Courtesy: The FA.com


Stunning comeback seals Boro win

Monday, 07 March, 2011

Middlesbrough FC keep their season alive with fine victory.

Middlesbrough Futsal Club 7-6 Sheffield FC
The FA Futsal National League North
1.30pm, Sunday 6 March 2011
Thornaby Pavilion

A stunning comeback saw Middlesbrough snatch victory from league leaders Sheffield in a 13 goal thriller at Thornaby Pavilion on Sunday.

Boro came from behind to score five goals in five minutes and held their nerve to secure a narrow 7-6 win and keep their play-off hopes alive.

MFC had suffered a dismal 9-3 defeat to defending champions, Sheffield in the reverse fixture just three weeks earlier and looked a little gun shy in the opening exchanges.

A cautious start by Boro saw most of the attacking play come from Sheffield, but it was Boro who opened the scoring, when good play from Robbie Bettson allowed Mikey Roberts to slide the ball home into Sheffield’s gaping net.

An excellent reflex save from Boro goalkeeper Eliot Brown stopped an immediate Sheffield equaliser, but the visitors drew level eight minutes later when a long range shot from former Boro captain Ryon Leyshon deflected in off current captain Jason Kilbride's shoulder.

Sheffield then took the lead when a counter attack resulted in Burgess slotting in unmarked at the far post. Roberts equalised shortly before half time when a superb lay-off from Sean O’Brien played in Roberts who beat Jonas Puolamaki with a neat finish. But Sheffield regained the lead with a well struck penalty from Burgess after Kilbride’s accidental handball.

After the interval, Sheffield were in the ascendancy and the goals came at a steady pace from Ward, Chapmann and Steel. It looked to be all over from Boro, whose whole season was hanging in the balance.

With the game at 2-6, Boro boss Damon Shaw called a time out yelling ‘do it for the fans’ as the players ran back onto the pitch.

A crowd of around 50 home supporters, including Middlesbrough Football Club’s infamous Red Facton urged Boro on throughout. The Pavilion was festooned with Boro banners and flags and red and white confetti rained down whenever Boro scored.

Sheffield hadn’t counted on the fighting spirit of the Teessiders, or the effect the vocal home fans would have on the Boro players.

Mikey Roberts, the runaway man of the match, played like a man possessed, inspiring an awesome team comeback full of pride and passion.

In contrast, Sheffield seemed to lose belief, despite going close as the final whistle approached.

As play restarted Boro’s unbelievable comeback began. Talent and teamwork resulted in Pete Bulmer rifling home twice in quick succession, taking the score to 4-6 with Sheffield starting to panic.

Boro continued to press, cheered on by the home fans, and were rewarded with an own goal from Steel followed swiftly by Roberts completing his hat-trick with a thunderbolt which flew emphatically into the net.

Josh Phillip’s second goal of the season proved to be the winning strike, although Boro had to stay focused to deny Sheffield a late equaliser, and Leyshon hit the post.

The final whistle saw jubilant celebrations from the Boro boys, and dejection from the Sheffield camp.

Sheffield remain top of the table but will be desperately disappointed to have thrown away such a strong lead.

Boro now have to win their remaining five games and hope Sheffield and Manchester drop points if they are to have any hope of securing a place in The FA Futsal League playoffs.



Courtesy: The FA.com


Team United squeeze past Bath

Monday, 28 March, 2011

Seven goal thriller in National Futsal League.

Team Bath 3-4 Team United
The FA Futsal National League Midlands
Sunday 27 March 2011

Top of the table Team United Birmingham travelled to Team Bath in the National Futsal League last weekend in what was a mouth-watering match. The previous meeting ended in a 1-1 draw and this game also looked like it was going to be a tight affair.

Both teams had strong squads and this made for a very high tempo and exciting game of Futsal. It was the home side who started the stronger applying deep pressure onto the Team United players to regain possession and attack quickly. Early on, Bath created good chances with Canham and Yilmaz going close at the back post, but neither could convert. However, after eight minutes captain Ian Parkes gave Bath the lead by winning possesion high up in the attacking half and beating the Team United Goal Keeper Chris Bloore down to his right. As a result, Team United tried to slow the pace of the game down forcing Bath defenders out of position and by doing so were creating good one on one opportunities particularly through Emmanual Gueyes down the right. It was through the lively Gueyes that Team United equalised, cutting in from the right and shooting low, initially a weak shot looked comfortable for the Bath defenders to deal with but the ball took a double deflection and ended up in the back of the net.

The goal rallied Team United who began having more ball possession in the Bath half. Nevertheless, Bath still looked dangerous on the break and from a kick-in played the ball forward early to Kitson who saw his shot parried and land at Parkes's feet who tucked the ball home to make it 2-1. Although ahead for the last five minutes of the half, Bath lost control of the game and allowed the game to become a counter attacking match.

This played into the hands of the Birmingham side who scored two quick goals to turn the game on its head. Firstly, Davood Maroofi beat his defender on the by-line and toe poked the ball home under Dix in the Bath goal to level things up. Then a minute before half time, Neham Haq won possession mid-court and finished off a 3v2 counter attacking move to make it 3-2 to Team United at the break.

Bath didn't seem too perturbed by the score as they were creating lots of chances throughout the first half and continued to do so in the second half. Bloore in the Team United goal was having a fantastic match keeping the score at 3-2. Bath's attacking rotations were finding them space and time and Mark Ingram took advantage of this, advancing forward and shooting from 12 yards, this time Bloore was beaten but the ball rebounded off the post.

Then Team United hit Bath with another sucker punch. Bath so close to scoring themselves were undone on the counter, a quick ball lofted to the back post allowed Flavien Chambaud to make it 4-2. Bath now had to react and once again out of nothing, Captain Parkes brought the hosts to within one goal of making it 3-4 with a turn and shot from the edge of the box. In the last five minutes, Team United continued to play on the break and got to five fouls. In return, Bath deployed the powerplay and again came close with Jennings almost scoring at the back post.

Time ran out for Bath and in what was a great advert for English Futsal Team United Birmingham took the spoils and cemented their place at the top of the Midlands League. Bath now will be fighting with Chippenham for that all important 2nd place and route to the National Play off Finals.


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