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Written by Kevin Bryant
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Monday, 01 October 2007 |
FC Grimsby has weekend they never dared dream about!
The 2007/8 Futsal Premier League started with FC Grimsby pitched against newcomers Southport Tornadoes. Calls to our experienced Grimsby Futsal League ‘Premier League’ players were getting me (Team manager Kevin Bryant) a poor responsive and some lame excuses. ‘Should I give the younger players that are more committed to futsal than football a chance?’ Any risk would be modified by the experience of Daniel Hornigold (Magpies), keeper Lee Graves (Grimsby All Blacks) and Adam Cooper (Football Wizards).
The game started comfortably enough for Grimsby as goals from Scott Harris (StreetSoccer) and Neil Watts (Opium) opened up a 2-0 lead, soon to be reduced to 2-1 by the 15th minute. Craig Norman (Young’s Seafood’s) then opened his FPL account with a neat shot across the keeper to make it 3-1. Marco Lima, a player that has trained as a youth at Benfica, closed the gap to 3-2 at half time.
There were mixed half time feelings, had we thrown away our chances, were Southport ready to up a gear? Wasn’t the reality we would have accepted 3-2 at half time? Their percentage goals to shots were higher than ours but we had scored 1 more, which was all that mattered.
The score card ready like a table tennis match, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, and 5-4 and then with two minutes left Southport were level. Was all that hard work being thrown away? We are in the last minute - Neil Watts is one on one with their keeper, goal! 6-5 and just time to restart, Southport have to go for bust, the ball is cleared to Neil Watts who again beats the keeper and the final whistle to get Grimsby a 3 point start to the season. Kirk Russell scored Grimsby’s 4th and 5th goals.
The second game scheduled was Leeds Barca vs. Preston Futsal, but due to a serious motor way crash Grimsby was asked to play in Leeds place. Preston had drawn 6-6 with our own Nicol Magpies at the FA National Futsal Finals 2007 and gone on to lose in the Plate Final. Realistically I did not want the game; yes we had beaten Southport Tornadoes but they were inexperienced and we had looked patchy at times.
With the score 0-2 to Preston with 15 minutes on the clock all my worst fears were facing me, how do we get back into the game. We were passing and holding the ball at a different level to the first game, but better defense meant we could not deliver the killer pass. Dom Bird (Hull Grass Roots) playing his first Grimsby game takes a man on and scores; 2-1. Enter Daniel Hornigold, he has seen the light, he dribbles one then another and finishes with an unstoppable volley. Half time and Grimsby are level. Preston was bigger than us but not as fleet of foot and the players had worked it out. Daniel Hornigold opens the second half with another scorcher, this time of his weaker foot. The joy was short lived as Preston leveled within a minute. At this point Grimsby are not the team that played Southport, every aspect of individual and team form has gone up a notch, as it needed to. The team is brimming with confidence, playing great futsal at a pace that is putting Preston on the back foot. Hornigold takes a break on the bench; Adam Cooper replaces him and after twisting his opponent slots the ball home. We are 4-3 and playing with energy and passion. Preston calls a time out, they are telling players to do this, and do the other and we sit and watch. If they are that animated they are in trouble and we knew it.
Grimsby played down the clock.
Daniel Hornigold and Lee Graves I expect performances from, Kirk Russell (17) and Scott Harris (18 less 1 day) delivered men’s performances; Neil Watts (17) had a comfortable first game (3 goals) and then raised his game but was denied adding to his tally. Such is football. Craig Norman (17) let no one down and scored a key goal. Our 2 Hull Grass Roots players Dom Bird (16) and Liam Key (16) got better and better as they gelled with their teams mates. Dom and Liam were part of the Hull Grass roots team that won a prestigious youth tournament in Barcelona. My players will be amazed to read that Steve Daly, the player behind all Prestons' best futsal is a ‘partially sighted’ international.
Such was the brilliance of the team play I actually enjoyed hanging the kit out next morning, which says a lot.
The door is not closed on those that were unavailable, but players need to be ringing me if they want to challenge for a position. The next game is 14th October when we have 2 vacancies as it is the day of the England futsal trials and we have Daniel Hornigold and Lee Graves on trial, along with Dale Spalding (Magpies). Daniel and Dale impressed Graham Dell (England Futsal Manager) at Sheffield 2007; Lee was noted playing for FC Grimsby.
Kevin Bryant
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