After a 2-1 win over the Krickets last time we played them we knew that this was not going to be an easy game and indeed this was the case.

We were at home and on the 8th grade bog which has not had a chance to dry out with all of the rain that we have had.  Although the pitch conditions were not great the football was an exciting affair but very frustrating to watch from the referees position.  Lachie surprisingly turned up to ply with his knee well strapped and that meant that for the first time in about 8 rounds we had a full compliment including 2 reserves. However I'm not sure that this helped the team as this was probably their worst performance since Matilda left for Sweden some time ago now.

However due credit has to be given to the Krickets they came to play an  had a definite game plan which is more than I can say for our team today.  The krickets played a rush game depending on the position of the ball.  If they were on attack they would all rush forward and if we were on attack they would all rush back.  It proved to be very effective as they had good fast players and at times they would crowd our player and shut the attack down.  Having said that we definitely helped them out forgetting out passing game altogether and being caught on the ball too many times.

That is not to say that the game was not exciting as tit went from end to end with Kawerau having the higher quantity of opportunities but were unable to convert.  I have to say that the result was a fair one although we had one chance that should have been converted by Josh L and with only seconds to go Lachie put one in the back of the net only to be called back for being marginally offside.  Who was that ref anyway?  Far too harsh some might say but if we want to win this trophy (and I think our chances are gone now) then we want to say that we did it fair and square.  I'm sorry Lachie but the rules are the rules please forgive me.  Final score was 0-0.

Probably the wettest start to a game this season although the Saints ground is very well drained and despite the rain in the first half the conditions were ideal.

The rock of our team lachie was out for today and perhaps some more this season with a re-occurring knee problem but we were glad to see the return of our Swedish connection, Matilda the enforcer.  Josh M was in goal the first half ad it was a tight knit affair with plenty of end to end attacks that resulted in few opportunities.  However we did go into the half 2-1 up after goals by Maxwell and Matilda and  a great goal from a long way out from the saints team that gave Josh no chance at all.

The second half was a very different affair, the sun came out and we started to dominate the way that we have all season by controlling the ball and passing with great accuracy and thought to the running of the game.  This half Matilda was in goal and was untroubled and Caleb scored from a long range shot and Josh m got on the scoreboard from another dogged run through 3 to 4 players.

Well done team and keep it going it gets tough from here on in and only wins will see us having a chance to take the trophy home at the end of the season.

This was the last game before we welcome back our swedish import and with Maxwell sick, and Josh M in Rotorua we were all praying for a bit of rain and for the game to be postponed.

However this was not to be and luckily, Maxwell came right, Josh M made the trip back for kickoff and although we were unsyure of our coaches whereabouts he made it as well and we kicked off just on time.

Unfortunately however the team did not wake up until after about 5 minutes and despite  a wealth of possession and a number on long range shots we found ourselves 1-1 and then started to focus at the same time that the Awakeri team seemed surprised by thier score and fell asleep.

From then on it was all 1 way traffic.  Lachie scored 4 goals, Caleb 3, Josh M 1, Owen 2, Maxwell 1 & an own goal saw a demoralising 12- 1 win

Player of the day Lachie

It  wasn't your normal lead up to a game this week because yet again the grudge match was on.  Mate against mate and some real pressure being put on the kids to perform here and set up the rest of the season.  The reps had been named and the Raiders had only two to the Dynamites 3.  this hadn't fazed the team however and they went into the Thursday afternoon game full of confidence.  If only the coach and parents had the same enthusiasm.

I had never been able to get away from work to attend a training day but this was a little different and I asked my boss (who's son Tyler was in the other team) if I could go along and ref the game.  His reply was favourable and somewhat leading when he commented that at least he knew the ref was being paid by him.  I get the feeling that there were also a few other parents that made the trip given the importance of the match.

The tension was high and the game was played in good spirits but I have never seen the team so focussed on the task at hand.  These teams were so even throughout the match but had very different game plans.  The Dynamites showed real class and great composure in defence as they cleared the ball very well using the touchline as if they were in the world cup and wanting to regroup.  However the raiders showed superior skill on the ball and retained possession with ease and throughout the game outclassed the Dynamites in general play. 

