By Kieran Yap 29/7/25
Above: Essendon Royal score their fifth goal against Boroondara-Carey Eagles
Essendon Royals have jumped to third on the table with a 5-0 win over Boroondara-Carey Eagles at home. Five separate scorers contributed to the win, that saw the game decided within an hour.
The Royals have risen sharply in the second half of the season. Since the halfway point, they have only lost once and have not gone goalless in any game. One of the league’s most visible improvers underlined their Championship potential with this ruthless display at Cross Keys Reserve.
Boroondara came into this round looking to respond to a loss against Bulleen last weekend and solidify their finals position. But from the outset it looked like it was going to be a tough afternoon. Essendon were dominant from the opening whistle and the match was largely played in their attacking half, while the loss of Boroondara’s starting goalkeeper Mia Mossman early in the first half did them no favours.
Deven Jackson was a constant menace, she was able to get behind the Eagles backline and whip in crosses despite the home side not really playing in a counter-attacking style.
The Royals simply dominated midfield, with Grace Maher an expected standout, while her Western United teammate Alana Cerne ensured that the visitors had few good opportunities at the other end. The Royals probasbly should have taken the lead even earlier than they did, but a free header from a corner kick was directed right at Mossman.
It was a Maher set piece that helped create the opening goal in the 17th minute. Rebekah Van Fort finished well in a crowded penalty area after Boroondara failed to clear an in swinging free kick.
Emma Langley scored the second goal almost by surprise. Her high, looping shot from the wing somehow found the back of the net by the near post. It was a shot out of nothing and caught substitute goalkeeper Emma Olsen completely off-guard.
It felt like a goal was arriving every few minutes. In reality it was every 10. Airi Fujiwara scored the third on the 39th minute with a clever turn and shot across goal to finish off Olivia Wood’s dangerous cross.
Deven Jackson increased the lead to 4-0 before half time. She latched onto some hesitant defending to fire a low trajectory rocket at goal that left Olsen with no chance. The half volley was perfectly struck while running at full pace. There was no stopping it, and the only remaining upside was that there was a whole other half to Boroondara to find a way into this game.
Any hope was snuffed out by the 50th minute. Emma Langley broke free on the right flank and her cross found Jackson on the opposite flank. The cutback found Woods who was presented with the easiest finish.
It was 5-0 in 50 minutes of football, and that was enough to secure another win by The Royals. They look like a team nobody will want to face in a final and with the type of form Jackson is in, few defences will have an answer for them.
They can score and in a variety of ways. Maher is one of the country’s best set piece specialists, Fujiwara has been lethally consistent for most of the season and Cerne has long been one of the NPLW’s best players.
The have contributors all over the pitch like Sasha Coorey and Emma Langley and impressive depth on the bench.
Boroondara need to respond next week. It will not be easy away to a dangerous Alamein FC, but they need to find some goals after going to consecutive matches without scoring.
Essendon Royals will look to reinforce their ladder position and possibly climb into second as they face bottom placed Bentleigh Greens in Round 19.
Around The Grounds
Box Hill have been the other big climbers in the second half of the season. Their ladder position does not reflect that as clearly as Essendon’s but consecutive wins against South Melbourne last week and now Heidelberg United show that they can beat any side on their day.
The league leaders were missing two of their most influential players. Caitlin Karic and Steph Galea were both injured for Heidelberg, but Box Hill still put on an impressive performance in a 2-0 win.
The opening goal was a work of art. A 10-pass move between defence and midfield leading up to Rhianna Pollicina’s brilliant assist for Carina Rossi to finish with one touch. It was a top class goal that shifted the usually dominant Heidelberg midfield out of position and caught the defence by surprise despite Box Hill’s patience.
The second goal was slightly scrappier. A high clearance, a hopefull cross from deep and a strike that was as much a block as it was a deflected effort. But the chasing effort by Katie Cox was rewarded with a vital for for Box Hill who were down to 10 players by that point in the game.
This felt like a danger game for Heidelberg, and they will likely bounce back quickly in the next round. For them, making sure all players are fit by finals is the priority. They still sit three games clear at the top of the table, and will be frustrated at missing an opportunity to help sew up the premiership early, but expect them to brush this result off.
Heidelberg’s nearest challengers are Bulleen Lions. Last season’s premiers finish this round nine points behind the Bergers after a win against Bentleigh Greens.
Danella Butrus was once against a standout, but the home side was buoyed by the return of Paige Zois to the lineup.
Butrus’s trickery and acceleration earned Bulleen a penalty in the firth minute, Tiffany Eliadis unburdened by goalkeeping duties this week, slotted the spot kick beyond Talya Murphy.
Bentleigh hit back from a set piece. Sidney Allen launched a long range free kick over the head of debut goalkeeper Alyssia Ierardo to level the scores.
A dummy and cross by Butrus helped Bulleen retake the lead. Ava Breidis finished the effort with typical composure and by the 32nd minute we had seen three goals.
Another Bentleigh set piece brought them level again. Allen hit the post from close range but Reagan Bridges smashed the ball home to finish off the corner kick.
Bulleen re-took the lead in the second half with a very similar goal at the same end. Zois’s in swinging ball was half cleared and eventually lashed into the net by Sarah Cain.
The lead was extended by a second goal when Lia Privitelli scored after following up Hollie Massey’s shot. Butrus was once again the architect out wide, Bentleigh had lots of answers in this game, but none for the tricky playmaker.
The win was a crucial one for Bulleen. They still have a chance of catching Heidelberg at the summit, but more importantly, they need to keep ahead of the chasing pack beneath them
FV Academy were back in action on the road against Preston Lions. An Anika Dovaston goal opened the scoring early in the second half. The Academy captain tried her luck with a looping shot from distance that dipped at exactly the right moment to score.
The strike was speculative, but perfectly hit and a great option to take in the wintery conditions. FV Acamedy looked headed for the win, but Preston fought their way back and equalised in the 86th minute through Grace Johnston’s right boot.
Mebae Tanaka’s cross from the left found Johnston in space on the opposite side of the box. Her shot was powerfully and confidently hit leaving Charlotte Hrehoresin with no chance to stop it.
Alamein FC climbed back into the top four after defeating Brunswick Juventus 2-0.
Anna Liacopoulos gave them the lead in the 34th minute but the win was not assured until Maximillia’s Kostur’s 90th minute sealer secured all three points at home. Her excellently taken sealer was the result of a swift counter attack deep in added time.
Brunswick Juventus had rolled the dice with a late corner kick which almost paid off but Alamein took advantage of the space in defence and after a cool chipped finish, finally it looked safe to celebrate.
Spring Hills FC provided one of the more surprising results of the round when they defeated South Melbourne 2-0 at home. Eri Narita was on the end of some good buildup play between Alex Sinclair and Maja Markovski to open the scoring in the 8th minute and Erii Yamashita’s 40th minute goal was enough to give them their sixth win of the season.
Spring Hills recent form has been exciting, but may have left their run too late for finals. In their favour is that they play two sides who will be fighting for that fourth spot and if they can pull off miracles against Alamein and Box Hill, anything is possible.
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