By Isaac Stanton

MATCH REVIEW: The RAIDERS came away with a last minute W against a hard working Lincoln unit. With approx 70% possession, 65% territory in the first half. It was fair to say that the boys had their chances, but lacked the composure in the final third. The new and improved coaching staff didn’t like what they saw from the front 3 in the first half, chopping and changing them like fruit in a blender in order to get some sort of magic from them. You could hear HOS ‘no Nike Kit for you’ Goldsbury was watching from the sideline, yelling constantly ‘Yu can do it’ to Yu Kasai!!! And ‘Get a hair cut’ to VC Monty ‘man bun’ Joseph to try and motivate the team to go for glory.

Half time came early this week, with the 35 minute turn over being implemented for the first time in the competition. The RAIDERS found themselves 1-0 down thanks to a deflected shot that rocketed into the top of the net, firing above the grasp of Jayden Lins protective mittens. The boys were gutted, but knew they were the better team.

Coach Carr gave a speech, worthy of the OSCARS, that motivated the boys to keep pushing for the W in the second half.

And that’s what they did, they dominated the second half, with Lincoln spending maybe 3-5 minutes in the RAIDERS half. Captain Clark lead from the front, mesmerising the opposition with his swift passing and moving.. it’s fair to say that he was definitely the better Clark on the day.

Both goals came in the last 10 minutes, with the impact of Andrew ‘third year’s a charm’ Black and Darrell ‘the beast’ Ngwenya a catalyst of the RAIDERS comeback. Striker... yes I said STRIKER Monty Joseph curled the ball into the top corner to make it 1-1. With 1 minute to go, the beast turns his man in the box, and finds himself with nothing but the mittens of the Lincoln keeper in his way, and rockets the ball into the back of the next! The final whistle blew, it was 2-1 to the RAIDERS, with all 3 points stolen from the opposition in the final moments of the game.