Courtesy: Nouse

Semi finals beckon for firsts in Futsal FA Cup qualifiers

April 27, 2009

A place in the semi-finals of the North Riding Cup - a qualifying competition for the Futsal FA Cup proper - is within reach for York firsts after a dominant first half performance gave them a 7-5 win over bitter rivals Teeside last night.

A hatrick from captain James Grey and Dan Hyde’s brace had the team flowing early in the second half and when Jake Delaney, making his first appearance of the season, and Anton Murphy added two more, York had established what seemed like an unassailable 7-2 lead.

But a very credible comeback from Teeside gave them what could turn out to be five crucial away goals when York travel to Middlesborough for the second leg (date TBA). York and Teeside are old rivals of northern universities futsal, seemingly matching up at every opportunity in somewhat Chelsea-Liverpool style. Yesterday’s result came as sweet revenge for York after their opponents had given them the run-around in the Plate final of the BUCS Championships last month.

Once again, Anton Murphy stood out for the home team, setting up several important goals, and he was admirably complimented by Grey and Hyde - Grey having found his scoring touch in front of goal once more. And the appearance of Delaney in preparation for the International Universities tournament in Eindhoven in May was a welcome sight for a team looking to build on a record 8th place finish last year.

“That was a fantastic result, given the fact that none of us had kicked a ball for five weeks,” said Grey, having stepped off a plane from Tenerife himself only days before the tie. “If you had said to me before the game ‘you can score seven passed Teeside or you can take a two goal lead into the second leg’, I’d have happily taken that there and then.”







Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com