However despite a wealth of possession the Dynamites defence difused almost all the Raiders attacks during the game and often turned them into  counter attack opportunities  with long raking kicks back into the Raiders half.  It was definately and end to end affair with plenty of chances for both teams  but the defining moment came in the second half when the Dynamites cleared the ball for a corner from a Raiders sortie and quickly regrouped.

Up steps our corner specialist Lachie (Big Boot ) Stokes for the 5th or 6th time.  The ball was placed carefully and a Volley of instructions was hurled from parents and coaches on both sides.  The result was like something out of a highlites real on Sky Sport, a curliing cros penetrated into the heart of the Dynamites goal box and the Owenator latched onto it with great precision giving the goalie no chance 1-0 Raiders.

7 minutes to go and the Dynamites had the bit between thier teeth.  they had all of the possession and were very unlucky nnot to score when Francesca let one through her legs only to grab a hold of it with inchs to spare and Brock ready to pounce.



Well done the Raiders you deserved thewin in a hard fought match against a team that on another day would have the wood on you.

Player of the day Josh M

A beautiful day welcomed us in Kawerau and the team was back together after 4 weeks off and no soccer having being played.  We were all a little aprehensive knowing that the lack of match time and the quality of the opposition were going to make it a hard day at the office.  Not only that but Matilda is still away and Josh L was sick meaning that no reserves were available, and maxwell was hot of the plane from Scotland and a little jet lagged.


The first half started well with Francesca in goal Josh M & maxwell at the back, Caleb in midfield, Lachie & Owen up front.  We definately had the better of the initial exchanges with quality passing and communication seeing us dominate but unable to convert.  I think we were just getting a little too clever around the goal and their goalie was all class. 

However the Crusaders slowly kicked into gear and controlled patches of play with their, get the ball to Ronan and see what he can do game plan.  This may have worked against lesser opponnants but with our pitbull Caleb sticking close to his rep team mate and Josh & Maxwell backing him up the Raiders were able to shut down any attack  from coming to fruition for the opposition.


The whole match was a see saw affair after the settlinig down period and although there were few chances fro either side  I have to say that we were a better team against a very good player and his sidekicks.  The result was fair  given our lack of  players  and  match fitness (which  did show at times with both Lachie & Caleb running themselves ragged), it will be an interesting rematch when we play the postponed game with a full compliment later in the season.

Well done team you were  outstanding under the conditions keep it up.

This was it, it was the big game and Dave had the team at Rex Morpeth park at 8:30 to get well & truly warmed up and psyched for the game.  This was the game that was going to set the standard and see if the raiders had the Bottle to win the trophy this year.

The kids were well and truly up to it and Dave had instructed Caleb to stick to Harry like glue.  The game started a couple of minutes late but boy did the Raiders come out of the blocks fast.  We dominated the play with aggressive tackling and great passing, I', sure the Whakatane  force wondered what had hit them.  I'm sure that they had never been challenged like this and it showed.  They were shell shocked.

About 7 minutes into the game and after a sustained attack from the raiders a corner was won.  Caleb stepped up to the mark, took a deep breath, summed up the situation, saw Lachie free on the outskirts and rifled the ball to him.  Lachie coolly controlled the ball and let rip from outside the box.  There is a Nike add on TV that flicks from football stars to kids on a pitch and were one of the stars scores an amazing goal and then it cuts to the kids taking the same shot,  well this part of the play could have been in that add as the ball sithed passed the Whakatane keeper, 1-0 to the Raiders. ' WRITE THE FUTURE' Lachie.

That certainly woke the force up and the second part of the first half was a more even affair  with chances going both ways but our resolute defence and in particular a somewhat stubborn Caleb shut down the bulk of the force's attack with great precision.

So half time 1-0 and you could cut the air with a knife.  The parents were fired up and we had a sniff of the glory that this team deserves.  HOWEVER, I'm not sure who bought the oranges or if the same waitress who served the allwhites at the world cup had laced them but what happened in the second half still confuses me!

Whakatane came out fired up and our team fell asleep and forgot how to play.  In the end to keep it short the force well & truly outplayed us and we went into the old bumblebee mentality again.  The force were all class & too good scoring four goals in quick succession to close out the game in style.

