Press release by Middlesbrough Futsal Club

Middlesbrough Futsal Club took 6 points from their final two matches of the Futsal Premier League Northern Conference to go top, one point ahead of Sheffield Stormers. Sheffield, however, can take the title with a win against Birmingham in the final game of the season on 10th June, but Boro are hopeful that last year's FPL runners-up can do them a favour and hand Boro the Northern Conference.

Boro came up against oldest rivals University of York in the opening match of the day in what was the 5th meeting between the two teams in 18 months. Boro have beaten University of York on all 4 occasions (all as University of Teesside), the most recent, a thrilling encounter, coming in the final of the York Futsal Open 2007.

Boro, playing in green and white stripes, went ahead through Ryon Leyshon, who notched his 11th goal in the FPL North. A second shortly after through Matt Rafter said that York weren't going to put up a strong a fight as in the previous 2 meetings. Leyshon doubled his tally and gave Boro a 3-1 lead going into half time. It was at half time that news of Birmingham's no show came through and a win against York would put Boro top, at least for two weeks. With only one game now to play, the Boro players didn't have one eye on the following game and could go all out. That they did straight from kick off in the 2nd half as Amos, captain for the match, got the 4th goal 11 seconds after the restart.

The second half saw the introduction of Great Britain international Ben Mortlock, who was resting due to a knee injury picked up in training. It also saw Ben Everson, York's bane, come to life and mesmerize the York defense with his trickery and goals. Everson had been influential for Teesside by scoring a brace in the finals of the York/Teesside Championship and the York Futsal Open. Everson bagged another 3 goals against York in his first appearance in the FPL. David Herbert, last season’s player of the year also chipped in with a goal in a season plagued by injury. York managed to create very few chances, but on 2 of those occasions, managed to capitalise on loose defending by Boro and scored, what became 2, consolation goals. Wootton, also carrying a slight knock scored a fortunate goal, to take his all time goals to 38. Mortlock was in space and placed a shot low into the bottom corner, only for it to hit Wootton, who proceeded to roll the ball over the line.

Boro, despite being disappointed not to test themselves against Birmingham, went top. Manager Damon Shaw summed up the feeling within the squad.

“I would rather have played Birmingham and lost than what happened. We were under no pressure to win as we have already qualified for the FA Futsal Cup and playing as many matches as possible is what we’re hoping to do between now and the [FA Futsal Cup] finals.

“That’s not to take anything away from the lads. They deserve to be where they are and we have proven ourselves to be the best team in that league and one of the top teams in the country.

“I’ve spoken to Ikhlaq [Birmingham manager] and he said he’s going to see what he can do. He knows that he can hand us the title and I’m sure he would rather see us take it and finish runners-up than hand the title to Sheffield.”

The match was also Xavi’s last match at the top level of English futsal. He will return to Spain after the warm up tour of Italy. He can still get his second medal of the year this Saturday when University of Teesside 1st team take on Dream Team in the Tees Valley league decider.

“Xavi’s had a fantastic season. He came over to Middlesbrough to learn English and he came to us not knowing anybody. It will be sad to see him leave and I’m still hopeful we can persuade him to play in the FA Futsal Cup finals, but either way he will go down in Boro’s history.”

The tour to Italy will be the final matches the club play before going to Sheffield for the FA Futsal Cup finals. It is certain to be great preparation, with teams such as Czech Republic Under 21s and semi professional European teams making up the Val Di Chienti Futsal Cup.

Keep checking www.BoroFutsal.co.uk for the latest club and futsal developments.



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