Urunga Raiders cemented their passage through their return leg semi-final North Coast Premier League Football clash, with a thumping 5-1 home win over Sawtell Scorpions at the Cabbage Patch.
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Sawtell were always going to be up against it after losing the first leg 3-2 at Toormina.
The Raiders were first to score at the weekend via Grant Homes, after a left side move unlocked the Scorpions defence.
The lead may have been larger had Fabrice Wamara clipped his toe nails that morning, as he was pinged for being just offside and so his goal was disallowed.
But it was all Raiders in the first half as the Scorpions defence reacted to a shifting Urunga attack that produced the second goal on 33 minutes, this time via Jake Leslie. Leslie outpaced one defender, boned the fullback, and thumped it into the net.
The only hiccup for the home side occurred only minutes from the break after the referee awarded the Scorpions a free kick just outside the Raiders area. Luke France drifted the free kick to the near post for the score, with the Raiders in control 2-1 at the break.
Under the away goal rule, this meant the Scorpions had to find at least four goals in 45 minutes against a side that had only conceded six goals at home all season.
But it was not to be for the visitors as the Raiders rattled the cage three more times via Hopper, Pettit and Dooley.
Hopper found himself in enough space to release a shot from the most acute angle, surprising Sawtell’s keeper who had come off his line, expecting a cross.
Pettit was next to score. A good run between defenders, then Pettit’s first shot was blocked by Sawtell’s keeper. The rebound floated over his head but Pettit was good enough to turn and shoot in one motion.
The Raiders final strike, by Ben Dooley, came towards the end of the match. Dooley proved too sharp inside the Scorpions’ penalty area, firing in from close range.
The Raiders now march into the North Coast Football grand final as defending champions to take on Coffs Lions who drew 3-3 with Boambee but proceed after winning their first match 4-2.
Urunga’s Paul Pomroy had several good reasons to smile after the 5-1 win. It was a season in which the Raiders scored 98 goals, averaging 4.9 goals per game, only one loss and that to Coffs by the narrowest of margins. Pomroy was also recognised as coach of the year for the second year in a row at North Coast Football’s presentation night, and the Urunga Football Club was named Club of the Year.
All eyes now will be focussed on the mouth-watering prospect of a Raiders-Lions grand final, with kick-off this Saturday at the International Stadium at 7pm.
Go you Raiders!