A great showing by our new Rep players Caleb & Lachie and deservedly Caleb was the player of the day.  I just have to say to the team that you showed you were good enough to beat this team keep up the good work and stick it to them next time.  Well done.

On a grey and cold day Ohope Raiders gathered on an Opotiki soccer field looking calmly at their opponents. Parents digesting the oppositions numbers and size.There was about twelve of them, big, solid guys, all looking like they had walked out of the brooding mountains settled behind Opotiki that morning. Only their yellow soccer shirts betrayed any vulnerability, dressed in black they would have been unstoppable. Unbeatable.
 
We had five players and a new contracted import, Emerson Billings, making six, giving the Raiders one sub. Emerson had come after long and intense negotiations over his value between coaches and managers, with all eventually settling on a game fee of two chocolate fish after the game. What a buy he was as it turned out.
 
The game was a really cool, hard game of soccer. Well played with few fouls, but there was no room for being weak in defence or attack. Each team was very determined and it was only great tackling by both teams that kept the game score down. Opotiki had an excellent winger who often took the ball full length of the field but he always attracted many Raiders defenders, with Caleb, Joshua, and Lachie putting good sliding tackles in often to prevent him from centre crossing.
 
The first half was dominated surprisingly by the Raiders, because their defence, passing skills, and calmness on the ball thwarted many attacks. The result being that they spent most of the first half in Opotiki's half. They had many shots on goal, and corners, but no goals. Opotiki did pressure Caleb in goal but he was just so calm and resolute. Maxwell again showed some real pace and ball skills, often getting a shot away on goal.
 
Second half was a real end to end affair with Opotiki pressing home attack after attack in the Raiders half, but they really didn't put any shots on goal. Again the Raiders defence led by Fran and Joshua just continually slowed down or prevented any goals, supported strongly by their teammates. When the Raiders did go on attack they looked more menacing and Owen had two really good chances just missing the goal. Eventually though, after a period hammering the Opotiki goal, Lachie slid a ball through many legs in front of the posts where Owen and Emerson were reeking havoc, and in the melee Emerson popped a lovely shot high past their keeper from close range. One - nil. What a bargain import!
 
The Raiders deserved their win in a bruising, hard encounter, but they conquered the mountain men from Opotiki. Their ball skills and calm approach to difficult situations is their real strength and they played to it.
 
Emerson was player of the day and scored the only goal.

A home game against Saints was on the cards until mother nature obviously decided that soccer in Ohope wouldn't take place this weekend either.  Nevertheless saints offered to host us on home soil  somewhere out the back of the school on a pitch that resembled a sheep's paddock in Waimana.  No offence intended it was just that the grass was very long and we couldn't really complain anyway  because our pitches resembled  the ohiwa harbour at low tide.

We all new that this was going to be a tough match with Matilda away and the team down to just 7 players meaning that their fitness would be tested with only 1 sub.  I must however say that  most games are tough in a way and this was going to be no different.  The saints team had two or 3 talented players but definitely lacked the training,  skill levels and guile of our team.  Yet again our passing game came to the fore and saw us dominate possession and field position.

The first half saw a settling period with a bit of end to end stuff  and we went into the half 1-0 up and were unlucky not to have been up by more. 

The second half saw a better performance by the saints players especially when they were faced with a 2-0 score with 5 minutes to play and after their keeper was unable to secure a ball which trickled agonizingly over the line.  They really stepped up their game and put great pressure on our defence who would switch the ball from side to side as if they were stalling for time in the world cup final.  This however was to their detriment when Joshua M was dispossessed just outside the goal box and the Saints striker slotted it home with ease.

Pressure on, 2-1 up  with 2 minutes to play and Saints trying anything to draw level.  However with  the opposition pushing forward  there were gaps  in their defence and with  1 minutes to go we scored again via Caleb and the game was as good as  won.   straight from the kick off Josh M was fouled again and  confusion was rife when he went to take the kick only to hear Dave from the sideline shouting "not you Josh, Josh  you take it "  Confused?  I know I was and so were the  Raiders as Dave was actually asking Josh L who was in goal to take the kick and for Josh M to get forward  in the hope of scoring.  30 seconds passed and as the referee i let the game run on a little longer to make up for it , although it was none too pleasing for the Hollowoods  when I blew the final whistle as Owen  honed in on the goal .  Sorry Owen maybe next time.


