Yes, very nice indeed, but not so easy against a creative and energetic Coffs Lions outfit, their wins less impressive 4-1 Bombers and 4-2 Coffs Tigers. All eyes were on the Cabbage Patch last weekend - it was the game of this short season, make no mistake. 

The Raiders Vs Lions is not a match to be missed. The last encounter had the Lions victorious by 3-1 (last year’s grand final) with 3 sent off and a furious encounter it was. Last weekend’s match a tad less vicious but the stakes were high as there appears to be only two teams of quality this year in the NCHGPL (North Coast Hotel Group Premier League haha get your head around that acronym), and both were facing up at the Cabbage Patch.

The Raider’s Fabrice Wamara and Kale Horatio Hopper out for this one as respected centre referee Jason Hillier let the sides go at precisely 3pm. The first stanza belonged to the Lions of that I have no doubt, perhaps not in totality, but their cohesion and verve were enticing the Raiders into making uncharacteristic errors.  

The Lions capitalised on these errors and were able to mount consistent pressure on the Raiders' back four of Leslie, Gale, McCormick and Indian-Manning. On 18 minutes the Lions forged ahead courtesy of free kick awarded just outside the Raiders penalty area. 

Gum Mayak for Coffs put his right foot through the ball which deflected off the Raider wall and into the net to put the visitors one up. A piece of luck for the visitors perhaps but you couldn’t say that it wasn’t coming, only moments earlier the Raiders' custodian Ben Sonta at full stretch to punched out a goal bound shot delivered by Marty Kelleher. If the alarm bells weren’t ringing for the Raiders then they were just two minutes later.

That man, Gum Mayak again scything through the Raiders midfield and shot from 20m to Sonta’s right, brilliant piece of play by Mayak and had the Lions 2 up and the Raiders in a bit of disarray, after all it has been sometime since the maroon and yellows have been down by 2 goals. 

The second stanza only seven minutes old before coach Peter Tiberius Snow bought on Grant Homes (for Dom Kelly) and Joseph Pettit (for Tim Ruprecht). The move revitalised the Raiders to some degree and while they certainly played better in this half the home side could not score or really dominate for any length of time. The 'Turtle' Craig Simpson able to send over a few crosses from the right side for the Raiders, and Grant Homes able to steer the play around in the Raiders' midfield but she was all over 24 minutes into the half after the Lions whacked in their third, interestingly again from distance.  

So, final score 3-0 to the Lions who on balance deserved their win. Now if you missing this match don’t cry too much as they sides face off again at Coffs Stadium on Tuesday, April 26 for the fourth round of the FFA cup. Whooo when too much football is never enough!

In other results the men’s reserve grade an absorbing encounter the Raiders holding a one nil lead for 85 minutes (Emar Foran scoring his eighth goal in three matches) before being run down by Lions for a final 1-1 result. The women back to their winning ways downing Woolgoolga in both grades the ressies 4-3 winners and the first grade 4-1. 

Go U Raiders!