FA National Futsal Super League

Sunday 11th February 2018 (2:30pm KO)

University of Cambridge Sports Centre

FT: Cambridge United FC Futsal 8 – 5 FC Salisbury United Futsal Club (HT: 5 – 2)

Goals – Monty Bouttell (4), Angel Martinez (3),Toby Hardwick

Squad – Lino Cebey (GK), Chay Jakes (GK), Angel Martinez, Alberto Morcillo, Vitalii Burnus, Monty Bouttell, Toby Hardwick ©, George Harlow, Tim Henery, Jonathan Tofts, Greg Birch, Chema Cruz

Coach – Luis Mendonca

Mascots – Harrison Phillips, Soham Town Rangers U10s (and CUFC’s Barry Corr!)

Attendance – 110

Cambridge United FC Futsal continue their impressive FA Futsal National Super League unbeaten run with yet another win.

Cambridge United FC Futsal welcomed FC Salisbury United Futsal Club to the University of Cambridge Sports Centre on Sunday in the FA Futsal National Super League.

Salisbury had won the first encounter between the two sides earlier in the season and had also rediscovered some form of late but the Us were on an 8 match unbeaten streak and were looking to improve on that disappointing result. So, it was sure to be another exciting and close fought match but Luis Mendonca had his troops well prepared for this fixture to maintain United’s top 4 challenge and aspirations.

The Us were full of confidence after their strong showing last Sunday in the professional 3-0 win over York City. United were missing Inaki Prado, Pedro Pereira, Justo Lopez, Paulo Rodrigues, Nico Papadopoulous and Enrico Barnes but Tim Henery, Chema Cruz and Alberto Morcillo all returned to the match day squad with Lino Cebey retaining his place in goal.

The partisan home crowd were also pleased to see Cambridge United FC’s Barry Corr in attendance for the game. England’s record appearances and goals holder Luke Ballinger was playing for the visitors having been recently presented with a golden cap at Wembley for his 100 senior appearances for the England international team.

Cambridge started the game well, controlling early possession and defending with discipline when required to do so, and were soon rewarded when Angel Martinez did well to win back possession and tee up Monty Bouttell to slot it coolly past the Salisbury keeper to make it 1-0 to the Us. But shortly after some unusually lapse defending allowed Salisbury to level the scores at 1-1. However, Cambridge responded immediately with a well worked team move that resulted in a fine Angel Martinez finish to restore United’s lead. And it was soon 3-1 when Monty Bouttell teed up Alberto Morcillo who saw his effort cannon off the bar to fall to Monty Bouttell who made no mistake from close range for his second of the game. The noisy home crowd didn’t have long to wait for the fourth when another piece of slick interchange between Alberto Morcillo and Toby Hardwick found Angel Martinez unmarked at the back post for a simple finish, his second of the game. United were cruising now at 4-1 with Salisbury on 5 fouls and heading to half time but a crazy couple of minutes saw Monty Bouttell’s 10m penalty saved with Salisbury breaking in numbers from the rebound to get one back to make it 4-2 only to see Angel Martinez make no mistake from a second 10m penalty shortly after to restore United’s 3 goal lead and his hat trick. The U’s will have been satisfied with their 5-2 lead at half time but knew it could have been more.

Salisbury came out fighting in the second half and soon reduced the margin to 5-3 but again Cambridge responded immediately with a well worked set piece which saw Alberto Morcillo pick out Monty Bouttell who in turn teed up Toby Hardwick for the goal of the game crashing a long range effort past the Salisbury keeper into the top corner to make it 6-3. Salisbury pulled another one back but it was soon 7-4 when Angel Martinez picked out Monty Bouttell in the area for a clever finish for a hat trick for the U’s youngster. The pair combined again shortly after when Angel Martinez found Monty Bouttell down the line who beat his man and rounded the keeper to finish from a narrow angle for his fourth of the game to make it 8-4 to United. Salisbury went fly for the last minutes and did score a late consolation goal but the match finished 8-5 to Cambridge United.

This win sees Cambridge United FC Futsal extend their unbeaten run to 9 games now. With other results on the day going their way, the 3 points mean Luis Mendonca’s ever improving and maturing Us move above London City into 4th place in the FA Futsal National Super League now and just 1 point behind Birmingham in 3rd . With league leaders Reading Escolla comprehensively beaten by Helvecia at the weekend, Cambridge United FC Futsal now enjoy the longest unbeaten run in the top division of English Futsal.

Cambridge United FC Futsal are in action again this Sunday 18th February when they travel to East London to face Genesis Futsal Club. The earlier encounter between the two at the Cambridge University Sports Centre was one of the games of the season and resulted in a narrow win for the Us. Although Genesis currently sit bottom of the FA National Futsal Super League, they strengthened significantly in the January transfer window and have recorded some impressive results as a result since so it sure to be another challenging fixture. Can United make it 10 unbeaten?

Location

Cambridge University Sports Centre