Up and running

Leeds FC 10-2 Grimsby FC
The FA National Futsal League North
Sunday 28 February

Leeds Futsal Club finally got their season up and running on the fourth time of asking following a crushing 10-2 victory over Grimsby.

The two sides have had contrasting starts to the 2010 campaign, Leeds previously losing all three of their opening fixtures whereas Grimsby have impressed so far picking up wins over Liverpool and Oldham as well as running last year’s champions Middlesbrough close last week.

Leeds manager Junior Roberti was desperate to record his first win of the season after a largely disappointing performance against Manchester in the last fixture.

Both sides started brightly, Grimsby had the earliest chances from Daniel Hornigold and last season’s top scorer Matthew Payne but it was Leeds that made the breakthrough.  Grimsby’s keeper was acting as a fifth man, pushing high in his own half – but, as a Grimsby move broke down, the ball fell to Leeds debutant  Jose Alves De Souza and he spun quickly and he expertly lofted the ball home from the middle of his own half.

More Leeds pressure came, and as Joao Rodrigues broke down the right flank, he was fortunate to see his cross-shot squeeze its way in at the near post for 2-0.

As Leeds pressed for a third Rafael Collerie broke through only to be held back by Hornigold who received a yellow card for his troubles.

With Leeds leading and Grimsby pressing to get a foothold in the game, the game changed dramatically.

Rob Oxley was punished for an innocuous trip just inside the Leeds box, giving Daniel Hornigold the chance to score from six yards. Hornigold smashed his penalty almost double the height of the goal over to the relief of the Leeds players.

Another chance fell to Leeds with the Grimsby keeper playing high up. This time a shot flew wide of the Leeds goal but Marcio Martins was alert and tried a quick shot on the unguarded goal, missing by inches.

This prompted the red mist to descend on Hornigold who lost it with his own keeper. Already on a yellow, the referees spotted a head butt aimed at his own player and he saw a straight red card. The red wasn’t enough to defuse the situation as after returning to his bench, Hornigold again sprung up and launched a barrage of punches at his own keeper before sent out of the arena.

As the situation died down and Leeds got the game back underway they added another two goals. The first coming as Grimsby were down to four men for the sending off.

Leeds were racking up plenty of fouls even after conceding the penalty and Grimsby had two further chances to reduce the deficit with two 10 metre penalties for fouls. The first was pushed away by Martins and the second produced a double save maintaining a well deserved first-half clean sheet.

The second half lacked the bite of the first as Grimsby struggled to compose themselves after the explosive events before half-time.

Payne continued to work Martins but the Brazilian stopper was equal to everything last season’s only 20 goal man was able to throw at him.

Leeds added a further six goals in the second half to give them their first ever 10 goal National League haul after three years of trying. The pick of the bunch coming from Jefferson Migliozzi.

Migliozzi got the ball around the half-way line, tricked his way out of two challenges before unleashing a howitzer into the top corner.

Grimsby did eventually beat Martins twice but the big Brazilian had done enough to earn himself a man of the match performance.

The final score was 10-2 to Leeds, a comfortable and deserved victory for the Yorkshiremen and their third in succession over Grimsby.