Having secured league victories over the Saints both this year and last, Raiders had one last monkey to remove from their collective backs, that monkey being a particularly ruthless French one. Close on a number of occasions, a 1-1 draw last season springs to mind and this years previous league encounter where OS managed to claw back from 1-0 down to win 2-1 at the death.

This was the sweetest of victories. Yes, it was a very strong line up – probably our best. But this squad has been there before and not delivered.

The universe had probably been forced to sit up and take note of the outrageously frustrating games previously against Fighting Cocks and NTV. As the Raiders went to sleep on those Sunday evenings, projecting their primeval instincts about football justice into the cosmos, the energy field that connects us all together (itself created by a hologram of a giant turkey traveling through space) spasmed  into life. OR, we played really really well.

Owen notched his first in a Raiders shirt to open the scoring, a free kick deep in the opposition half sent looping into the box and straight through the goalkeepers hands. A rare mistake. OS leveled but were not in the game for much longer. Johan struck with a master-fucking-blaster of a shot, un boulet de canon, from outside the box propelled by his fierce desire to see  his compatriots vanquished. Raiders were back in front.

The second half was a joy to behold as we utterly dominated proceedings. Fine passing and moving, a rock solid defense and clinical finishing from LJ10 leading to a very fine hatrick and not being able to take the match ball home, as is the custom in the SIFL. 3-1, 4-1, 5-1. As the goals kept coming the reality dawned that there was only one winner – namely us. Fla, Nico and others went close with opportunities that really could have added a few goals to that total. OS kept battling until the end, and stuck a consolation late on to make it 5-2.

Raiders are not a gloating team, but my god we enjoyed that one.

*OS were top of the table at the time of this match