It was a tough day for our beloved South Coast Flame side, going down 6-0 on home turf against SD Raiders.

The SD Raiders wasted no time asserting their dominance, scoring their first goal only 2 minutes after the opening whistle. After some effective combination play starting from the back line, through the midfield and into the wide channel we saw the away side attacking with force. A pass across the face of the goal resulted in a back post tap in for Taiana Almedia who took her team into the lead.

SD Raiders seemed to maintain extended passages of possession and created various opportunities looking to increase their lead.

Notably, Flame showed heart with moments of desperate defending in the box and goal saving tackles to keep the game in reach.

In the 43^rd minute, Flame had their first chance at goal. Jarrah Fuz did well to feed Marwa Sulaiman into the wide channel who beat her defender and looked to square the ball into the box. However, the pass was intercepted by Raiders defence and cleared, falling at the feet Kellie McIntyre. McIntyre took her chance from distance, although the ball was comfortably scooped up by Raider’s keeper.

Several seconds before the half time whistle Raiders managed to increase their lead. After a corner was cleared out of the box by Jessica Cruikshank it landed at the feet of Isabella Sultan who took her chances, hitting the ball into a crowded box. The ball deflected off a Flame defender sliding past an already committed Ciara Wade, ending the half with an unfortunate own goal.

The opening minutes of the second half seemed more promising for the home side with Flame starting to show more confidence holding possession and building up from the back.

Although on the 49^th minute SD Raiders increased their lead. After some quick one-touch passes around the box, Tahlia Voskanian pulled off a quick shot that Wade couldn’t manage to hold down, bouncing out of her hands and into the back of the net.

The Flame side seem to unravel, conceding another two goals on the 61^st minute and 64^th minute taking the away side into a 5-nil lead.

South Coast did create a couple attacking chances, Kellie McIntyre and Paula Mitchell both carrying the ball into the box on separate occasions, although struggling to pull off the final pass to Emily Kostovski sitting in front of goal.

In the 82^nd minute, Olga Gasteratos polished off her team’s lead off after chipping Flame’s second keeper Abigail Inman from just outside the box.

On the final whistle the game ended with SD Raiders heading home with 6-nil win and 3 points. The disappointed Flame side ready to hit to training ground and focus on the games ahead.