Standing left to right - Frank Long, Yan Mercan, Jack Goodman, Ollie Keast, Reuben Bennett, Alex Bennett
Mark O'Connor (Coach).
Kneeling left to right - Owen Baldwin, Freddie Dorman, Zac Lascelles, Josh O'Connor.

Twyford opened the scoring with a long range clearance which found their attacher who toe poked the ball into the goal. Raiders equalised in spectacular fashion with Frank Long scoring the first of his hat-trick of the day and the first of two sublime goals , Frank powered in a free-kick from behind the half-way line which flew into the opposition net. However Barca were to have the final say by nicking the final goal of the game.

Frank Long single-handedly weaved his way through the Twyford team , kept his balance and composure before confidentially slotting home, to make it 1-0 Raiders. Frank then scored again to double the score. Freddie Dorman who had been a constant thorn in the side of Twyford all morning, through his constant running and persistence got a deserved third goal for Sidmouth. Yan Mercan capped off a strong performance by scoring the fourth and final Raiders goal with a long-range speculative shot . Although certain individuals demonstrated moments of outstanding skill it was all about the whole team grafting and working together to produce another great win.

Sidmouth played the league leaders and the Barcelona of the Under 9s world, Central Red Star.
unfortunately the warm welcome given the team did not extend to on the pitch. And although soundly beaten the Raiders demonstrated great strength of character and determination and never gave up. Sidmouth grew in strength and confidence as the game went on and had their fair share of possession and attacking moves including a number of corners as Sidmouth pushed for a consolation goal. Sidmouth Raiders players and manager can hold their heads up knowing that they have conducted themselves in a way that was a credit to the club.

On a cold and miserable February morning in Exeter Raiders took to an usually large and heavy pitch against Central AC. Raiders soon began to exploit the wide open spaces.
Frank Long was able to let fire a couple of shots which the Central goalie did well to stop. Jack Goodman and Ollie Keast again looked composed at the heart of defence and in goal. Alex Bennett was his usual effervescent self and caused all sorts of problems for the AC defence.
Just as Raiders looked to open the scoring with an effort that was cleared off the line ,AC scored a deflected goal and then doubled the score.
Raiders continued to look in the match and can consider themselves somewhat unlucky to lose
this evenly fought contest.

A depleted Raiders team still managed to get the better of their Honiton rivrals, pressure from Frank Long caused panic in the Demon's defence which lead to the Honiton team putting the ball in their own net.

After initial resitence from the Devils the goals started to flow for Sidmouth, Freddie Doorman and Frank Long bagged a brace each with Frank's second goal a contender for goal of the season , Zac Lascelles completed the scoring for the Raiders.

Raiders hosted their high flying Exeter based rivals but a narrow defeat put paid to their dreams of cup glory for another season. Exeter Panthers demonstrated why they on a top of the table team with some excellent passing, Raiders were undone by an deflected own goal and a free kick which rifled through through the defence and straight into the goal. In the second half Raiders gave a much improved performance with the defence looking stronger and midfield more competitive.

Reuben Bennett had a good claim to have scored but his effort was adjudged not to have crossed the line, reintroducing the debate over goal line technology, however this is probably a long way off at under 9s level! Suddenly Frank Long aimed a superb speculative long range shot which narrowly went over the bar, by this point the Raiders were more than a match for the Panthers but could not find the net. So the Raiders are left to concentrate on the league but have a good solid foundation with which to build a successful 2013.

Ollie (the safest hands in Sidmouth) Keast was called upon to make a great penalty save much to to the relief of the Raiders after they had given away an early pen. At the back Yan Mercan was effective and strong, upfront the Raiders were spurred onto to another victory as Alex Bennett was found in space and made no mistake with the finish to open the Raiders account.
As the game progressed Freddie Doorman was unlucky not to score as his effort hit the post, however Freddie was able to double the Raider's score with a cool finish following the Newton keeper being out of position.

Another impressive win for the Raiders. Jack Goodman was his usual combative self in defence for the Raiders, after being rested in the first game. At the other end of the pitch goals looked likely , Zac Lascelles finished emphatically after good attaching play from Reuben Bennett . Further Raiders pressure resulted in Dawlish conceding a penalty and Josh O'Connor made no mistake with a well-taken penalty. However Dawlish were given a lifeline after a handball incident and they scored from the resulting spot-kick . Raiders replied in the best possible way with Owen Baldwin finding the net with a deserved goal. After some substitutions Dawlish looked more dangerous particularity on the wings and scored again through a deflection off a Raiders player . But it was the Raiders who held on for a well merited victory.

