Annus horribilus, the only way Grafton United will remember season 2017. Winless in all starts and it didn’t get any better this past week as the Raiders in a catch up game on Wednesday night at Rushforth Park pumped in 16 unanswered goals and followed that up with an eyewatering 12 last Sunday at the Cabbage Patch, Ben Dooley and Fabrice Wamara both featuring heavily on the scoresheet. Not the best warm up for the final series for Paul Pomroy’s men though. Their opposition in the semifinal, Boambee FC, may not have been tested fully either as they played the other Grafton side who are only a few points higher than zero on the ladder.
The semis though should provide a higher level of competition for spectators, in a home and away format where away goals are worth 2 it will be very interesting indeed at Ayreshire Park this weekend as the Bombers try to do what they have been unable to do to this point ie beat the Raiders. 5-1 and 2-0 in the previous encounters through the season would seem to favour the Raiders but at Areodrome of Ayreshire Park who knows.
In other results the Raiders reserve grade had 9-0 and 7-1 wins over Grafton and will play Sawtell in their first semi that game likely to be at Toormina on Saturday. The women’s first grade also a stirring 1-0 win at the Cabbage Patch over Woolgoolga, Kelsie Williamson-Leslie the hero with a second half screamer from a thousand yards! Bre Martin and Belinda Moore both key players in that victory. They will take on the Boambee Eagles at the Cabbage Patch this Saturday and that promises to be a great contest. Go you Raiders!