The Raiders started brightly, striker Sam Sawtell was linking well with the midfield, and released Kale Hopper and Josh McGovern for early shots on goal, but they were well covered by Bombers keeper Jake Stitt.

The Raiders defence then flirted with danger when trying to play the offside trap, and it took two timely interventions from goalkeeper Jake Tarrant to keep Boambee scoreless.

Fabrice Wamara was having one of his best games of the season on the left wing, constantly beating his marker and driving towards goal. He delivered some neat crosses but the Bombers defence was there in numbers to clear every time. Half time 0-0.

The Raiders emerged from the sheds a bit sharper, and began applying more pressure in the final third. The Bombers were finding it increasingly difficult to clear their lines, resulting in a succession of Raiders corners.

From one such corner, dead-ball specialist Jai Waddick served up an inviting delivery, Harry Gale met it at the back post with a pounding header which rebounded off the upright and bounced towards his defensive partner Paul Pomroy. As he lined up his shot, heads tilted back as most expected to see the ball go sailing out of sight over the nearby banana covered hills, but Pomroy volleyed through a crowd of players to the centre of the goal. 1-0 Raiders.

The goal lifted the intensity of the match and for the next 15 minutes entertaining end-to-end football ensued.

With 10 minutes remaining the Bombers equalized.

With only a win giving Urunga a chance at the minor premiership, the Raiders surged forward searching for the winning goal. With two minutes remaining a crunching tackle by Hopper dispossessed a defender as he tried to clear, the ball fell to Jaxen Heward who took a touch, lined it up, and let fly with a curling left foot shot from 25 metres out. The keeper dived, the net billowed, and the Raiders celebrated.

News that Coffs United also won their final round match meant the defending champions claimed the minor premiership by just one point over the Raiders, but it was nevertheless a tremendous campaign for the maroons, with 15 wins, 2 draws and  one loss.

Reserve Grade was an equally impressive display, with Urunga jumping from fourth to second on the ladder by beating a Boambee side that had not lost in 14 games. 2-0 was the score in this one, with goals to Joseph Pettit and Cale Simmonds.

So now to the business end of the season, and the Raiders know that fine performances all year mean nothing if you don’t lift a notch for the finals.

Raiders first grade take on the Sawtell Scorpions in the two-leg, home and away semi-final fixture. The first leg will be at the Scorpions home field at Toormina Oval. At the time of writing this a time has not been confirmed.  Reserve grade will likely be on Sunday afternoon in Korora. Check www.urungafootball.com or www.northcoastfootball.com for fixture times, or check out Urunga Raiders Facebook page.