31st October 2009 - Match Postponed - NO GAME !!

Please note this match has been postponed

Rotherfield Raiders 6 Woodley Saints Tigers 3

Saturday, October 17, 2009 - Rotherfield Raiders 6 Woodley Saints Tigers 3
Raiders bounce back in style!

After a hugely disappointing performance last week, The Raiders made some tactical changes with Whyte-Harris and Sweetman bolstering the defence. The Raiders made a bright start and were one up after 2 minutes when Peirson-Hagger finished smartly. Sadly though the Raiders were struggling to organize the new defensive line up and found themselves level two minutes later. Thurlow, Spruyt and Miller all forced good saves from the Saints keeper, but the Saints took a 2-1 lead into half time after another defensive mix-up. The remainder of the first half was end to end stuff with Raiders looking as flamboyant in attack as they did fragile in defence.
Normal service was resumed in under 60 seconds of the second half when Chris Miller leveled the score. This was followed by a wonderful one two between Thurlow and Spruyt to leave a simple tap in for Pierson Haggar to push the Raiders ahead again. The Raiders began to slowly dominate the game with keeper, the woodwork and some luck saving the Saints from embarrassment. A long kick from Peachey in the Raiders goal, was threaded by Chapman through midfield and Thurlow was on the end to make it 4-2. The Raiders looked like they were cruising only to be stunned by a surprise goal from the Saints to make it 4-3. Was this to be the turning point in the game for the Saints? The answer was NO. Spruyt’s misdirected rocket of a cross found the net and was followed up by a well-deserved goal from Whyte Harris to make it 6-3. Greengrass was a late sub for Rotherfield and should have made it seven, only to be denied by the post.
MOM went to Max Sweetman for an energetic but solid performance in defence and tireless running the whole game

Team: Liam Peachey, Guy Thurlow, Sam Booker, Josh Gay, Matty Chapman, Chris Miller, Ben Pierson-Haggar, Alex Harris-Whyte, Rowan Stacey, Max Sweetman, Will Young, Mark Spruyt, Archie McGowan, Kai Carlisle, Kit Greengrass, Danny Dockree, Jake Hylton

24-10-09 Vs Maidenhead Athletico 0915 for 1000 KO.

Liam, Jake, Arch, Ben, Josh, Will, Rowan, =Max, Chris, Matty, Guy, James ?

Pitch 8 Cup Game Vs Woodley Saint Tigers 0915 for 1000am KO

Team: Liam, Arch, Matty, Ben, Josh, Max, Mark, Will, Guy, Kai, Kit, Danny, Chris, Alex, Books, Jake

Rotherfield Raiders 2 Purley Jubillee 4

Raiders Slow Start Costs Them ...

Raiders made a lively start with Purley clearing a Miller close range shot off the line. Young's tackling was solid in defence but then Purley took control of the 1st half with a series of probing runs. Thurlow makes a stunning 1-on-1 save with the defence beaten. Raiders rode their luck as the speedy no12 ran amock and Greengrass hit the post in a rare attack. But 12 eventually following up on another great Thurlow save to open scoring 1-0.

Spurred into action Raiders finally started to play with McGowan reinforcing the defence. Sweetman's chip cleared the goalie but went wide. Purley retook control with a 2nd ending the half 2 nil. The 2nd half opened as the first ended and it was 3-0 to Purley from close range. But a great run from Harris-Whyte squared to Sweetman and layup for Greengrass to score from a narrow angle 3-1. Raiders really got into gear with 2 goalmouth scrambles forcing great saves before Sweetman was taken down in the box, biting through the pain a neat penalty made it 3-2. Booker and Carlisle looked calm & collected at the back. A rare Raiders corner ended with Miller tirning teh ball in , but sadly offside. Thurlow again saved Raiders bacon with a block from a breaking Purley.

The next 10 minutes were end to end thrills, Gay went just wide , Chapman got a crucial toe in to save Raiders and Booker made another timely tackle. But a stunning free kick into the top corner ended any chance of a comeback. 4-2.

In the dying minutes Miller scorched wide after a jinking run from Stacey.

The effort award went to Guy Thurlow for a donning the keepers gloves and producing a string of acrobatic saves.

Team: Guy Thurlow, Archie McGowan, Sam Booker, Kai Carlisle, Josh Gay, Matty Chapman, Chris Miller, Alex Harris-Whyte, Rowan Stacey, Max Sweetman, Kit Greengrass, Will Young.

10th October 2009 pitch 7 Vs Purley Jubilee 10:00am.

Team as follows:

Archie, Guy, Alex, Josh, Chris, Rowan, Will, Matty, Max, Kai, Kit, Books, Mark - STA, Danny

Please text or call Jas if you can't make the game.
Thanks, Tan

Rotherfield Raiders (5) Wokingham & Embrook (0)

A level playing field ?

With two defeats in their first two matches the Raiders had a psychological hill to climb. And in the first half they had a physical one to climb as well. The pitch was hard, the goal mouth rutted and a north-south slope that certainly was not a level playing field.

The Raiders started strongly with Mark scoring an early goal in the first three minutes. With their tails up the team played with great structure, vision and purpose. Passing between Josh, Mark, Max and Rowan was accurate and the play flowed although a couple of offside decisions went against them.

But it was not all Raiders and the score line disguised a much closer game. Wokingham pressed for much of the latter period of the first half and there was some strong defending by Matty, Kai , Sam and Will.

Ben scored the second goal with a great run around the keeper finishing with his weaker left foot. Goal number three came again off a Ben strike which hit the post and was bundled over the line by Guy.

3-0 at half time and the difference between the two sides was that Rotherfield had taken their chances in attack and defended well.

In the second half the Raiders had the benefit of that hill! There was some good distribution from Rowan and some strong runs by Josh, Kit and Chris. A few speculative long range kicks ended with a lob from Mark after a great through ball from Matty. The final goal came from Guy after a through ball from Max. Numerous brave saves again from Liam ensured a clean sheet.

Sam was awarded man of the match for a strong performance and for applying skills taught in training.

Sam Booker, Kai Carlisle, Matthew Chapman, Josh Gay, Kit Greengrass, Chris Miller, Liam Peachey, Ben Piersen-Hagger, Mark Spruyt, Rowan Stacey, Max Sweetman, Guy Thurlow, Will Young