How Raiders did not win this game has left me bewildered. It is fair to say that Raiders were not at their best in the second half, however they had enough chances to see off a stubborn Cribbs side.

Following heavy rain fall just before kickoff the game was played on a very heavy pitch. Cribbs
had the first attack of the game, crossing the ball into the Raiders box, which was easily dealt with by Charlie.

Raiders always looked like the dominant side and went ahead on 10 minutes after a fantastic
header from Natty Hewitt, scoring a goal on his home debut.

At this point I expected a Raiders goal rush, though it never materialised. Cribbs Buster Reed went one on one with Charlie, who came out of his box to clear the ball and collided with Reed.

Cribbs shouted for a free kick and argued with the ref that Charlie had played the man not the
ball. The ref did not react to the complaints of the Cribbs players and the extremely vocal Cribbs bench, awarding a drop ball to Raiders.
Raiders remained in full control throughout the first half. There was a shout for a Raiders penalty after the ball appeared to strike a Cribbs defender’s arm, nothing given by the ref. Manny came close not long after, with the keeper saving to his right and then saving from the rebound shot from Kiyan Baker-Mckay.
Second half saw a transformed Cribbs team emerge. Following a Raiders corner kick, Cribbs’ James Conway cleared to Luco Ponsillo who passed wide to Buster Reed who slotted the ball past Charlie.

Raiders came close to a second when a shot from Manny was cleared off the line by an athletic Cribbs defender, Conway, who came rushing back to make the goal line clearance. Raiders kept pressing for their second goal but it felt that something was lacking. A second penalty appeal by Raiders, for a challenge in the box, was waved away by the ref.

Bailey Fuller brought some flair to the game, with his runs down the right wing and crosses into the box. Jordan Stoddart put in a captains performance, with constant vocal encouragement and pushing forward in the latter stages of the game.

Cribbs almost had the last say of the game, when an unusually poor clearance by Charlie was collected by a Cribbs player, his shot from distance was thankfully saved by Charlie.
Given the chances, I am still baffled as to how Raiders failed to win. At times the game was spoilt by a very vocal Cribbs bench, the continuous swearing at the officials and unsportsmanlike conduct towards Raiders players was not good to see. Raiders second half performance was below par, however goal scoring opportunities were created. The game needs to be chalked off as a bad day at the office and focus moved to upcoming games.

Next Games
Saturday 6 December
HLP
Tuffley Rovers
Glevum Park Lower Tuffley Lane Gloucester GL2 5DP
Kick Off 3:00pm

Tuesday 9 December
Worcestershire FA Senior Invitation Cup
Bromsgrove Sporting FC
DOADC Stadium Claines Lane Worcester WR3 7SS