Wales Win Futsal Home Nations Championship

2016 Futsal Home Nations Championship, House of sport, Cardiff, Wales, Sunday the 04/12/2016. Northern Ireland vs Scotland & Wales vs England.

2016 Futsal Home Nations Championship, House of sport, Cardiff, Wales, Sunday the 04/12/2016.
Northern Ireland vs Scotland & Wales vs England.

In front of a bumper crowd at Cardiff’s House of Sport, Richard Gunney’s side were aiming to be crowned champions following wins over Scotland and Northern Ireland.

And the game got off to frantic start with England creating a couple of good opportunities early on as well as the visitors seeing more of the ball.

But the Welsh defence held firm and the hosts went ahead at the other end as Simon Prangley hit a rasping left-foot drive into the far corner.

However, Wales’ lead was short-lived as Luke Ballinger bundled the ball home from close range to equalise for England.

But two goals from Chris Hugh and a second for Prangley meant that Wales roared into a 3-1 lead going into half-time.

England – searching for a way back into the back – began the second half on the front foot but they found goalkeeper Dafydd Jones in fine form between the posts.

With the visitors pressing, it left gaps for Wales to expose and Elliot Thomas helped himself to two goals in as many minutes midway through the second half as the home side moved 5-1 ahead.

England cut the deficit through Max Kilman but they were soon reduced to four players as Max Redha saw red after a professional foul, and the win was sealed in the closing seconds when Danny Hooper netted from the penalty spot to cap a fine 6-2 win.

In the day’s other game, Scotland ended their tournament on high with an 8-2 victory over Northern Ireland.

Mark Potter’s side raced into a two-goal lead early on through strikes from Jack Guthrie and Dayle Robertson.

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Northern Ireland halved the deficit when Conor Glenholmes finished well, but Scotland finished the half strongly as goals from Jamie Forsyth and Fraser Smith gave them a 4-1 lead at the interval.

A quick-fire double after the break from Craig McLeish put Scotland further ahead, but Northern Ireland’s Chris Donnelly netted soon after to reduce the arrears.

However, Fraser Smith helped himself to his second of the afternoon before McLeish secured his hat-trick late on as Scotland sealed an 8-2 win.

4 December 2016

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