After a few background problems and the reluctance of many to travel a difficult distance for forty minutes of Futsal, and added to that the ban for DH, a coach away in Tanzania, several injuries to key players and the fact that this disparate bunch of futsal players had never played together before, a bystander could be forgiven for thinking that Grimsby were heading for a demolishing by the Premier League North and Great Britain University Champions. The small, and most would argue inadequate, squad, warmed up carefully and got to know each other; all had been signed on but had never once met at the same time. The first half kicked off at a ferocious pace, and Boro quickly went one up with a cracking drive from 15 yards that gave our young keeper no chance at all. A little slow to close down, Grimsby looked as though they could well have been facing a rough ride from a jubilant and highly confident Boro team. Never the less with Igo in goal, Danny, Matt H and Matt P switching and Josh up front, the pace, movement and individual skill soon had Boro on the back foot and even though the Teesiders had several shots come back off the woodwork in one attack, Grimsby had just as many shots saved well at close range by an impressive keeper.

With only one sub to rotate the lads were stretched to the limit and Matt Payne was the only man to last the full forty, JP coming off injured with six minutes left on the clock.
The sustained pressure created by using Josh Parry as a point target man and Matty Payne using excellent footwork to create space and room for shots, the Grimsby lads looked likely to score eventually. The Boro lads were rattled by Grimsby's invention and the willingness for Josh and Matty to use their quick feet and pace to go at players. Grimsby had six shots saved and Josh hit the post before Matty Horner equalised after a flowing move. Boro tried to counter but even with a very organised outfit, they have few players like Matt Payne or Josh parry that can turn a game with individual flair and they often resorted to long or high balls over the top. A further period of sustained pressure  from Grimsby created a second goal as Parry pounced on a rebound to calmly pick his spot for his sixth goal in his four appearances. The Grimsby lads were growing in confidence and stature all the time. The half petered out in the last minute and the team had a well earned break. HT 1 v 2

The second half kicked off and Grimsby were expecting an onslaught, but a switch to the agreed half time team talk meant that Grimsby pressured high again and this restricted Boro to few moments out of their own half. With eleven minutes left on the clock a dominant Grimsby went three one ahead from another skilful move soundly finished off by Danny who looked good value for his goal after his first game for the side in a fair while. The speed and endurance of the boys from the banks of the Humber surprised the Teesiders and they were soon 4-1 up with a clinical strike from last year's league top scorer and former Boro player Matty Payne and he celebrated in style, obviously gleeful at scoring against his old mates. A minute or two later, Parry , who by this time had picked up a collection of six fouls (seventeen he has won in four games) made matters worse for Boro, he spun and flicked a ball past his man, sped past him and fired a ball goal-wards only for the ball to be deflected by a Boro hand into the net. Some would argue that the goal should have stood and he would have netted seven times in four games but the Ref gave a penalty (which he later apologised for) and Zico the Magnificent saved yet another Grimsby penalty; a skill we need to perfect. An injustice some would argue but the game went on. Grimsby continued thwarting the efforts of Boro to make their 'Fly keeper' tactic work.

The lads bust a lung to close down the man at the pivot with the ball and this caused Boro to run out of patience and snapped at several chances. They did pull one back with four minutes left and then another after a lot of pressure on the Grimsby rearguard. with two minutes left and Josh out injured the five Grimsby warriors closed down time and time again to thwart every effort the Boro lads could create. They never really threatened in the vital last two minutes and Matt Horner and Danny were heroic in their constant rushing the opponent with the ball. The lads held out and won a very famous victory. Six excellent performances by six extremely tired individuals had ensured the first victory over their long time, esteemed rivals.

The game itself was an excellent advert for British Futsal and would have made good television! I cannot express how well the lads played and the Grimsby Institute player of this week goes to the whole damn squad. Fantastic performance!

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