SEE MATCH PHOTOS
SEE WEEKEND REVIEW
DANNY CARO'S TEAM OF THE WEEK
Raiders, who top the MGBSFL Premier Division, went into the final as favourites, although their was little to separate the teams in an even first half.
Jordan Marks, playing on the left-side of attack, was always a threat, while Josh Pistol also caught the eye. Guy Helman was an influential figure for Oakwood in a game played on an excellent surface at The Harry Abrahams Stadium.
Highlights were few and far between in the first half and it looked as though the teams would go in level at the break until a corner from Ben Joseph was flicked on by Pistol for Ricky Engleman to fire home.
Oakwood did not let their heads drop and they took the battle to NLR, finishing the half strongly. They carried on where they had left off at the start of the second half and Cantor then latched on to a slide-rule pass from Helman, touched the ball past Doffman and went to ground, but there were no Oakwood appeals as Lazarus pointed for a goal-kick.
They were rewarded for a good period of pressure moments later with an equalising goal from top-scorer Dave Woolman, who slipped his shot past the onrushing Jake Doffman.
Both teams struggled to created anything clear-cut, although Sam Cantor was a handful for the NLR defence. Woolman fired over when well-placed before Engleman was the first into David Lazarus's notebook for a poorly-timed challenge on Brad Wine.
NLR were rattled and it needed calming words from captain David Rhodes and Pistol to help weather the storm. Woolman tried his luck again, with his sweetly-struck effort slipping through the fingers of Doffman who had a heart-in-mouth moment as he clutched the ball behind him, but importantly not over the goalline.
The decisive moment came in the last 10 minute when Liron Mannie broke clear, with Oakwood appealing for offside, only to be scythed down by the impressive Dale Bradman.
Referee David Lazarus decided to only show Bradman a yellow card, but Dinkin kept his nerve to slot home from the spot, sending Jonny Blain the wrong way.
Raiders held on comfortably in the closing stages, with Oakwood throwing Blain up for a last-minute free-kick but to no avail as L'Orange retained the cup after an almighty battle.
Raiders will be looking to seal the double when they return to league action against Harmen on May 1, with the Morrison final against Hendon scheduled seven days later.
NLR joint-manager Rob Richman told JC Sport: "We're absolutely elated to have retained the cup. It wasn't the greatest cup final, a quite scrappy affair but in the end we just had that bit of quality to get us over the line.
"I think we probably shaded the first half but Oakwood were much the stronger in the second until cramp caught up with their players in the final 15 minutes.
"Oakwood are a great side and it was a one hell of a tough game. They'll be back and will no doubt grab some silverware in the next few years as they have a super talented squad."
Co-boss Jonathan Green told JC Sport: "For us, part one is done. Our next aim is to gain the three points needed to retain the league title. We'll be aiming to do that at the earliest opportunity."
Match-winner David Dinkin told JC Sport: "We actually talked about the fact that we hadn't had a penalty all season at last night's club dinner.
"We didn't practice them in training this week but I knew Jonny Blain wouldn't get down low as he picked up an injury earlier in the game."
Oakwood joint-manager Ric Blank told JC Sport: "The first half was a cagey affair. We didn't play particularly well but also didn't look like conceding.
"I felt the winner was offside, but Dale should have been sent off. He was absolutely magnificent and a real coup for us to sign him at the start of the season.
"Overall we're disappointed as there was nothing between the teams. Jonny Blain didn't have a save to make."
Co-boss Dan Kristall described the early exchanges as "nervy" but claimed Oakwood "were the better team for a period after Raiders scored and the equaliser was inevitable".
Both Blank and Kristall were in agreement that the recent postponed league matches against Blizzard Storm and Harmen affected Oakwood's fitness levels and momentum. "The teams pulling out really hurt us," said Kristall. "Players were cramping up and our fitness stopped our flow. We'll need to step it up again next season."
Blank said he's "looking forward" to having his captain, Adam Levene, back next season and he and Kristall "have a few signings in the pipelines," although not wishing to disclose names.
RAIDERS: Jake Doffman, Josh Pistol, David Rhodes (capt), JJ Spiro, Alex Bloch, Ricky Engleman, Ben Joseph (sub: Jono Rochwerger 83), Liron Mannie, Josh Morris (sub: Oscar Wagner 70), David Dinkin, Jordan Marks. Unused sub: Matt Stock
GOALS: Ricky Engleman 33, David Dinkin 80 (pen)
OAKWOOD: Jonny Blain, David Cohen, Alex Lee, Dale Bradman, Lee Warner, Guy Helman, Josh Rose (sub: Eddie Manson 83), Brad Wine (capt), Dave Woolman, Sam Cantor, Simon Davies. Unused subs: Daniel Ailion, Daniel Selwyn
GOAL: Dave Woolman 52
