The Wightlink Raiders have disposed of last year’s play off champions to set up a mouth watering semi-final against old rivals Invicta Dynamos this weekend.
The Raiders went into the quarter final tie with Bracknell Hornets eager to get revenge after the Hornets beat them in the play off final a year ago. And they ran out convincing 9-1 aggregate winners after beating them home and away.
On Saturday the three week break for the home team certainly showed as they got off to a slow start but in the end a short benched Hornets side were no match for the league champions as the Raiders ran out comfortable 7-0 winners.
Man of the match Nathan Taylor hit a brace (and had a third disallowed), with other goals coming from Richard Bentham, Stewart Tait, Richard Facey, Robbie Brown and Steve Gosset.
9-1 aggregate after away game
On Sunday Bracknell put up the inevitable fight but in the end the Raiders took the spoils 2-1 to notch up a 9-1 aggregate win. Jeremy Cornish and Jason Gorrie were the scorers.
Invicta Dynamos now lie in wait for the Raiders after they beat Streatham Redskins 7-3 last night to run out 9-5 winners on aggregate. The eight times champions had a dreadful end to the league season but will be a different outfit in the semi-finals and there’s no doubt the Raiders will have to be at their very best to make the final. The first leg is on Saturday night at 6pm with the return on Sunday in Kent.
Invicta always bring a noisy support with them so Raiders fans will need to bring their best voices to spur their team on to victory.So far this season the Raiders have beaten the Dynamos twice, lost once and drawn once.
The other semi-final is an all Essex affair between Romford Raiders and Chelmsford Chieftains.
Image: © Used with the kind permission of Nicky Craft
