Manchester march onto the national play-offs

Sunday 14 September 2008

Manchester Futsal Club - Sheffield Hallam FA Futsal Club 6-1

English Institute of Sport, Sheffield

Manchester Futsal Club will take their place at the FA National Futsal League play-offs at Loughborough University on 27-28 September following their victory in the must win game against Sheffield Hallam FA Futsal Club. It was a professional performance that typified the capability of the squad and the progress the club has made since bringing in Brazilian Coach Rodrigo a few weeks into the season.

Manchester can be proud of their second place finish in the first season of the FA Futsal Conference North and will now have an opportunity to compete for a qualifying place in the 2009/10 UEFA Futsal Cup.

It had been a nervous couple of weeks for the Manchester club following the break in the fixture programme in August. Going into the game versus Sheffield FC both clubs knew that they were in the running for second place with two games to go. Manchester were favourites and only required a point, however the elusive point was not forthcoming as Sheffield FC ran out eventual 9-8 winners, taking the contest into the final week of the season. Missed chances and some questionable decisions from the officials proved to be Manchester’s undoing as Sheffield came from behind to nick a precious win. Frustration was evident as Balan received a red card after the whistle.

The vital game against Sheffield Hallam FA saw the return of Reed to the Manchester starting line-up following his absence in the last game due to England F30 training. The absence of Balan gave a starting place to Bradley as Manchester looked to sure up a defence that had gifted goals the previous week. With barely two minutes on the clock Ovechkin fired Manchester into the lead when he struck fiercely beyond the keeper from a corner set-play, it was the perfect start and it enabled the team to settle into some early possession as nerves were calmed and confidence grew. Manchester adapted better to the small court at EIS and were able to target Richardson in the final third, linking up well with the lively Ovechkin who was looking to add to his goal tally of seventeen for the season.

Manchester’s second stunned Sheffield Hallam as Reed executed an exquisite turn before slotting past the keeper. The game was being played at a fantastic pace with chances at both ends. Allen in the Manchester goal had to be alert on several occasions as Sheffield Hallam looked for a way back into the game. Manchester were conceding fouls at an alarming rate early in the game. Further saves from Allen reflected that Manchester were going to have to work hard for a victory. Reed typified Manchester’s commitment by breaking up play in every area of the court, and it was his pass that released Ovechkin down the right wing. The tricky Russian drove in a cross come shot from the by-line only for the keeper to fumble into the net. It was the luck that had deceived Manchester in the previous week but something they would gladly take in this fixture. Sheffield Hallam rallied and had two opportunities to get back into the game before half-time but wasted their free shots to give Manchester the clear advantage going into the break.

Manchester started the second period poorly and conceded early from a corner following confusion in the box. The goal was a definite wake-up call, however Manchester were finding it difficult to retain possession and execute their passing game. The introduction of Weber gave the home side greater penetration and it paid off when Richardson wriggled his way through two defenders to place his shot into the bottom corner to make it 4-1. The game would have been closer had it not been for Allen as he continued to deny the away team a foothold in the game with a series of confident reflex saves. Two more goals were to follow as Manchester closed in on victory and a place in the play-offs. Ovechkin took his tally to twenty for the season with two more goals, the fourth being the move of the game between Bradley and Weber who cut it back to Ovechkin to sweep home and seal a impressive victory in the final game of the season. The final whistle was greeted with relief and celebration from Manchester. News came through that Middlesbrough had beaten Sheffield FC 11-8. Manchester had done it and could now look forward to enhancing their reputation against the top teams from the Midlands and South Conference.