FA Futsal League: National Midlands League

Team United Birmingham 4 – 0 Hereford FT

The FA Futsal leagues opening fixture was not without a sense of irony for reigning Midlands Division champions as Team United. As their first game at their new home at the Birmingham International
Futsal Arena was against Hereford the only team to beat them at home in the whole of last season’s campaign. After completing a promising pre season including a thrashing of league new boys Cardiff, Team United went into the match high in confidence. However, injuries, work commitments and the severe weather would mean that United were forced into several changes to their starting lineup.

England international Nick Colley, new signing Matt Wooten were both caught up in snow related traffic jams, whilst Richard Sneekers and Emmanuel Gueyes were missing through injury and work commitments.
The last minute changes to the side showed as United started the game slowly as Hereford pressed early on. After a slick Hereford move down the left hand side United ‘keeper Bloore was forced into an
excellent one handed save in the opening minute. Hereford continued to press forward and only ‘keeper Bloore and the crossbar prevented them from taking the lead. Slowly Team United came into the game
and the impressive Nawaz and debutant Lublins interchanged on several occasions to create chances at the back post that were not taken. However the deadlock was to be broken just before half time as a poor Hereford challenge came in the box gave Team United a penalty. Debutant Matt Wooten who has just returned from playing Futsal in Italy calmly placed the ball to the goalkeeper’s right and into the corner of the net ( 1 – 0).
Half Time 1-0

Hereford started the second half as they had the first on the attack with ‘keeper Bloore forced into a tip over from a well struck corner routine and Hereford really should have equalized when their striker was left free at the back post and could only put the ball over the bar when he really should have scored from an incisive ball across the box. This missed chance spurred on Team United and after a flowing move debutant Lublins was found by a square ball at the back post to make it 2-0 and effectively kill off a spirited Hereford (2 -0). The second goal clearly settled the young United side as the impressive Moraka and Nawaz continued to raid on the Hereford goal.

The Hereford keeper made several splendid saves, however he would be beaten a further two times. Debutant Moraka (3-0) would get his reward for an impressive debut with a calmly taken goal and the impressive Nawaz (4-0) finished off an impressive second half that manager Hussain was clearly delighted with.
This was a solid performance by a new look United side that improved throughout the game. The score line could and should have been more with the chances flowing in the second half. Team United Birmingham will travel to Loughbrough on Sunday night (December 5th) for an evening kick off and their first away fixture.

Team United Birmingham: Amuli (C), Bloore (GK), Colley, Haq, Lublins, Moraka, Nawaz, Pando, Wooten.

Hereford Futsal Club: Carpenter, Chambers, Cheal, Coleman, Davies, Freitas, Maursky, Moereia, Nowicki, Tamblin.

MOM: Bloore


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