Helvecia crowned champions
A valiant and outstanding performance from Sheffield Futsal Club in The FA National Futsal League Grand Finals was very nearly enough to end Helvecia's dominance in English Futsal. Sheffield are left to rue the chances that they missed, as an exciting finale to a weekend of top-class Futsal emphasised once again the strength and superiority of Helvecia as they were crowned the English National Champions for the fourth consecutive year.
After a long season in The FA National Futsal Leagues, the two top clubs from each of the three leagues (Midlands, North and South Leagues), met at the Grand Finals at the Surrey Sports Park to play for the right to be called 'National Champion' and to get the opportunity to represent England in the UEFA Futsal Cup next season. Three times champions Helvecia were the firm favourites coming into the Grand Finals, but Sheffield, Manchester and Team United Birmingham had all made impressive strides during the season to close the gap on the London club.
Sheffield and Team United opened the group games of the Grand Finals in an exciting first match. The Birmingham club took a two-nil lead, but just before half-time Sheffield levelled it to 2-2. At the start of the second half both teams traded goals, but the fluid passing and movement of Sheffield was too much for Team United with the Northern League champions eventually winning 8-4 with Joel Rocha scoring a hat-trick.
The second game saw Helvecia take on Manchester Futsal Club, in a tough opening encounter for the favourites. Rob Ursell and an own goal gave Helvecia an early comfortable cushion, but Manchester to their credit played some excellent Futsal that tested and challenged Helvecia. Manchester dominated possession for much of the second half, with Stuart Cook, Eduardo Betancor and Doug Reed all shining for the northern club. Unfortunately the main difference between the clubs was the clinical finishing: Manchester not making the most of their chances, but Helvecia ruthless when they had a sight of goal. A 4-1 scoreline to Helvecia perhaps did not do Manchester justice.
Team United against the Southern League runners up, FC Baltic, was a tight and tactical match with both clubs knowing they needed to win to stand much chance of progressing to the Final. Baltic were strong and defensively solid, but did not play particularly expansively, and although Team United played better than they did in their first game they made hardwork of this game which they eventually won 4-3.
Chippenham Futsal Club came into the Grand Finals in a ragged state; England captain Luke Ballinger missed their first game through suspension, whilst three other first team players were missing through injury. Subsequently Chippenham with only six available players in the first game and seven players in the second faced a demolition in both of their matches. Manchester hit a record for the biggest ever Grand Finals victory, winning 20-1 and Helvecia further compounded this humiliation with a 17-6 win over the runners-up from the Midlands league.
To round off the group stages, Baltic needed to beat Sheffield by three goals to stand any chance of making the Final. And although they started brightly taking a 2-1 lead within three minutes, Sheffield moved through the gears playing some exquisite Futsal whilst Baltic looked a little toothless in front of goal. A hat-trick from England international Ben Mortlock saw Sheffield through to the Final with a 9-4 victory.
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FA Futsal Cup Sheffield 2010by getintofootball9,906 views
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