Raiders 7 Twyford Gladiators 0

The Raiders got the new season off to a great start with a convincing win against an inexperienced Gladiators side. The boys played some lovely football and passed the ball around superbly. Man-of-Match Lewis Rowden grabbed a hat-trick scoring twice early on from flowing moves and grabbing a third in the second half with a cool finish.

Samuel Burhop , Robbie Hallett twice and CJ Abbot completed the scoring as the raiders continued to knock the ball around with every player contributing the win.

Eddie Rudolph enjoyed a great debut at the back alongside a rotating defence of Noah Raffell, Toby Whitfield and Freddie Squire. Will Bond work hard on the left before replacing Hallett in goal and Thomas Rowan was unlucky not to score.

Raiders 0 Twyford Spartans 2

The Raiders struggled to cope with a very good Spartans side but only went down to two good second half strikes.
Hesitation at the back was eventually the teams undoing but in both cases it still needed a good finish. The Raiders had defended superbly up till then and Will Bond in goal had coped with easily with anything that did come his way.
Eddie Rudolph in only his second appearance for the Raiders earned his man-of the –match award with a brilliant defensive performance, tackling and then passing the ball well. At the other end the Raiders struggled to mount any real goal threats.

The Raiders deserved their win in a game that saw two crazy goals. Thomas Rowan had put the Raiders in front with a low shot, following some great passing and Will Bond doubled the lead before Honiton scored what could be the goal of the season or a complete fluke! A mis-hit shot from outside the area flew high into the air before dropping over the Raiders keeper and under the bar to pull one back. Almost immediately the Raiders scored their own fluke as a shot was cleared off the line, hit a defender and was cleared off the line again before hitting another defender and rolling in. Will Bond was particularly impressive down the left wing as was Noah Raffell in defence but it was Man-of-the-match Samuel Burhop who finished the scoring to seal a deserved victory

The Raiders thoroughly deserved their victory from an excellent display in a good game against Feniton. An early penalty from CJ Abbott following a spell of pressure put the Raiders ahead. The boys then piled on the pressure as they tackled and battled all over the pitch and just wouldn’t let Feniton get into a rhythm. A second goal was disallowed before Burhop showed great skill to beat two defenders and double the lead. The Raiders grew stronger as the game went on and Lewis Rowden and Thomas Rowan worked tirelessly aided by Eddie Rudolph and Toby Whitfield in a great all round team effort.

The Raiders and Brixington both played some lovely football in an excellent match in which both goalkeepers made some great saves.

United took the lead only for Samuel Burhop to equalise with a shot that the keeper just failed to keep out. Stunning saves from both goalkeepers , Eddie Rudolph denied by a fingertip save by the United keeper and Robbie Hallett palming away two goal bound efforts as the half ended level.

The second half was as good, with the Raiders Lewis Rowden, Thomas Rowan and Will Bond having great shots saved. Raiders’ keeper Robbie Hallett produced a fine save as teammate CJ Abbot turned an attempted pass into a shot from near the halfway line at his own goal. United took the lead again before Burhop equalised again with a stunning strike following a great move.

The Raiders went down to a last gasp winner against high flying Blues in a good game played in a good spirit. The Blues went ahead thanks to a great run and finish before CJ Abbot blasted the Raiders level from the edge of the box. Both teams then played some good football with Raiders just failing to make the most of good build up play and defending well.

The second half was end to end and chances were missed at both ends. Toby Whitfield and Eddie Rudolph defended superbly and Will Bond, in goal, stopping everything. In the dying seconds as the Raiders tired Blues scored another good goal to snatch the points.

The Raiders were unlucky to lose a close game against the Redsocks that saw both teams play in a good spirit. Eddie Rudolph was the Raiders Man of the Match with an outstanding display, breaking up attacks and then using the ball well out of defence.

The Raiders responded brilliantly to going one down and created chance after chance culminating in Lewis Rowden’s shot crashing against the underside of the bar and bouncing out in the last few seconds.

The Raiders won a thrilling game with a spectacular goal from CJ Abbot who back heeled a volley home from a tight angle.

Sidmouth had taken the lead early on from Samuel Burhop’s only for Colyton to equalise. Abbott restored the lead from the edge of the box but Colyton drew level just before half time.

The second half was the a similar story, Noah Raffell scored his first ever goal with a cool finish from inside the box only to see Colyton equalise again. Then came Abbots’ spectacular winner his first effort from a William Bond corner hit the post looped up and Abbot flicked in the rebound.

Freddie Squire was man of the match with an excellent display, tackling, passing and clearing the danger when needed.

The Raiders deserved their point from this thoroughly entertaining draw. Both sides had great chances but solid defending won the day. The Raiders keeper had a lucky escape when a tame effort was misjudged and rolled onto the post before diving onto the rebound while at the other end several Raiders efforts were scrambled away.

Eddie Rudolph Noah Raffell and Freddie Squire were outstanding in defence while the rest of the team kept up an excellent performance from start to finish.

Constant pressure saw the Raiders run out winners in a game they dominated from start to finish.

In what was a real team performance striker Samuel Burhop covered more ground in this game than most players do in four as the Raiders refused to let a spirited Ottery side settle or get out of their own half at times .

Robbie Hallett opened the scoring early in the second half for the Raiders as they managed to increase the pressure despite playing uphill and against the wind. Thomas Rowan doubled the lead getting on the end of Lewis Rowden’s corner. CJ Abbot crashed a header against the bar and Burhop went close with several excellent efforts.

The Raiders put in one of their highest scoring and easily one of their best performances of the season to see off spirited Honiton 6-1 in this cup match.

Thomas Rowan scored twice, from close range, within five minutes to put his side in control. Will Bond scored the Raiders first headed goal of the season nodding home at the near post from a corner to make it 3-0. Freddie Squire saw his volley bobble just wide and Toby Whitfield had one of his trademark efforts from near the halfway line also go just wide as the away side dominated.

Honiton pulled one back after the break but CJ Abbot restored the three goal lead and constant pressure saw two late deflected goals give the Raiders a deserved win with a slightly flattering score line.

The Raiders had to settle for their second 0-0 of the season but were desperately unlucky not to win this game. The Raiders kept the home side under sustained pressure for long spells while defensively Eddie Rudolph and Toby Whitfield cleaned up at the back leaving Robbie Hallett, in goal, little to do. Man of the match Will Bond was outstanding on the left, tackling back and making great runs in attack.

The Kentisbeare goal lead a charmed life at times as shot after shot rolled just wide or was well saved and the home side relied on counter attacking.CJ Abbot and Lewis Rowden helped Thomas Rowan and Samuel Burhop keep the pressure on.

Cj Abbot’s hat-trick sealed a great fightback by the Raiders who trailed 2-0 after 10 minutes . Robbie Hallett pulled a goal back just before half time with a low shot but the Leopards were shell shocked by the Raiders second half.

Samuel Burhop volleyed home the equaliser just after the break and Abbot crashed home the first of his goals, a rising right foot strike from long range to make it 3-2. Within a couple of minutes Abbot stretched the lead, this time with a left foot shot from long range that dropped under the bar. Raiders’ kept up the pressure and pinned the Leopards back and when Burhop was brought down in the box Abbot stepped up to thump home the penalty for his third and Raiders fifth.