It was a masterclass from the effervescent midfielder who had the Sawtell defence chasing shadows at Toormina Oval last week. Dooley finished off an elaborate move in the first half then a brace in the second to complete the triple, commenting after the game that the support he received from Kale Hopper and Grant Homes set up his opportunities.

Indeed the combination of Hopper and Homes proved too much for the Scorpions who were exuberant in defence but only sporadic in attack.

Dooley’s twin strikes in the second stanza killed off any prospect of an upset in what was an entertaining albeit freezing encounter.

Raiders coach Paul Pomroy counted the victory as one of the finest team performances of the year, and with finals looming, team performances not individual will be of paramount importance.

The final scoreline of 3-0 and the addition of three competition points for the Raiders completed round 12 and has Urunga in second position, two points adrift of Coffs Harbour and 10 points ahead of third placed Sawtell.

The Raiders second match of the week was at the picturesque Orara Valley home of the Dingoes.

It took all of three minutes and 17 seconds for the Raiders to announce their presence in this fixture. The Dingoes kicked off, lost the ball midfield, and Grant Homes passed to Fabrice Wamara who dropped the ball for Kale Hopper who rounded the keeper and tapped home.

Orara, perhaps caught unawares, then scrambled in defence to blunt the Raiders confident attack.

Stan Russ, the Valley’s captain, was having some difficulty of holding Fabrice Wamara, who was a constant threat on goal.

But it wasn’t until the 43rd minute that the Raiders posted number two and that was via Ben Dooley. Craig ‘Turtle’ Simpson, who’d done some good work on the right flank, looked up to see Dooley closing on the far post. Turtle’s sublime cross was pounded into the net by Dooley.

Just a minute later, Joe Pettit, who had been dreaming of his first top level goal for 17 years, got his chance. Pettit picked up a loose ball just outside the Orara penalty area, dodged two overcommitted defenders, and put his right foot through the ball. At first the shot seemed to be destined for the adjacent cow paddock but topspin had it dip over a stranded keeper and into the Dingoes net. The Raiders were three-nil up at the break and looking ominous.

The Raiders fourth seemed inevitable as the Urunga side piled on the pressure. Paul Pomroy’s long pass to Ben Dooley caught the Dingoes defence out of shape and Dooley loves those situations. Boning one rash defender, Dooley fired in a cross that Joe Pettit side footed in, unopposed.

The Raiders fifth and final was scored by Fabrice Wamara, who probably should have been on the scoresheet far earlier after some agonisingly close misses.