ESSENDON
A title race in late July does not ask for anything fancy. It asks for the same thing five Saturdays in a row, and the first of them is at Cross Keys this weekend.
The Royals women host Melbourne Victory on Saturday afternoon sitting second on the NPLW ladder with 44 points, three behind Box Hill United with Bulleen breathing down our necks a point further back on 43. Three teams separated by four points with five rounds to play is as tight as this competition has been in years, and the past fortnight showed why this group belongs in it. A 3-0 win over Keilor Park was followed by the composed 3-1 victory at Casey Fields, where Isabella Sewards, Kelli McGroarty and Grace Maher all found the net and the defence gave Melbourne City almost nothing after the break.
Victory arrive in a very different place. Eighth on 26 points, they have lost their last two by heavy margins, going down 1-5 at home to Box Hill and 2-4 at Boroondara on Sunday, conceding nine goals across the fortnight. The Royals also won the first meeting 3-0 at Victory’s place back in April. But the caution is in their attacking numbers, because 35 goals from 20 games is a genuine return for a mid-table side, and both of those recent defeats came with goals scored. Victory will concede chances, and they will create some. The afternoon rewards the team that is clinical, and lately nobody in this division has been more clinical than Essendon.
There is also the small matter of what happens elsewhere. Box Hill and Bulleen both play this round, and with the margins this fine a single slip anywhere reshuffles the race. None of that is in the Royals’ control. What is in their control is a home fixture against a side they have already beaten well, in front of a crowd that has been worth real points at Cross Keys all season.
Kick-off is 3pm Saturday at Cross Keys Reserve. Bring a voice.
Forza Royals!