NEWS - DECEMBER: 3RD ANNUAL FUTSAL TOURNAMENT REVIEW

Football Development Schools (FDS) welcomed 13 teams to the 2007 year 5 & 6 futsal tournament and in a high quality tournament the competition would be decided by the smallest of margins.

Group Stage 1

Tournament organisers introduced music to the tournament with a great South American beat adding to the atmosphere of the competition. It was hoped that it would energise the tournaments participants to provide the flair associated to the game of Futsal and help further their enjoyment of the day.

The opening games demonstrated that there would be a fine array of skilful players on show in the competition and that previous participants would further develop their ability from previous tournaments.

From the 22 first round matches 54 goals were scored highlighting the game of futsal’s ability to create exciting goalmouth action from the majority of attacks. While the net bulged with regularity the goalkeeping on show was also of a high standard with the goalkeepers having to rely on their instincts more than great technical prowess.

Groups A would see Redwell come through this group as table toppers with Park B providing good competition as the two teams fought out a tight 1-1 draw. Hall Meadow picked up a number of points in finishing third while debutants Henry Gotch lost all of their games 1-0 with them proving to be a hard team to play, but would struggle to match their defensive skill with the aggressive attacking flair needed to break opponents down.

Group B was a five-team group and Rothwell who topped the group winning 3 of their games would dominate this section. Windmill and Park-A tussled for 2nd place with the Raunds school edging through thanks to their 1-0 win over their Kettering opponents. Havelock B’s inability to score goals would see their overall sound intelligent play go unrewarded, while Little Harrowden B team learned lots from their more experienced opponents, while playing in a fine spirit.

Group C saw two time winners Havelock A rise to the top with a %100 record. They were pushed all the way in a fine game by Little Harrowden A team who would edge debutants Broughton into 2nd place. Broughton would emerge as a wonderful team who were able to break forward at speed while playing with a freedom that allowed their opponents chances to score at the other end. Hall Meadow B would never be disgraced and battled well however their lack of goal scoring credentials gave them an up hill battle in this section of the tournament.

The second phase would see teams play in groups dependant on where they finished in the 1st group stage. These games would provide all the teams competition based on their ability and gives all participants the chance to enjoy their futsal at the level that best suits them.

Group 3 Henry Gotch emerged again as tough opponents conceding just 1 goal during their four games. Scoring goals would again prove to be their biggest obstacle and would undermine their chance of finishing top of this group. Hall Meadow B also had a mixture of fortunes in this group and finished having scored points in the group, but sadly ran out of gas by the tournaments conclusion. Little Harrowden B finished the tournament with their best performance, but their opponents proved just to strong with a one goal victory. Broughton and Havelock B emerged as the powerhouses in this group and both teams recorded a couple of fine victories.

Group 2 would decide the teams placed 5 to 8 and this was a well contested group with all six games decided by a close scoring margin. The group started with Park A playing Park B and a 2-1 victory for the A team demonstrated the closeness of ability in the two sides, and the school can be proud of both their teams who would eventually finish the tournament in 6th and 7th place respectively.

Hall Meadow A were the unlucky team that would see all their closely contested games go in favour of their opponents, their lack of goal scoring would mean they would finish 8th in the tournament.

Little Harrowdens A team would be involved in an excellent game with Park A that would decide the top dogs of this group, and their excellently organised defence provided the platform for their two breakaway goals that would bring victory and 5th place in the competition.

Group 1 was a highly contested group with the competitiveness of each team making the eventual winners deserving of the prize. All the teams picked up points in the group and was the tightest of the competition. Rothwell would pick up two draws and would be the team that decided the tournament as they held out against local rivals Havelock A in the final game. Windmill the best 2nd place team from the first round would finish third as they to gained two draws from this group, and would finish above Rothwell on goal difference.

1st and 2nd places would also be decided by goal difference with Redwells 4 goal victory against Rothwell out manovering Havelocks 2 goal advance over Windmill, so while both teams would finish on equal points Redwell would lift the FDS Futsal trophy.

FDS would like to thank all the teams who participated in the tournament and thank them for their continued support of the competition. We look forward to welcoming all the schools back for the year 3&4 competition on Friday 14th March.

FDS fully support and actively seek to develop the game of futsal in the region. If schools would like to develop Futsal within their school curriculum or as an after school activity please contact us at FDS to discuss an action plan for your school. We are also eager to develop a school league as the game has excellent facets in developing individual skills and creativity from participants.

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