Over the past 3 years Middlesex FA Development Team has been introducing Futsal into Schools. For girls' football in particular the game has really taken off, with Hillingdon, Ealing, Barnet and Enfield running U13 and U15 divisions for the 2008/09 season, with Harrow and Brent looking to start in the 2009/10 season. Middlesex County Girls Futsal Schools Leagues Holders are U13s Ashmole (Barnet), and U15s Lea Valley (Enfield)
For more on futsal please contact Craig Nicholson on 020 8515 6902 or by email to: craig.nicholson@middlesexfa.com
Lea Valley’s Girls Futsal team have Success on a national stage
The annual FA National Youth Futsal Festival at EIS (Sheffield) was held over the weekend of 27th and 28th June. We had the privilege to have two teams from Middlesex there on Sunday 28th June. Ashmole High school taking part in the U14 girls competition and Lea Valley High school in the U16 girls competition, Both teams got the chance to go to Sheffield after winning their respective Middlesex schools finals.
Both teams were very successful in their individual competitions. Ashmole won through the group stages then eased through their semi final. The final ended in a draw although manager Sel Sethi assures us “they were the better team”. Unfortunately Ashmole lost on penalties but nonetheless were extremely pleased with their achievement finishing as National runners up.
In Lea Valley’s group all teams finished on the same points, only separated by goal difference! LV then played the runners up from group A, Chauncy, and beat them 3-1. Through to the final LV had a tough fixture against AFC Preston, but with the consistent play and teamwork shown throughout the tournament LV finished 1-0 victors and National Champions! Manager Lyndsay Johnson said after their achievement “It was a long day but the girls really enjoyed themselves and it was really nice for them to finally achieve something this great”. Lea Valley’s success was even more creditable after winning the U16 age group with a team solely made up of U15s.
We would like to say well done to both teams you did both your schools and Middlesex proud.
Futsal Final Day Reports 2008/2009
Middlesex County FA Girls schools U13 Futsal finals
This year’s tournament was yet again played to a very high standard with schools competing after winning their borough school futsal leagues.
This year’s final day consisted of the following teams
Bishop Stopford (Enfield)
Ashmole (Barnet)
Bishop Ramsey (Hillingdon)
Game 1. Ashmole 4-0 Bishop Stopford
After a tight opening between the two teams it was Ashmole who took control of the game half-way through playing some nice two touch football. Despite Bishop Stopford doing their most to stop them, Ashmole comfortably in the end won the game 4-0 with Bishop Stopford never really testing the Ashmole keeper.
Game 2. Bishop Ramsey 4-2 Bishop Stopford
Bishop Ramsey started the quickest in this close encounter taking the lead early into the game, Bishop Stopford replied quickly with one of the goals of the tournament, the Bishop Stopford player controlling the ball quite brilliantly before driving the ball top corner. Bishop Ramsey took the lead again only for Bishop Stopford to reply within a minute yet again. Bishop Ramsey took control of the game scoring two quick goals to win 4-2.
Game 3. Ashmole 6-4 Bishop Ramsey
With both teams winning against Bishop Stopford this game became the final with two halves.
As in their first game, Ashmole played extremely well first half playing some attractive football keeping the ball, Bishop Ramsey were struggling to get into the game. With some clever finishing and good team goals Ashmole went in at half time 4-1 up.
Second half and credit goes to Bishop Ramsey who stepped up a gear trying to get back into the match which they soon did, scoring two very quick goals to reduce the deficit to 4-3, game on! Ashmole responed to go 5-3, only for Bishop Ramsey to peg them back again 5-4. With only a few minutes left Bishop Ramsey pushed on for the equaliser only for Ashmole to score again 6-4.
Well done to both teams for a thrilling final, and of course well done to Ashmole for winning the Girls U13 Middlesex Schools Futsal finals.
Middlesex County FA Girls schools U15 Futsal finals
This year’s tournament was yet again played to a very high standard with schools competing after winning their borough school futsal leagues.
This year’s final day consisted of the following teams
Lea Valley (Enfield)
Villiers (Ealing)
Harefield Academy (Hillingdon)
Game 1. Harefield Academy 4-0 Villiers
Harefield Academy showed their potential from the start not allowing Villiers to settle taking an early lead and never looking back, Villiers defended extremely after consistent pressure from the Harefield team. Harefield showed moments of brilliance without reaching their full potential in this opening game, eventually winning the game 4-0.
Game 2. Lea Valley 3-0 Harefield Academy
Lea Valley come into the game defending champions from last season and it showed from the off, playing at a high pace with some inter changing football; with passing and moving, it was a great selling point of how the game of Futsal should be played.
A lot of hard work from Harefield often went unrewarded due to their opponent’s quick play. Lea Valley scored three great team goals and it could have been a lot more if it wasn’t for the calibre of the Harefield Goalkeeper.
Game 3. Lea Valley 8-0 Villiers
Villiers went into the game knowing it was going to be tough, with their teacher saying “our tactic is going to be putting all players behind the ball and defend for our lives”.
This didn’t last too long as Lea Valley went ahead in the first 30 seconds. Even though the scoreline didn’t reflect the improvement in the Villiers team, being their first season compared to Lea Valley’s third, I am sure they will agree they learnt a lot from their opponents.
Lea Valley continued where they left off against Harefield Academy playing lovely Futsal which was a joy to watch strolling out 8-0 winners.
FINAL. Lea Valley 3-2 Harefield Academy.
What a final! Lea Valley were made to work extremely hard for this after comfortably beating Harefield Academy in the league format. Lea Valley started the stronger with the Harefield goalkeeper again in top form stopping Lea Valley aided by a more resilient defence. Lea Valley eventually broke through to take the lead after the Harefield keeper saved the first shot, only for a Lea Valley player to be on hand to finish the loose ball, 1-0 Lea Valley. Harefield Academy didn’t give up and got rewarded for their hard work, after a cracking shot from just inside the Lea Valley half with the ball flying past the stranded keeper and in off the post 1-1. The game really sprung into life with that equalising goal, flowing from end to end with both teams having chances to take the lead. It was Lea Valley who struck first from a chance; again the Harefield Academy keeper made a good point blank save only for the rebound to fall to another Lea Valley player who coolly finished with her left foot. Harefield Academy pushed forward looking for a equaliser only to go 3-1 down after a smart finish knocking the ball past the Harefield Academy keeper bottom corner.
Credit to Harefield Academy who didn’t give up scoring again which ended up being a consolation goal, after a clever one-two the Harefield Academy player took it round the Lea Valley defender before firing the ball bottom corner. There was time for a final chance to Harefield Academy but the Lea Valley Goalkeeper was up to the challenge - Lea Valley holding on to a 3-2 win.
Well done to both teams for a thrilling final, and congratulations to Lea Valley who successful defended their title.