Raiders struggling

Raiders match report

Alright boys, let's put last night behind us and move on. As Grant pointed out, we were quite flat. Marist are a decent side but I think, overall, we're a better team than the performance (5-3 loss) suggested.

Too many passes not going to players and Joe left stranded more than once. Couple of cracking Marist goals though. I think individual errors were pretty costly... but that's football and we had plenty of bright moments - Mike, in particular, scored a beauty of a goal (great buildup involving Andy T and Jules) and he was like a man on a mission all night.

Grant would be filthy if I didn't mention his goal. I managed to get my head (more like my face) to head one down into the area from a corner and it bounced kindly for the big man, who absolutely buried it. Cue tearing back to halfway, arms aloft. Well-deserved.

Raiders finally speak

Funny what winning does to a team.  Raiders had tons of match reports last year as they just missed out on relegation.  This year they have been non existent.  Sounds like a great win for them today.

Fantastic 4-3 win today after being down 3-1 with about 20 left. This is the Raiders I know and love - digging deep, never settling for a loss or draw, fighting to the death. Lower Hutt were a decent side but we wanted it much more. The win has put us 7th and we have the chance to keep moving up the table next week v the other Nth Wgtn side. Nairnville, 12.30 is the kickoff.

Our one will be up at some stage once Paddy the Pony stops sulking and writes it up for that disgraceful attempt at scoring direct from a corner.

Stallions vs Raiders

While resting up on the couch contemplating this match report I realised the upside to getting pony on an injury is you don’t need to worry about the headband next game.

That said, its good to see “taking it easy on the new guy” isn’t really in the Stallion’s culture.

From the sidelines this match was entertainment+, with 6 quality goals and the turf making fast-paced passing the go-to tactic. I understand the derby took on some special meaning after we were dominated by Raiders last year, and that they said as much in their match report. You can see they are a good outfit, but were soundly beaten on a day when nearly everything fell the Stallions way.  

Up 2 – Nil thanks to well taken goals by Bakkie and Rauru meant everyone was cautiously confident at the half. However the match generally resembled a rout in the second, with a neat left-footed finish from Tom, and Rauru completing his hat-trick with two fine headers that gave the keeper no chance.

A couple of goals from the opposition (including a cracking finish from a botched corner) blotted the copybook, but the truth is Raiders were never really in it once Bakkie made it 3 – 0. They more they pressed for goals the more exposed they were at the back, and our finishing was clinical on the night.

Standouts included:

Jason and Joe, who spent most of the match monstering their strikers and pressing them into making mistakes.

Lloyd, Paddy and Tom who effectively set out their stall in midfield and bullied Raiders playmakers out of the game.

And Bakkie and Rauru for doing the business upfront and making the most of opportunities provided by the rest of the team.

2 wins from 2, and 12 goals in the For column. Not a bad start in anyone’s book. 

Chris.

(Eds note:  Chris asked me to proof read this to check the facts.  It was hard for him to remember who scored the goals and when due to the fact we scored so many.  I said the Stallions never let facts get in the way of a good story, but as we'll no doubt be showing this blog to our grandchildren in years to come to show how awesome we all were once upon a time, a few corrections.  Stallions up 2-0 through Bakkie and Tom.  Raiders pull one back before half time.  Second half me and Bakkie get goals before Raiders pull one back to make it 4-2, before I scored 2 more)

Wow

Raiders go down to bottom of the table Marist (who we put 10 against).  Here's their match report:

"Raiders 1 - 2 Marist Inter @ Wakefield.
Well, another game that we could have played better, let's just say that. That's our first loss on the turf this season and we've now given the bottom two teams their only wins. Amazingly we've beaten everyone above us, aside from Wests of course. But hey, we're likely to be no worse than 5th - the other games to finish this round are BNU v Lower Hutt (they're both above us in the table) and either the Clarets or Wainui are likely to go 4th, whomever wins that one.
I hold my hand well and truly up for the loss tonight - had two or three chances with the boot from outside the box and Guy and Iain swung over nice crosses but my heading was off. I think the 'keeper tipped one over the bar. For my troubles I have a splitting headache after their goalie c...ollected me in the second half.
At the moment we're short of a little confidence and last passes and timing (which we had in spades in the opening games) is lacking. People are not putting their foot on the ball and thinking about where the ultimate destination for it is. Too much wellying and low-percentage passes. But you gotta think that we were well off tonight and only lost 2-1, their first goal was pure bullshit.
The Raiders I know will not let two losses and a draw in three games knock us over and we're one half of football away from getting the mojo back. Chins up, let's dig deep to get that sharpness back and give Lower Hutt a good hiding on Saturday."

Fantasy Points vs Raiders Redux

Here we go again, a good performance, but again the Defence get slammed. I am already coming up with plans to correct the imbalance for next season. Until then, let this continue.

After the total lack of MVP suggestions last week, this week it was decided in the car on the ways back, with concussed Mike taking the lead. (A great heard from the sidelines quote: 'I think that hard header before the game may have knocked me out a little. I wasn't quite there all game'.  3 MVP points pretty obvious - Tangihaere had an outstanding game. Through Graham picks up the Stallion - and that squeal Rauru mentioned must almost be a contender for celebration of the season. Joe unfortunately picks up the pony for the atrocious tackle. Still it was never a pen though - whinging Raiders.

MVPs:
3 - Tangihaere
2 - Aaron
1 - Tristin


Fantasy points:
Tangihaere: 4 (+60, -1 for 2 goals conceded, 3 mvps)
All other defenders 1
Graham: 7 (+60, mf goal)
Aaron: 10 (+60, 2 assists, 2 bps)
All other midfielders 2
Tristin 11 (+60, 2 striker goals, 1 bp)
Other strikers 2

Leaderboard don't change much with the usual suspects out of the points:
Paddy 53
Rauru 51
Panda 46
Lloyd 43

That's me, off to Sydney tomorrow - go well Stallions, send us into the forbidden realms of Div 6, and celebrate the promotion the way it deserves. Oh yeah, someone txt me the result. Gutted to be missing this.

CAPITAL FOOTBALL DRAW FOR 19 & 20 JUNE:

Bet we get cancelled This game is never meant to happen

CAPITAL 7:
University 4th XI V Nth Wgtn Varsity    Nairnville 1 (2.30);
Lower Hutt City   V Marist Cobras       Fraser 2 (12pm);
Uni Stallions V Uni Raiders Kelburn(12.30)
SV Killer Bees    V Wgtn United Elite Delaney 1 (12.30);