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 5^th 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: