Newly-promoted Raiders thrash West Adelaide 7-2 to go second in National Premier Leagues SA

RAIDERS coach Nik Kuzman says there is more to come from red-hot striker Terence Carter after his four-goal haul fired the newly-promoted club to a 7-2 thrashing of West Adelaide and second place on the National Premier Leagues SA table.

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Raiders coach Nik Kuzman says there is more to come from red-hot striker Terence Carter, as his goal scoring form continues to fire his side’s impressive top flight return.

The English forward took his tally to seven strikes in his past three matches after bagging four in the Gepps Cross club’s 7-2 thrashing of West Adelaide on Saturday.

Carter found the net twice either side of half-time at the Parks to extend Raiders’ unbeaten run to four games and move them to second on the National Premier Leagues SA table.

Kuzman said the off-season recruit had the potential to do more damage as the newly-promoted club set its sights high.

English striker Terence Carter scored four goals in Raiders’ demolition of West Adelaide. Picture: Adam Butler

“He’s doing well, but I believe that he can still get better,” said Kuzman, of former Adelaide Comets front man Carter.

“He’s still adjusting to the league and we haven’t seen the best of him yet.

“If he continues to work hard and do what we ask, I’m sure he’ll keep scoring goals.

“But the challenge for him is he’s earning a reputation in the league and once you get that target on your back as a striker, it’s tough to keep putting them away.

“We base our game on the team thing, so if he’s doing the that then we’re happy with him.”

Raiders’ handsome victory looked unlikely in the 36th when West’s Ibrahima Kamara cancelled out Josh Mori’s early opener.

But two strikes to Carter in a seven-minute spell before the break put them in control, before the host’s goalkeeper Lewis Moss was sent off bringing down the hitman on 53 minutes.

The visitors took full advantage as Carter fired home twice more and substitute Scott Tunbridge grabbed his first of the campaign.

Perry Mitris scored a late consolation from the penalty spot for the home side, but Oliver Zafiridis rubbed salt into West’s wound in stoppage time.

“It was a tough game and in the first half, it could’ve gone either way,” said Kuzman, who praised the displays of teenagers Jackson Walls, Kalilou Kamara and Emanuel Philip.

“There was chances at both ends, but we capitalised on our chances and they missed a couple.

“In the second half their goalkeeper was sent off and that’s when the game opened up.

Josh Mori scored Raiders’ opener in the 7-2 thrashing of West Adelaide. Picture: Adam Butler

“We’re happy to get the points, but I’m sure if a player didn’t get sent off it would’ve been a tougher game for us.”

The result lifted Raiders to within one point of new league-leader and fellow promoted side Adelaide Blue Eagles, while relegating winless West to 10th.

But Kuzman was refusing to get carried away by his charges’ encouraging position ahead of this weekend’s bye for the opening round of the FFA Cup SA.

“Until the halfway point of the season, you can’t determine anything,” said Kuzman, in his third year at the helm.

“But we’re a proud club with a proud history.

“We’ve been on vacation for a couple of years in the State League, but we’re one of the founders of this league and we belong here (in the NPL).”

Blue Eagles took over the competition lead after downing previously top Adelaide Olympic 3-1.

Italian hitman Emanuele Testardi was on target in Adelaide Blue Eagles’ victory over Adelaide Olympic. Picture: Picture: Joe Janko

A brace to Italian import Emanuele Testardi maintained the Marden side’s undefeated record, after Christos Pounendis had equalised for Olympic following Hamish McCabe’s early strike.

Croydon Kings also remained unbeaten, as Nathan Munro secured a 1-1 draw at home to MetroStars, for whom Christian Esposito was on target.

Adelaide City wiped out its six-point deduction as it held on for a 2-2 draw with Campbelltown City at Oakden.

Antony Costa and brother Joe Costa gave the Black and Whites a two-goal half-time buffer, but Alex Mullen and Adam Piscioneri squared the ledger for the reigning champion.

Former La Liga defender Jon Aurtenetxe grabbed a dramatic injury-time winner to snatch a 3-2 success for Comets over bottom side South Adelaide at O’Sullivans Beach.

A Pacifique Niyongabire double and a Carlo Armiento strike steered Adelaide United youth to a 3-0 triumph against Para Hills and back into the top six.