Player of the day Maxwell.

We headed out to Tarawera park after another bad week of weather and with Caleb away we were expecting a tough game from the locals and that is just what we got.

I volunteered to referee again as the oppositions coach was away and little was I to know how much action I was to get.  the local team had a great mix of kids, big Girls, small guys, guys with gel in their hear, big guys and the list goes on.  They were more than competitive but played more as individuals and our passing game quickly came to the fore.

Josh M asked me during the week "who can run faster than to ball?" to which I replied with gusto, "It depends on how hard it is kicked!".  Well I think I picked the wrong fight and my son quickly pointed out that no one can not even Coach Dave who had obviously gone through with them at training the old saying that "the ball will always beat the man"

All I have to say on that is that it obviously sunk in because all players spent less time on the ball and more time looking for teammates in the clear and passing to them or into space for someone to run on to.  This was the glaring difference between the two sides and although we had the bulk of position in the first half we only went into half time with a 1-0 lead.  This was only thanks to the dogged determination of our team on attack which lead to a goalmouth scramble and the ball agonizingly trickled over the line.  But for the heroics of the Kawerau goalkeeper we should have been ahead by 1 or two more goals.

The second half was where things were to get a little more interesting.  It was obvious that our team started to tire early and lost their formations at times which lead to a great goal by the opposition early in the half and which Josh M had little chance of saving from close range.    So game on 1-1 with 15 minutes to play and it was end to end stuff.  Again our passing game started to click and Josh L was like a boy possessed, he was everywhere  and made some great defensive tackles and attacking sorties.  I was kept busy as a referee with a number of fouls by both teams(I think that in 2 years I had only 1 free kick away until today but the 8-10 that I had to enforce today set the record)  I must say that none of them were malicious but they did effect the flow of the game and therefore had to be called.  they ranged from our very own Vinnie Jones known as Matilda to us to the odd hip throw and the goalies thinking that they could handle the ball anywhere on the field. And that is where the game changed for us.  After Josh L handled the ball outside his area in the first half I had to penalize their goalie for the same offense with about 7 minutes to go.

Kawerau organized a wall (I must say with a few bricks missing) and Lachie AKA Beckham  stepped up and went into his 'zone'.  Dad Simon yelling from the sideline "go for goal just like we practice at home".  Lachie (Becks) sauntered up to the ball  lifted over their  players and into the top right of the goal.  The keeper had no chance at all.  2-1 to us.

That is how the game ended after a number of attacks by both teams but with Francesca and Josh L on fire in defence there was really no way that Kawerau was going to get back on level terms.  Dave had a hard choice to make for player of the day with Francesca in the running but the inspired play of Josh L was hard to get past so he was named player of the day.  Well done to you all and we look forward to next week unfortunately without our enforcer Matilda who is heading off on holiday back to Sweden.  We wish you and your family safe travels and can't wait for your return.

I don't know about anybody else but we arose early in the morning rearing to go for the first games of the year only to see dark clouds and a cold wind.  We duly had breakfast and headed into town only for the clouds to break and a beautiful day  followed.  Despite never playing together and not really knowing any position other than striker and goalkeeper the kids where great. 

We started off with some shuttle runs and shots at goal to warm up and give me (stand in coach for the day) a chance to see how good everyone was and where they were suited to playing.  We had three games spread over 4 1/2 hours and rotated the team well.  We ended up winning all three games and the team developed well throughout the day.  A couple of standout performances for me were: Francesca & Matilda in goal, both of whom are relentless and fearless in their approach to the game and i get the feeling that we will see a lot more of them in this position throughout the year.  Secondly Lachie, who showed great pace and  awareness of the game and who deservedly scored more goals on the day than anyone else, and finally Caleb who also has great pace & vision and the ability to come from attack to defence in the blink of any eye while others are ball watching.