Courtesy: The FA.com


Sheffield & Leeds Met take Futsal honours

Tuesday, 22 March, 2011

Thrilling three days at BUCS Futsal Championship in Sheffield.

The University of Sheffield were crowned champions of the Men’s 2011 British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Futsal Championships last week at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield. The Championships were played over three days and were the culmination of over 30 events that had taken place regionally throughout the university season with 20 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams negotiating their way through regional matches to play at the finals.

The men’s final proved tactically to be one of the best games in the tournament and it was Sheffield that started the brightest. Goals from Andrew Forster and Richard Ward left them ten minutes away from lifting the trophy. However, Northumbria finished the game strongly and goals from Juan Diago and Alex McPheat sent the game into extra-time.

It was the fourth successive year that the men’s final went to extra-time but this year neither side could find a winning goal, so the final had to be decided on penalties.

Oliver Wheatly-O’Neill, Jack Hands and Andrew Forster all scored for Sheffield before Joonas Pualomaki saved Theo Clarke’s penalty for Northumbria. Richard Ward made the shootout 4-2 to Sheffield before Richard Schofield won the game by thumping it home, sparking scenes of elation.

Sheffield captain Richard Ward commented: “We’ve got a great set of lads and a great team spirit. I’m so proud of everyone, it’s just fantastic. Next year we’ll have more backing and more funding to try and retain the title.”

UWE Hartpury won the Men’s Futsal Trophy by beating East Anglia 4-2 in the day’s first final. East Anglia took the lead in a thrilling game through Simon O’Donoghue. But as the match went on, Hartpury began to dictate play which led to East Anglia cheaply wasting possession. Hartpury deservedly equalised through Jamie Pricktor before Jack Winter scored two brilliantly taken goals. Kiran Dingri added a fourth before East Anglia finished the game with a consolation goal by Chris Baker.

Leeds Met won the Women’s 2011 Futsal Championships with instrumental captain Rachel Lee orchestrating the game for her side. The 2009 winners reached the final by beating MMU Cheshire, last year’s runner-up, in the last four and were on course for a second title in three years as two goals from Jade Moore put them in a commanding position. Their opponents in the final, Brunel, had their chances to score but Laura Jeffery and Katie O’Leary both squandered good opportunities in the game which saw Leeds Met seal the Championship 2-0.

For all the results and more information about university futsal please visit www.bucs.org.uk/futsal


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