Uniondale, N.Y. – With a playoff spot hanging in the balance, the Rough Riders notched another win Thursday night over the visiting Cedar Stars in USL League 2 action in their final home game of the season at Mitchel Athletic Complex.

The Rough Riders came into the match with 17 points through eight matches, trailing the top two teams: Ironbound with 20 points through eight matches and FC Motown with 22 points through nine matches.

It was a back and forth affair through the first ten minutes, but that changed suddenly when Long Island’s Londell Wheeler intercepted a pass from the Cedar Stars’ keeper Anton Kinnunen and passed to an open Carter Tavares in the box who scored, giving a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute.

It wouldn’t be long until Cedar Stars would find an equalizer, though. A Cedar Stars corner kick was headed around until it found the foot of Cedar Stars’ Hugo Tejon who drilled a goal in the 26th minute, moving the score to 1-1.

But the tie wouldn’t last. Long Island would take a free kick quickly catching the Cedar Stars a little off guard, allowing Tyler Morck to receive a pass deep in the box, but he would pass to an open Ayden Kokoszka near the penalty spot who buried in the go-ahead goal, 2-1.

Long Island carried this momentum into the next goal in the 41st minute. Wheeler dribbled around in the box, then passed behind himself to the top of the box finding an open Fracesco Tolaba who buried the long shot, making the score 3-1 headed into halftime.

Shortly into the second half, the Rough Riders would put the game on ice as Wheeler got a goal of his own. Wheeler received a free kick from Morck just outside the eighteen and drilled a shot into the left corner, giving the Rough Riders a 4-1 lead.

The Rough Riders would hold on the rest of the way to get a key victory for their playoff hopes. With two matches to go, Long Island sits two points behind FC Motown and even on points with Ironbound SC, who have three more games left. The Cedar Stars stay in fifth place with 13 points with the loss.

The Rough Riders have a three-game road trip to finish the season. In the next game, the Rough Riders travel to Staten Island to take on Staten Island ASC Saturday night June 27 at 6:00 PM at Hameline Stadium at Wagner College.

For tickets and more information on both the men’s and women’s teams, visit www.LIRoughRiders.com.