FCGY lose 7 goal thriller to ‘Boro’




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Sunday 14th
February in the FA Futsal League North

 

1.15pm            
Grimsby     3                 
v          Middlesbrough         4               
(Gemtec Arena)

 

 

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Man of the Match- Josh Parry

 



Valentine’s Day saw a
Northern Premier Futsal clash that will live long in the memory of both teams
for differing reasons. Boro will wonder how they had not put this game to bed
in a first half that saw the Grimsby
side struggle to penetrate with any speed or flair. Grimsby will wonder how they fought back so
gamely only to let it slip away from them right at the end. Kev Bryant’s side
were missing key players including last year’s league top scorer Matthew Payne
and brought in more youth in order to fill the bench. Boro had only seven
players and current thinking suggests that ten fit players will out work seven
fit ones. However as Grimsby proved against Liverpool and Boro proved against
Grimsby, if your players are fit enough they can easily cope with the demands
placed upon them by Futsal. The first half performance from the Seasiders was
lack lustre and devoid of imagination, with plenty of possession they should
have made more of Boro’s poor finishing. Boro struck first with a well worked
goal but then missed a succession of chances before Danny Hornigold cleverly
fired in from the right side of goal; catching the opposition napping when they
clearly expected him to pull the ball back. However, evening the scores was not
a true reflection of the play and Boro went on to score two more simple goals
due to a lack of clarity in defensive tactics which would be rectified at half
time. HT 1-3.

 

The second half saw a
rapid response; Boro came close to adding a fourth before Grimsby began to apply the pressure much
higher up the pitch which forced Boro into some defensive errors. The pressure
was building but there was still a lack of penetration until Josh Parry had a
speculative, yet well placed shot from the right, about 18 yards out. The crowd
ensured the keeper could not see the ball and it was safely nestled in the far
corner before anybody in Boro’s defence could react. 2-3. Boro were now feeling
the pressure as wave after wave of Grimsby
attacks and constant high line defence meant Boro were starved of possession
and could not get out of their own half. The substitutes were rolled on and off
but Josh Parry was left on the field and with only four minutes left he drifted
into a corner position on the right leaving his marker, received the ball from
Ami who was quick to see his run and in one move, took a touch and fired at an
acute angle past the disbelieving Boro keeper into the roof of the net. 3-3.
Could Grimsby finally beat last year’s league champions? It was a bridge too
far, as the pressure was maintained by the fired up Grimsby side, the clock
ticked down with attack after attack keeping Boro pinned down until with only
54 seconds left, Boro broke down the left and scored an improbable goal after a
moment’s lack of concentration at the back. Grimsby had a clear cut chance to equalise
again but a free header was snatched and the moment was lost. There were some
notable performances in this defeat from Hornigold and Parry and young Joe Kidd
who did well defensively. The future of the team is looking good with many more
young players becoming interested in what is the fastest, most skilful of all
the football based sports.





Grimsby 3 Boro 4 ‘result as reported from a ‘boro’ perspective………………..

 

Middlesbrough snatched a last
gasp winner after Grimsby fought back to three all on Sunday at the Gemtec
Arena in Hull to temporarily move second in the FA Futsal League North.  Robbie
Bettson bagged a brace including the winner, after Prosser and O’Brien had
helped Boro to a 3-1 half-time lead.

 

Boro were down to a bare
minimum squad with only five players fit until goalkeeper Alex ‘Zico’ Hindmarsh
was taken ill this morning, further depleting the squad.  Fortunately, Dan
Boswell was able to step in at the last minute to aid Boro’s plight.  

 

Middlesbrough looked
comfortable at half-time, leading 3-1 and looking like scoring more in the
second half, but they seemed to rest on their laurels somewhat in the second
half, which allowed Grimsby to get back into the game.  At 3-1 the game was still wide open and two
quickfire goals from the seasiders gave them hope. 

 

Boro turned it on in the
final three minutes to reclaim all three points and go joint top with Sheffield
who beat Tranmere 4-2 at home.

 

Damon Shaw was relieved to
hear the buzzer at the end of the game but feels it should have been more
comfortable.

 

“At half-time we stopped
attacking and that put us on the back foot. 
The breakaway goal never came, despite Jonny [Prosser] and Jason
[Kilbride] coming very close and that allowed Grimsby to keep in touching
distance.  We could have wrapped the game
up, but when Grimsby got back into it, we showed how much we wanted to win with
an excellent finish to the match, especially as our heads could have dropped.

 

“Grimsby might have had a lot
of possession but so did we and we were more effective with it.  We always felt we had control of the game but
it got a bit twitchy when they got the equaliser!

 

“With the injuries we had
this has to go down as a fantastic result and we’re in an excellent position
now.  The performance was good too which
is pleasing as we’re improving every week.”

 

Middlesbrough take on
Liverpool at home on Sunday 21st February and are wanting your
support at Thornaby Pavilion. 
Lovemiddlesbrough will be on hand to give out merchandise and Boro will
be wearing their new strip, sponsored by lovemiddlesbrough!  Kick off is 2pm and entry is £1 under-16s and
£2 adults.  Visit BoroFutsal.com for more
information.

 

Follow Boro on www.BoroFutsal.com, facebook, or twitter.

 

<ENDS>

Notes
to editor:

 

§  For further information about Middlesbrough Futsal Club and
photography and interview opportunities contact Damon Shaw on 07807 146 319 or
email damon@borofutsal.co.uk