The Wightlink Raiders need just a draw from their final league game at home to Cardiff this Saturday to clinch the English National League title.
Saturday’s 11-1 win over Swindon ended the Invicta Dynamos 8 year run as league champions and means only Chelmsford or Romford can catch the Raiders if they slip up this weekend. Even then one of them would need to win all their remaining matches to steal the title from the Island team.
Saturday’s win was fairly routine despite bottom of the table Swindon taking an early lead for the second game in a row at Ryde this season.
A Jeremy Cornish hat trick and two goals from Brad Watchorn set the home team on their way to the win with Josh Florey, Richard Facey, Dom Hopkins, Robbie Brown, Steve Gosset and Jason Gorrie all chipping in with a goal each.
Sunday game
Sunday night the Raiders picked up their first silverware of the season albeit in a competition with only two teams.
The Raiders Cup saw them take on namesakes Romford over two legs and after a 5-2 win at Ryde Arena back in November Jeremy Cornish’s team were always favourites to lift the cup. In the end they ground out a 1-1 draw to win the final 6-3 on aggregate.
Jason Gorrie scored the goal.
Raiders face biggest game in 14 years
So the Raiders this week face their biggest game in 14 years knowing a draw against Cardiff will be enough to lift the league trophy. Cardiff themselves are battling to make the end of season play offs so will be looking to come away from the Island with both points themselves.
Meanwhile Raiders defenceman Dan Scott will miss Saturday’s game after injuring the ankle he broke last season during the recent league match with Romford. He’s expected to be out for around a month and is hoping to be fit for the play off quarter final on 9th April.
Image: © Used with the kind permission of Nicky Craft
