Raiders v Adelaide Blue Eagles
PlayStation 4 National Premier League South Australia Round 12

When: Saturday, May 2, 2015. Kick-off at 3pm
Where: Croatian Sports Centre, Main North Road, GEPPS CROSS

Teams:

Raiders: 3 I. Baragomwa, GK D. Chamberlain, 23 N. Fleetwood, 14 Y. Jamal, 8 M. Kamara, RGK S. Kamara, 10 E. Kamsoba, 11 P. Karittevlis, 6 A. Macolino, 16 R. Marveggio, 12 J. O'Doherty, 7 D. Pickert, 2 C. Pounendis, 4 D. Pritchard, 21 M. Saric, 15 J. Stephens

Adelaide Blue Eagles:M. Abit, L. Andreucci, 5 C. Annicchiarico, S. Annicchiarico, 4 C. Atsikbasis, M. Balsamo, 7 J. Boyokino, M. Charalambous, 8 D. Crettenden, 17 M. Dawber, 20 A. Dimas, F. Filletti, 2 A. Harris, 18 K. Harris, 10 S. Hutton-Addy, 13 A. Kebede, 23 H. Kochi, 6 P. Piantedosi, 22 A. Rastovac, J. Shyti, S. Viola

Raiders: L L L

Round 9: Campbelltown City 2 Raiders 1, Steve Woodcock Sports Centre
Round 10: Raiders 1 South Adelaide 2, Croatian Sports Centre
Round 11: Raiders 1 West Torrens Birkalla 3, Croatian Sports Centre

Adelaide Blue Eagles: W L W

Round 9: Adelaide Blue Eagles 4 Para Hill Knights 2, Marden Sports Complex
Round 10: West Torrens Bikalla 3 Adelaide Blue Eagles 1, Jack Smith Park
Round 11: Adelaide Blue Eagles 1 Adelaide Metro Stars 0, Marden Sports Complex

Raiders will attempt to end a horrid run of losses as they take on Adelaide Blue Eagles in Round 12 of the PlayStation 4 National Premier League South Australia at the Croatian Sports Centre on Saturday.

The hosts have succumbed to four consecutive league losses and are currently sitting in 10^th position on the ladder, whilst their opponents are sitting comfortably in second place.

Despite undergoing a four game losing streak, the situation is not as dire they appear to be at the Croatian Sports Centre as Raiders player Daniel Pritchard explains:

“It’s not too disheartening at the moment. I mean; we’re still playing some good football, so we’re just trying to stay positive and, you know, keep going our way about,” Pritchard said.

“We haven’t been performing (sic) bad, but like I said, we’re just trying to stay positive and the mood is not too bad considering we’ve lost five.

“But there’s no hiding the fact that we need to turn it around really.”

In order to turn things around, the Raiders need to score more goals, which has been the main concern for the home side.

“(We) just need to be more clinical in front of goal; that’s an obvious one in soccer,” Pritchard explains.

“You gotta put the ball in the net to win games and we’re struggling to do that.

“So, we’re still creating chances. I feel that these games that we have lost, we had been in positions to win.

“We just need to capitalise and hopefully on Saturday, we can put the ball in the net.”

The Blue Eagles have had no such problem, predominantly thanks to Kym Harris, who has scored 12 goals in 11 matches this season.

After a ferocious start to the season, the Blue Eagles experienced a couple of minor setbacks against potential finals contenders West Torrens Birkalla and Campbelltown City, playing out a 3-1 loss and 1-1 draw respectively.

But according to Blue Eagles’ Yvan Boyokino, losing momentum is just part of the game.

“You’ll have a point in the season, where you will drop down a little bit, which is normal,” Boyokino explains.

“So, you will have to accept your weak moments, as well you’ll have to be strong enough to bounce back.

“It’s pretty normal. We’re not scared about that.”

Facing a Raiders outfit that has been struggling of late away at the Croatian Sports Centre, Boyokino is aware that he and his teammates will have a fight on their hands come Saturday.

“Raiders, how you say, they’re inconsistent. They have some really strong points, like some good strikers and they are playing at home,”Boyokino said.

“It’s a big community; they have all these people there to support them.

“So, it’s a game, where we have to be really focused.”

Article by Christopher Munker