Athletico take six-a-side crown but time is called on 5s
Tournament favourites Athletico Alcuin took the autumn term six-a-side football title last week, beating Saint Lawrence Sonic Leopards by a flattering 6-2 scoreline after the final rounds were postponed due to last December’s poor weather conditions.
Meanwhile, this term’s five-a-side competition has been called off due to a “disappointing” lack of entrants, according to Sports Centre organiser Carl.
Athletico, competing in their third consecutive tournament, were given a real test by a well-organised Leopards side in a pulsating final. But a typically tentative start characterised the opening period of the medal match and the gathered spectators were forced to wait until late in the first half for the game’s opening goal. Wing-wizard Ali ‘Kaka’ Laird’s delicious ball to the back post was met on the volley by Ed Murrills with a force that proved far too hot for the opposing keeper and his parry couldn’t keep the ball from finding the bottom corner of the net.
Less than a minute later, Murrills had an excellent chance to further secure the game for the Alcuin side, but his shot was well-blocked. It proved to be an early turning point as the favourites from Campus North began their customary defensive sit-in, attempting to protect their delicate one-goal lead.
And immediately after the break, their lack of urgency cost them dear. Paul O’Brien, coming off the bench for the Leopards, was put clean through on goal. He steadied himself, hit a low, deflected shot past a helpless Michael Wynd, and proceeded to celebrate wildly in front of his adoring fans: at last, the tension had subsided and the game burst into life.
The Leopards, spurred on by O’Brien’s effort, began to ask some difficult questions of Alcuin’s defenders. O’Brien, once again at the fulcrum of the action, won a dubious foul from Alcuin’s experienced defender Jack Crane, and the resultant free-kick was drilled in by Umberto Urgo.
But that was to be the last moment of celebration for the underdogs as the talent that has helped Alcuin to two finals and a semi in the last three efforts belatedly began to surface. Laurie Swan levelled the score with a trade-mark thunderbolt free-kick from the edge of the box and Athletico were in full-flow. Minutes later, in what without doubt the game’s standout moment, Jack Crane sauntered past three defenders in a mazy, Messi-like run to slam the ball home. Dan Cox, Ed Murrills and Christy Cormac completed the scoring for Athletico in the dying minutes, but 6-2 flattered the victors.
“They were easily the best side we’ve played this term,” said a jubilant Crane after the game. “The standard is significantly down on the the days when Brummie Matt (Witherwick), and Myles Preston’s teams were dominating the competition, which is a little sad, but we’re still delighted with the victory.”
In other news, the Sports Centre has called off its usual 5-a-side indoor competition this term after only one team registered for the tournament. Sole entrant Matt Lang was “shocked” that his side had shown the only interest in what has usually been a popular competition. The door may well now be left open for a change to the tournament format that would see a “Futsal Fives” competition replace what are now outdated and unpopular rules.
Futsal Club President James Grey said: “futsal is the FA’s official small-sided game, so it makes sense for any five-a-side competition to be played with those rules and we’d be very happy to be involved in making the change. I will be talking to the sports centre in the coming weeks to see if we can organise something along those lines.”
Six-a-side final line-ups: Athletico Alcuin – Wynd, Swan, Crane, Cormac, Murrills, Cox, Laird ; Sonic Leopards – Halstead, Collins, O’Brien, Urgo, Pryce, Harrison, Maitland, Kent
Loading ...