HAMILTON Raiders Soccer club has claimed the South West Victoria Football Association Under-14 title with an incredible victory against arch rivals, Warrnambool Wolves.

After suffering defeat in the grand final last season, the Raiders exacted revenge against the Wolves this year with a 5-4 victory on penalties after the two teams were tied at the end of extra time.

Hamilton was able to quickly assert themselves on the opposition with a fast 2-0 lead that appeared to be stun the Wolves, but the opposition struck back to level the scores at 2-2 at the sound of the halftime whistle.

It was going to be a high scoring game as the attack from both teams was brilliant as the defence of each was shredded with some wonderful skills.

Hamilton again grabbed a brace of goals to lead 4-2 and seemingly have one hand on the trophy, but the wolves came again and netted a further three times to take a 5-4 lead with time quickly running out.

The equaliser came for the Raiders just before the fulltime whistle, and the teams then faced two, 10-minute periods of extra time.

The first half of extra time saw the defences of both team stall tall against the oncoming pressure provided by both attacking units and with only one 10-minute period of extra time to play the score was locked together.

Warrnambool Wolves scored early in that second half and the Raiders did all within their power to equalise but the goal never cam and it looked as if the Wolves would lift the ropy again.

With only 15-seconds left of extra time, Hamilton Raiders right-wing, Lachlan Reid scored the third of his four goals on the day to tie the scores at 5-5 when time ran out.

The game then went to the dreaded penalty shootout and Hamilton Raiders captain, Elwood Perry stepped into his goal mouth and saved two shots from the Wolves while his opposite number could only mange to stop one from the Raiders.

Best players on the day were Lachlan Reid, Elijah Fitzgerald, Maddox Broughton and Alexander McAdam, but all players played at a high level.

For the second year running Dylan McLachlan and Woody Perry were the leading goal scorers in the league, with McLachlan swapping with last year’s Golden Boot, Perry.

“This was my first year coaching Under-14s but I had coached most of the players in the two years that I had coached Under-12s and all but three of the players will be going up to Under-17’s next year,” Hamilton raiders coach, Rodney Perry said.

“I expect them to be just as successful next year as they are a talented and determined group of players.

Hamilton finished the season in second spot to Wolves who went undefeated before their grand final loss with Hamilton kicking 113 goals for the season and only had 12 goals scored against them for a massive goal difference of 101.