A superb game for spectators, nerve jangling for players and coaches.  The writing was on the wall from the off, both teams had to be on their game, half chances and slackness would be punished.

Grimsby had 3 debutant's, Lee Wilkinson from the old Magpies team that managed a Plate final at FA Finals 2 seasons past, John Frary (Kent Futsal), and 16 year old Josh Parry, the first player to play for Grimsby via the Kent Street Youth League.

Manchester were well drilled, organised and the work thy had done off court in training was obvious to see; the opposite can be said of Grimsby; most Grimsby players will play 2 games a week in the Grimsby Futsal League, a league that operates 4 nights a week with 70+ teams.  Unfortunately outdoor futsal is not the same as indoor futsal; indoor is far more dynamic, particularly when played by quality players.

The first half was like 2 boxers head to head in the ring, neither taking a step back to the other.  Both GK’s, in traditional futsal style were called on to make numerous shot saves.  Half time came and the teams were locked at 2-2.

The second period started well for Grimsby 3-2, 4-2 and then a critical miss; Lee Wilkinson crashed a shot against the bar after Paul Goodhand’s pass had taken the GK out of the game.  5-2 at that point and from a GY perceptive Manchester was gone.

GY then had another great opportunity when Manchester had to play a man short after their player had been fouled by ‘Wilko.’  Wilkinson got a yellow card for the offence, the Manchester player a red for abuse to referee.  The Manchester player can feel aggrieved; the Grimsby bench would not have been surprised if our player had ‘walked.’  Grimsby failed to seriously test the Manchester keeper in the 2 minutes we played 5 v4.

Within minutes Grimsby was double punished, first what looked a clear ball out of play was allowed to be crossed resulting in a goal, perhaps the FA should consider better line markings, multi court markings for a national championship?

Minutes later Leigh Graves rolls the ball to Danny Durrosom’s feet, he brushes past an opponent who to most people, but not the referee, elbowed him in the face, DD stopped for foul and amazingly to us play was waved on leaving the Manchester player 1 on 1 with Leigh Graves.  From 4-2 (and a possible 5-2) we had lapsed to 4-4.

The last 8 minutes was a disaster as aggrieved we lost mental control and fell behind 4-5, chasing the game we conceded further to 4-7.

New players John Farer, Lee Wilkinson and Joshua Parry excelled thrown into such a competitive situation.

Three straight losses does not look good on paper, it does not tell the full story, steady progress is being made, the squad is week by week adding a player ready to commit to futsal, the standard of player wanting to play is improving, it is getting the group together so that we can progress to playing out a match strategy that is the next step to master.  This will happen more quickly if we can get the group training more often.  Our opponents will train 1-2 nights a week in preparation.

Manchester scored a set play goal from a corner kick; we need to be able to do the same.

That said a Hornigold/Durrosimo/Parry set play from a kick off left DH with a near miss and all their players still in kick off positions.

An excellent match full of spectator drama, credit to the Grimsby players for their part.  The team is competitive, there is so much more to come.  Watch this space.

John Frary (1)    Paul Goodhand (1)   Leigh Graves   Danial Hornigold (1)     Joshua Parry   Matthew Payne   Lee Wilkinson  (Y) Danial Durrosimo (1)(Y)

http://full-time.thefa.com/DisplayFixture.do?id=2239773

Added comment:

Rob Parry, who watched the game with a semi pro football friend, said they were both amazed at the pace of the game and the fact that every player on the pitch was able to control and make tatical decisions under the severest of pressure. Rob has watched and refereed 100's of local games, he was unprepared for the intensity of this game.