Sidmouth went through to the next round of the Cup on penalties. Raiders started the best of the two teams with Freddie Doorman looking a particular threat up front. Sidmouth were unlucky not to score with Freddie Doorman hitting the past after a great exchange of passes.

Sidmouth continued to have a lion's share of the possession and switched the ball around nicely, Owen Baldwin and Zac Lascelles looking a handful for the opposition. But the Raiders could not find a way through the Cully defence. Cully themselves had chances against the run of play , but good defensive play by Jack Goodman & Ollie Keast in goal soon snuffed out any threat Ranger's possessed. At the end of the game great interplay between Freddie Doorman and Yan Mercan was unlucky not to result in a goal.

The score still being level at full time and extra time, nail bitingly the game would be decided on penalties. Sidmouth bravely held their nerve to win 3-1 The scorers for Sidmouth were Yan Mercan, Owen Baldwin and Josh O'Connor , tellingly only one Cullompton player was able to find the net against Raiders custodian Ollie Keast .

So it was with great jubilation that the players run off the pitch to celebrate their well earned win
knowing that each of them had played their part in a memorable victory.
In an exclusive interview Raider's team coach Mark O'Connor was asked who he wanted in the next round, “Manchester United Youth” he replied, bring them on I say!

Sidmouth started the game brightly against arguably the best team in the league with lots of possession in the opposition half. An early scare for Sidmouth came when the Raider's number 1 custodian Ollie Keast was seemingly injured, however the Raiders goalie bravely carried on . But it was the Exmouth based team that inched ahead 1-0 at Half time.

In the second half it was the story of the blues for the Raiders, with Brixington playing like the East Devon equivalent of the Brazil 1970 team with the final score finishing 6-0.

In a much improved performance the Raiders put an a very encouraging display against a very capable Heavitree team. The Sidmouth kept their shape well and were unlucky not to score with Owen Baldwin looking dangerous in attack . The Raiders can draw heart from the fact that they competed very well against 2 of the best teams that they will come across all season.

Sidmouth Raiders completed the first of their two wins of the day against arguably the stronger of the 2 Whipton teams. Reuben Bennett was first off the mark with a tap in following the Whipton's keeper failure to hold onto the ball. Raiders doubled their lead following a great through ball from Jasper Green which found Freddie Dorman who made no mistake with the finish. Some high calibre keeping from Ollie Keast kept Whipton at bay and Frank Long scored with a sublime shot from distance. The Warriors replied with a consultation goal at the end of a very satisfying game and first victory of the season for the Raiders!

Freddie Doorman scored his second of the day which exemplified the art of scoring goals, being in the right place at the right time. Alex Bennett who had yet to appear on the goal-sheet scored a stunning hat-trick. With his first goal , Alex powered his way through the heart of the opposition defence, the second was an instinctive strike following a rebound and the third Alex again found a way past a series of Whipton players before slotting home. Again Sidmouth defended well with Yan Mercan putting in a faultless display at the back. This was another great team performance and demonstrated that all the players are starting to gel as a team.

Sidmouth Raiders competed bravely against a strong Pumas side whose quickness to the ball
and slick passing proved to be real challenge for the Raiders. Alex Bennett's determination and tireless running and Zac Lascelles tricky wing skills were highlights for the Raiders. The score didn't really do the Raiders justice as they had plenty of shots on target unfortunately none of them were able to be converted into goals.

The Raiders started the game brightly and had a lion's share of possession and played well against the Wasps of West Hill who found it hard to cope with Sidmouth's physical presence. A superb run from Alex Bennett released the ball to Josh O’Connor who gleefully slotted home to make it 1-0 Raiders. Sidmouth continued to dominate however the Wasps still had a sting in their tail and scored through a fortunate goal at the end of a pulsating and entertaining game.

The Raiders started brightly at their Newton Poppleford home. Pressure from Freddie Dorman lead to Lympstone putting the ball in their own net to make it 1-0 Raiders. Shortly aftewards Alex Bennett making his debut for the Raiders cooly slotted home from a narrow angle to make it 2-0 Raiders.
Lympstone then scored twice to make the final score 2 all.

Sidmouth Raiders fought there way back to draw against Exmouth. After conceding a goal Sidmouth equalised through an own goal with virtually the last kick of the game. The amount of effort that all the players put in was commendable, Sidmouth had the defend resolutely for long periods and a draw was a fair result.