Graham Kelly and Vince Lia, and the attacking threats posed by Julian Guzzardi and Jordan Adeyemi, clear-cut opportunities proved difficult to carve out against the disciplined Warriors.
The breakthrough for North Geelong arrived in the 79th minute when Lochlann McGrath managed to unlock the stubborn Royals defence, finishing clinically to give the hosts a crucial lead. Essendon threw caution to the wind in search of an equaliser, but it was North Geelong -and McGrath again – who capitalised on the stretched Royals defence, sealing the points with a second goal on the stroke of full-time.
While undoubtedly a disappointing result, the Royals can take some solace in their resilience under challenging circumstances. With key defensive personnel returning soon, Essendon remains firmly in the mix at the top end of the VPL2 standings.
Next week provides a fresh opportunity for the Royals to regroup, refocus, and resume their promotion push.
FULL TIME: North Geelong Warriors 2 – 0 Essendon Royals
Goals: McGrath (79′, 90′)