MORE PENALTY DRAMA FOR RAIDERS... BUT THIS TIME WITH A HAPPY ENDING

The 1st Round of this year's League Cup saw us drawn against Monkton Reds with whom we have always enjoyed close matches. We had beaten them 2-1 earlier in the season and there was very little to choose between the teams in the current league table.

As with last year, Phil and Keith were given the task of managing the Raiders for the cup matches this season and chose a starting line up of Elliot, Edward/Harry (Def) Jamie/Ethan/James (mid) and Ben up front. Having three Sams as the bench warmers at the start was always going to make it easier to shout instructions during the first half!!!

During a bright opening half, Raiders took advantage of not having to kick into the low sun by dominating the majority of play. Ben hit a wonderful shot from 15 yards that crashed off the post, and a few minutes later James had a similar effort only for that to hit the underside of the bar. Was it going to be one of those days?

A few minutes later however we did take the lead with a poor clearance from the Red's keeper finding its way to Ben, who got to the ball first and stabbed the ball past the keeper from the edge of the box.

Half Time 1-0.

With substitutions made in an attempt to keep players fresh for the league game to follow, and with the sun now in the eyes of the Raiders, the lads lost their way a little in the second half as the Reds pushed for an equaliser. Unfortunate injuries to key players (Sam C and Edward) did not help matters, and as the coaches tried to rearrange the team, Monkton took advantage with a goal 5 minutes from time to take the game into a 10 minute extra time period that we could have done without.

Normal Time 1-1

With both teams now feeling the effects of a heavy pitch, the extra time period became a war of attrition with half chances falling to either side, but it always seemed inevitable that the game was detined for penalties.

After Extra Time 1-1

As we have lost both of our other competitive shoot outs, surely it would be our turn to win one this time. Here's how it was played out.

JAMES - GOAL - Good low effort to the keeper's left 1-0
Reds - MISSED - Crashed off the post 1-0
JAMIE - SAVED - On target but the keeper saved 1-0
Reds - SAVED - Good save ELLIOT 1-0
BEN - GOAL - Right in the corner. Cool as you like. 2-0
Reds SAVED - ELLIOT does it again! 2-0

So, either one more goal for us or one more save by Elliot. Simples!?!?

SAM A - MISSED - Hit the bar and bounced over. Unlucky. 2-0
Reds - GOAL - Good strike. 2-1
EDWARD - SAVED - On target but the keeper kept it out. 2-1
Reds - GOAL - Oh no 2-2. It really isn't going to be our day.

SUDDEN DEATH

Having unfortunately missed the penalty that cost us in our previous shoot out, it was a very brave SAM C who had the daunting task of going first in the sudden death shoot out. Having gone through that low, it was fantastic for him to experience the high of driving the ball home, which clearly meant a lot by his celebration (and relief) of scoring. 3-2.

Now it was Elliot's turn to do his job, which he did superbly by saving the next spot kick and thereby sending us into the Quarter Finals where we will be up against Ryhope.

Final Score - 1-1 (Raiders win 3-2 on penalties). Not good for the old ticker.

Oppo's m.o.m Sam A.
Parent's m.o.m Ben, closely followed by James and Elliot.
My m.o.m - Everybody for their hard work that was rewarded in the end... just.

p.s. A good double for Raiders as AC squeezed past the Felling Magpie Whites 2-1.

KH