Courtesy: The FA.com


One step closer to title
Wednesday, 09 June, 2010

Sheffield seal impressive win against Manchester FC.

Sheffield FC 6-1 Manchester FC
The FA Futsal National League - North
Sunday 6 June 2010

Sheffield FC Futsal confirmed their place in The FA National Play-Offs on Sunday with an emphatic 6-1 victory over Manchester at Concord Sports Centre. The result meant that Sheffield leapfrogged Manchester into first place with the former needing only a draw against Grimsby next week to become The FA Northern National League champions.

The game began tensely with neither team gaining the ascendency in a crucial game for both teams. Manchester broke the deadlock in the third minute when Sheffield’s Richard Moore was caught in possession by Raducio King who slotted the ball past England goalkeeper Curtis Holmes to make the score 1-0.

Sheffield reacted patiently, keeping possession of the Futsal ball and creating space by rotating all four outfield players around the pitch. This paid off for Sheffield with Frazer Thomas drawing two spectacular saves from the Manchester goalkeeper. In the 10th minute, Sheffield eventually scored a deserved equaliser. The team made six passes before Ollie O’Neil cleverly chipped the ball towards the Manchester area into the path of Moore who volleyed into the corner of the net.

Manchester were still very much in the game and were gifted a couple of chances which Sheffield goalkeeper Holmes blocked on both occasions. Sheffield edged the first half and creating some great chances but it took until the 14th minute for England International Ben Mortlock to give Sheffield the lead with a clinical finish into the corner of the net.

For the second half, Manchester swapped their goalkeeper for a more accomplished outfield player to try and overturn the deficit. Sheffield reacted by reverting to a diamond formation to counteract this threat. This paid off as Sheffield counter-attacked in the first minute with Joel Rocha creating space and blasting home to make the score 3-1. Manchester were able to keep possession of the ball and created a couple of chances with King shaving the post on 24 minutes.

Two minutes later, Holmes saw the opportunity for a quick counter attack throwing the ball to Moore who was blocked by the Manchester goalkeeper, who was caught badly out of position. From the resulting free-kick, Frazer Thomas smashed the ball into the top left hand corner with a trademark finish. In the 31st minute, the Manchester goalkeeper was careless in possession allowing for Mortlock to calmly pass the ball into the empty net. Rocha scored his second goal with a close range strike in the 39th minute to complete the 6-1 rout.

Sheffield FC Futsal would not have expected to claim victory as comfortably as this in a game which was billed as the title decider but they will now turn their attention to the final game of the season with one eye on the National League Play-Offs which take place at the University of Surrey on the 10 and 11 of July.

Champions and runners up of the Midlands, North and South League’s will battle it out to decide who will represent England in the UEFA Futsal Cup, challenging professional teams from around Europe.

Sheffield’s final game will be against Grimsby at Concord Sports Centre (KO 3.25pm, admission £2 adults, Under 16’s free). Sheffield FC Futsal, Head Coach, Janio Cruz said: “Come and support the most successful football related team in the city affiliated to Sheffield FC the oldest football club in the world and the Sheffield and Hallamshire County FA.”


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