Round 5 of the FFA Football Competition had the Raiders up against the Bangalow Bulldogs who’d won through to this round courtesy of a 4-1 victory over Lismore Thistles. It was the first meeting of the two clubs in …. Umm … well, ever and the beginning a solid one for the Raiders who struck early. Raiders Jake Leslie linking nicely with Fabrice Wamara on the left flank, as Wamara took the ball and a few overzealous defenders further to the left ‘the Turtle’ Craig Simpson exploited a gap in the Doggies defence, Wamara’s pass unerring and Turtle’s near post finish equally so.
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Bangalow’s defence looked a bit leaky in these early stages but as the matched progressed they gradually addressed that situation. Probably Rory Devlin their sharpest weapon, at least in the middle of the Park, as he duelled with the Raider’s Kale Hopper and Devlin always looking to release a long ball for that journey man Sam Ireland.
Yes - Ireland, ex Lennox Head, ex Ballina and ex Raider and here he was again this time in blue the Doggies regalia and causing a few issues for the Raiders central defending pair of Gale and McCormick. Sadly for Bangalow, Ireland unable to connect with their midfield perhaps because he was so closely marked and really presented no threat at this stage. It was Bangalow’s Byron Milne who evened the scores seven minutes before halftime with just a hint of offside; Milne able to get onto the end of a Wakefield pass at pace and spear through the Raiders defence and finish well to produce a 1-1 score line at the break.
The sides more familiar with each other now, patterns of play, movements off the ball, likely threats all assimilated and the Bangalow side persisting with the raking ball downfield while the Raiders preferring plenty of passing and movement. Safe to say it was closer than it had looked in the early stages, chances for both sides now. Devlin unable to score after the Raider’s Ben Sonter had made one good save and in no position to make another, the ball falling to Devlin who blasted over the top. The Raiders with more of the ball as the half wound down and controlling the match to a larger degree as they searched for a winner but not yet, at least not in normal time.
Extra time of two halves of 15 to be played and after seven minutes the Raiders Tim Ruprecht able to deliver a pin point cross for Emar Foran to slap into the Bangalow net. You couldn’t say it wasn’t coming, the Raiders looking a bit sharper and with a larger share of the ball, Lachlan Indian Manning and Jake Leslie constant threats on the flanks anyhow this time Foran, who’d earlier replaced Wamara, good enough score the winner.
The Raiders will progress to Round 6 and that match played in Newcastle on June 18 against someone pretty good. I’m guessing … they’ll need to be.
Go U Raiders!
