FC Grimsby was given a stark warning by Sheffield FC Futsal Club.

FC Grimsby 2 Sheffield FC 11

Sheffield City FC has an excellent group of players that are committed to futsal and train to improve twice a week. This is backed by the experience of their mentor a Brazilian coach who has given them a shortcut into futsal tactics.

Individually we matched Sheffield player for player, the difference was tactical and commitment; this has to be addressed fast or we will fall further behind.  The difference between the teams was management and as the team manager I will hold my hands up and admit to failings that have let the players down.  That said players that made themselves unavailable because of the inconvenient kick off time, 7pm in Sheffield, need to be asking themselves questions.

From my person view point 11-2 flattered Sheffield, in the meat of the midfield game the game was equal;  the penalty box highlighted the real differences; given a 2 on 1 or 3 on 2 opportunity Sheffield knew how to damage us more than we damaged them.  Grimsby squandered several opportunities when shooting from wide areas when a pass behind the keeper was needed to the oncoming attacker for a tap in.

Defensively 3 goals were conceded by players losing or miss passing when last man, unforgivable at this level last.  3 other goals was conceded from corner kicks, Sheffield had some brilliant set plays that we just could not defend against; but must defend against in future, again off the court remedial work is needed.

On the plus side we created more chances than in any other game we have played, it took the brilliance of the Sheffield keeper to minimise the score.   Ryan smith played his first FA League game and netted our 2 goals and will score plenty more know he has the experience of his first indoor game out of the way.    Goal keeper Leigh Graves pulled of a string of stunning saves to illustrate why he is in the England F30 training squad.  Rested for the last 10 minutes Dean Gladwell made some stunning saves to illustrate that goal keeper is not a problem we have filling.

Another major obstacle for Grimsby is that our players are inexperienced playing futsal on minimum size courts, our home ground and Grimsby league games are played on maximum size courts; a problem we have to address and in no way reflects on the Sheffield performance.

To play as well as we did with a team that added 2 players half an hour before we travelled was excellent.

Goals	<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->	Smith Ryan, Smith Ryan	<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->	Andrews Jonathan, Andrews Jonathan, McLean Daniel, McLean Daniel, McLean Daniel, Morris Liam, Morris Liam, Riley Alvyn, Riley Alvyn, Thomas Frazer, Thomas Frazer
Yellow Cards	<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->	Gladwell Dean, Higton John, Russell Kirk	<!--[if !vml]-->
Starters	<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->	Cooper Adam, Gladwell Dean, Graves Leigh, Harris Scott, Higton John, Hornigold Daniel, Lowe Timothy, Russell Kirk, Smith Ryan	<!--[if !vml]-->	Andrews Jonathan, Bennett James, England-Woodcock Mark, Hammond Matthew, Looker Ceri, Marshall Steven, McLean Daniel, Moore Richard, Morris Liam, Riley Alvyn, Thomas Frazer

NB:

Visit www.grimsbyfutsal.co.uk to know more about Grimsby futsal.

The next Grimsby game is:

SUN 20 APR 2008 14:50

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SHEFFIELD & HALLAMSHIRE FUTSAL CLUB

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FC GRIMSBY

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Hillsborough Leisure Centre - Sheffield