Match Preview: Royals host Paco in Must-Win Derby
The Essendon Royals men will look to bounce back from successive defeats in VPL2 as they host Pascoe Vale at Cross Keys Reserve on Friday night, in a local derby that shapes as a must-win in the race for promotion.
Already without the services of first team mainstays Phil Riccobene and Dean Clarke, the Royals lost Brad Norton to injury after 23 minutes, as teenager Gianni Licciardi came on in his stead. Essendon fought back from a halftime deficit to level the scores through Takumi Niwa, but two quickfire Nunawading goals – a looping Stuart Edgar header, and a scramble from a corner – gave the visitors an unassailable lead. The Royals pulled one back through a thunderous Marcus Kotronis half-volley following excellent lead-up work from substitute Maze Ali, but the goal proved merely a consolation.
Friday night’s opponents find themselves rock bottom of the VPL2 table, with just two wins and 10 defeats from 17 games. This year’s structural changes from Football Victoria mean that three teams will be relegated to State League One, and Paco remain seven points adrift of safety.
The Royals, meanwhile, are rapidly losing ground on the top three, with Brunswick Juventus increasing the gap to four points with a game in hand, and second-placed North Geelong moving five points ahead.
Pascoe Vale parted ways with head coach Shane Rexhepi earlier this season, but the change in the dugout has done little to arrest their slide, suffering four defeats and two draws in the six games since accepting Rexhepi’s resignation.
Pascoe Vale led away at Box Hill last week through top scorer Tom Barforosh, but left Wembley Park empty-handed after finishing the game with nine men. Karl Baricevic was given a straight red card and Chris Dib received his second booking in stoppage time to leave the Paco defence decimated by suspensions.
Experienced target man Barforosh has scored eight of Pascoe Vale’s 19 league goals this season, including one in each of his last two games.
Royals emerged victorious in the reverse fixture at Hosken Reserve, with Dean Clarke scoring the game’s only goal in the 78th minute. Pascoe Vale did win on their last trip to Cross Keys, a 3-2 thriller in late June last season.
Essendon will go into Friday’s game as favourites, but a desperate Paco side can’t be counted out. Get down to Cross Keys Reserve, grab a steak roll or a pre-game meal at the Bistro and make your voice heard as we battle for bragging rights in the North-West!
🆚 Essendon Royals SC v Pascoe Vale FC
📍 Cross Keys Reserve
📅 Friday, 13 June
⏰ Senior Men at 7:30PM, U23s on Sunday at 3PM