Courtesy: The FA.com


Team Bath sweep past Cardiff

Monday, 29 November, 2010

Opening day Futsal victory for Team Bath.

Team Bath 8-0 Cardiff Cymru
The FA Futsal League - South
Sunday 28 November
Founders Hall, Bath University

Team Bath Futsal Club got their FA National Futsal League Midlands League campaign off to a flying start, with an 8-0 demolition of new boys Cardiff Cymru Futsal Club in front of a packed crowd in Founders Hall on campus.

Bath were tactically a cut above their Welsh opponents and the win is a real show of intent by the team as they look to reach the National League play-offs this season, to give themselves a shot at becoming national champions. David Jennings scored four of Bath’s eight goals, with Grahame Gardiner (2), Mark Ingram and Sion Kitson also getting in on the act.

Rather surprisingly, given their 13-1 defeat by Chippenham in their inaugural National League game last weekend, Cardiff decided to go with a full court press early on, in an attempt to really go at the hosts - this proved to be a mistake though.

After a few early chances for Kitson and Parkes, it was Gardiner who would open the scoring for Team Bath on eight minutes; a quick through from keeper Brendan Dix found Kitson on the left-hand side, who cut the ball back across goal for Gardiner to tap in at the back post.

Within barely a minute, Team Bath had doubled their lead as Gardiner’s clipped effort from ten yards out was pushed onto the post by Cardiff keeper Kevin Green, but Kitson was on hand to slam Bath into a two-goal lead.

Cardiff were struggling defensively by this stage and Bath continued to exploit the sizeable gaps that were available to them on the counter attack.

Inevitably, a third goal came after 11 minutes; Kitson once again doing well on the left, and again finding Gardiner at the back post for 3-0.

Team Bath kept coming though, and some a very smart interchange from Rob Yilmaz and David Jennings saw the former denied by Green. As was to perhaps be expected, Cardiff called the time out, as they tried to regroup.

Indeed, they almost got back into it on 13 minutes, as Jafar saw his long range effort drift just wide of Dix’s right-hand post. But Bath hit back yet again, as Jennings beat the onrushing Green to make it four on 15 minutes, before Mark Ingram made it five just a minute later, following up after Green had made yet another good stop.

Incredibly, on 17 minutes, Jennings then made it 6-0, as Bath seemed to score every time they won the ball.

The second half brought much of the same from Kitson’s side, as Jennings completed his hat trick within a minute of the restart; an accomplished finish with his unfavoured right foot, after a great through ball by Parkes.

Sensationally, Jennings then grabbed his fourth of the afternoon just a minute later, as Bath found the net for an eighth time.

That was to be the final goal of the afternoon for Team Bath though, as Cardiff started to finally settle into the game; Lima had to deny Nelson on 25 minutes, before Fabini saw his goalbound effort blocked soon afterwards. The Portuguese shot stopper also had to be on his toes to parry away Dolman’s effort on 28 minutes.

Team Bath player coach Sion Kitson was satisfied overall with the performance: “It was a great first half, and even if the second half was a little sloppy, we shouldn’t forget the many positives as well as a few of the great goals we scored. We will look to iron out the errors in training ahead of the Newbury game.”

Four-goal man Dave Jennings was also all-smiles at the final whistle: “Naturally I’m delighted with the four goals, although it was a shame that we went off the boil a bit in the second half. It was a great performance overall though.”

Cardiff keeper Kevin Green acknowledged that his side still had a lot to do: “We’ve had two tough games, and we still have a lot to learn. Bath deserve credit for how they played though.”

Team Bath: GKs: Dix, Lima- Jennings, Kitson, Scheben, Parkes, Yilmaz, Ingram, Gardiner, Bourdin. (Coach: Sion Kitson)

Cardiff Cymru: GK: Green- Carvalho, Mills, Nelson, Croft, Howells, Church, Dolman, Whippe, Falsini, Jafar, Fior. (Coach: Mark Morgans)


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