Red Raiders Fail to Rampage

After a thundering win against the Sa*nts in the yearly Ashes fixture, Raiders Red came out lackluster in the 7v7 SIFL Cup.    

Raiders Red started out in a 1-2-2-2 formation, consisting of Collin the Courageous holding down the fort at keeper-sweeper (he remembered to use his hands for once…), Jerry the Jolly and Nasty Nano starting as defenders, Captain Craig and Slick Scott bustling about in the midfield, seeing Antique Aron and Richie the Rapid running around up front to start out against an average Sa*nts team.  Porr the Toiling Thai, Muscled Mustafa, Family Man Miquel, and Coach Colin the Calm rounded off the squad as subs to start the day at Tran Thai in District 7.      

The match began a bit slow, seeing Hades release his hellacious heat on Ho Chi Minh City.  However, Red did manage a 2-2 draw against Sa*nts in the first bout of the day.

Remaining results were:

Sporting: 1-0: Red

(Seeing two Naughty Nigerians sent off, one a straight red for Serious Foul Play, and a Second Yellow being shown to Stanley the Savage)

 

Red: 0-3: Hotshots

(Crafty Clem nets again)

 

Red: 1-2: Arsenal Artists

(Tough battle til the end)

 

Olympique: 2-1: Red

(Je parle seulement un peu de francais)

 

Raiders Red made it to the Spoon Semis, where a knife would have been preferable.  Alas, Sa*nts bested Red 2-1, slipping in a cheeky finish at the death.  

Overall, fitness was a bit lacking.  This is to be expected at the start of a very long season.  Before we know it, all will be fit as fiends (especially with Colin’s impending cutting edge commando combat training ;)).

Red could have at times been a little less direct, and a little more composed all around the pitch, especially in the final third.  Red should have netted a few more goals.  We should have chanced more shots from range.  The keepers should have been tested mercilessly from the start of every match (look what I had to contend with).      

The moment of contingency came when Red failed to capitalize on two Sporting send-offs.  Seeing two men sent off in a 7v7 match, we should have capitalized and buried them in the final minutes.  A decisive victory would have granted a crucial three points, along with a boost of confidence for the whole squad.  I know for a fact this would have undoubtedly allowed us to contend for a top spot in the group.  

As we are all disappointed with the results of the day, no one should take this to heart.  It was a warm-up tournament, seeing tons of new players and personas working together for the first time on a sweltering hot day.

Now, there is still no room for excuses, as everyone could have played tougher, with a bit more heart and urgency.  Also, everyone needs to communicate more instruction, on and off the ball.    

On a positive note, both squads cheered each other on during their battles.  Raiders categorically have the best camaraderie in the SIFL, not to mention some of the best banter (and beer-swilling prowess) I have seen in all my footballing years.  We will no doubt continue to progress as individual footballers and a sporting club.  I know big things are slated for Raiders this season.  The quality is top class.         

Player of the Day for Red Raiders goes to Pound Away Porr, the Tricky Thai who never stopped driving forward.  Seemingly tireless, Porr was incessant tracking back to defend, consistently halting counterattacks.  

This is only the beginning, lads.  We’ve got hardware on the way.

“Remember, a smooth sea never crafted a skilled sailor.”

“Fear is the biggest inhibitor of real potential.”

“Cry ‘HAVOC!’ and let slip the dogs of war.”

 

GET AFTER IT, NEVER SETTLE, AND LET’S TAKE IT TO ‘EM!  

Maraud On,

Collin Owens