Loughborough University 11 Grimsby 4




The result on paper makes it look as though Grimsby is a
futsal pushover, this is far from case. 
On Saturday the team got to the semi finals of a highly competitive York
futsal tournament, as a result the Sunday team (v Loughborough) paid the price.

Saturday night we had 8 players travelling to Sheffield,
Sunday morning Luke McLennan’s foot had swollen so badly from the York games he
was unable to play.  Leaving 7? No – Shane
Brooks signing on papers had not been received by FA on time, another loss. I
am 100% certain we adhered rule but FA says not.  Finally a player who had committed to play
let us down with a lame excuse; the same player played a Sunday league
game.  Injury is one thing, letting team
mates down without notice is another and will take some explaining to those
team mates who sweated blood to cover his loss.

Leigh Graves (GK), Paul Goodhand, Daniel Hornigold, Mathew
Payne & Kirk Russell was the starting line up; no substitutes to face
University opposition with University internationals and 2 ex professionals in
a 12 man squad.  David vs. Goliath.

In spells we looked a very good side, at our best we tore
them apart with ease, unfortunately there was not enough of those spells.  The opposition did not sit back and wait for
us, they pressed every ball knowing that eventually our energy would dispense,
as it did.  Every rule in futsal is
geared to fast play; time wasting is not an option as in 11v11. 

The dam started to crack after 10 minutes at which point the
score was 2-2; half time came and we were 3-6. 
Just as in the previous game 2 early second half chances was saved,
opportunities that might have given us a lifeline.  As the score indicates game was over at this
point and Loughborough did what they had to do, extend the lead and the goal
difference.

A stat that illustrates the effort of the Grimsby players is
that we were awarded and missed 3 10 meter free shots in the second period.  To get to that point Loughborough was forced
into making 8 fouls against Grimsby in the second half (every foul after 5th
foul is a free shot).

Hornigold and Payne were both walking wounded with 15
minutes left; Kirk Russell who had tweaked an injury at York somehow lasted 40
minutes of intense play.  Paul Goodhand
lost 5 pounds in weight in 40 minutes play, he was outstanding.  For me he was head and shoulders above any other
player on court.

As a group the 5 covered themselves in glory, the fact that
they never crumbled against such sustained pressure from quality opposition
speaks volumes about their commitment.

More energy was spent by these players in 40 minutes than
ever they will give playing 90 minutes 11v11, and that’s not knocking 11v11, it’s
a comparison with its FIFA partner.

Scorers

Hornigold 2

Goodhand 2

York report to follow: