FA Futsal Conference North
Sunday 10 January 2010
Manchester Futsal Club 3 Middlesbrough Futsal Club 4
Sugden Sports Centre - Manchester


Expectations were high amongst players and staff as Manchester Futsal Club kicked off their third season in the FA Futsal Conference North against last season’s champions Middlesbrough Futsal Club. Last season Manchester were the only club in the league to take points off the champions and going into the game the team had hoped for a similar outcome. For the whole squad it was a chance to get competitive court time following a long pre-season and a disrupted couple of weeks of preparation due to the Christmas and New Year break.

Manchester started the game with some fluency although it was clear that Middlesbrough were clearly up for the game as they pressed Manchester into some misplaced passes in the early exchanges. Manchester soon regrouped and continued to probe the Boro rearguard which culminated in the move of the first half when Bond and Ovechkin interchanged passes before Ovechkin drove an inch perfect pass for Richardson to open his account with a backpost tap in. With changes to the starting four, Middlesbrough looked to frustrate Manchester debutants Hamblin and Poyser. Within minutes they were rewarded when former Middlesbrough player Hamblin forced a pass and was intercepted. Middlesbrough duly accepted the gift to bring them back into the game.

Manchester nearly fell further behind following a crazy minute when they conceded a penalty and had a man sent off. Bahzuri had been introduced by Head Coach Freitas and in no time he was walking off the court when the referee sent him off following a handball which blocked an almost certain second for Middlesbrough. Manchester were reprieved when Magalhaes saved the spot kick. Following the sending-off Manchester were forced to defend tirelessly for the regulation two minutes before they could replace the departed Bahzuri.

They eventually went behind when Uddin switched off leaving a Boro player unmarked who made no mistake and dispatched his header into the top corner. Manchester looked shell shocked but there was plenty of time to get back into the game. That hope looked all the more distant when Manchester backed off to allow Boro to score a third following a surging run and finish though the heart of the Manchester defence to leave the score 1-3. Manchester needed a lifeline and Sawae got it when he bundled home to leave it 2-3 at the interval.

Manchester started the second half hoping to seize the initiative following a disappointing first half. Middlesbrough had other ideas and were working hard defensively and collectively as a team. Several chances fell to Manchester in the opening ten minutes which that could not capitalise on.
Both Bond and Sawae were guilty of not hitting the target when it looked like Manchester would pull away from their North-East challengers. They did manage to find an equaliser eventually when Uddin crossed for Martinez who slid in Manchester’s third to the delight of the home fans.

The celebrations were short lived as Middlesbrough duly spoiled the party by dispatching their forth and what turned out to be the winning goal. Manchester were thankful to keeper Magalhaes with several key blocks from Middlesbrough attacks as the game became more open.

Manchester pressed in the closing minutes to salvage the game but their efforts were in vain. Middlesbrough clearly hadn’t read the script and to their credit battled away to the very end. Manchester will rue the missed chances and mistakes that gifted Middlesbrough the win. As news came through that newcomers Liverpool Futsal Club had beaten the much fancied Sheffield, Manchester knew the size of the task that would face them in the first ever Manchester versus Liverpool derby next week

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