Bath beat IFA in final game

Bath Futsal Club update
Last game of the 2014/15 season

This season we have taken Bath Futsal Club as our featured club for the 2014/15 season and it’s fair to say it hasn’t been the easiest of seasons. Michael Wootten got in touch with us back in the summer of 2014 and his passion and enthusiasm was infectious. However results weren’t going his way and he brought in Billy Whittaker to take control of first team affairs, with Michael concentrating on off the field matters.

Performances started to get better but the loses still came until they managed to thump Coventry away 10-1 with a scratch team. The FA Futsal cup then came as a much needed distraction with Bath beating higher league opposition in the opening two games. This put them in a very strong position to progress from a hard group. Unfortunately travel problems preventing them from fulfilling all of their fixtures and one league game.

Michael then left the club completely to play a big part in Salisbury’s FA Cup run and a massive whole was left at the club. Billy worked hard with the lads over the next few weeks and their season ended with them beating London Zappsport in the FA Cup with the last kick of the game. Young Frank Cobby was the MOTM on that day who stepped up through the development squads to make his debut earlier this season.

Their final game of the season finished with Bath needing the 3 points to come off the foot of the table. If they were to finish bottom then it would mean they could be subject to relegation from the national leagues. Bath currently play in the National Division 2 midlands and up to this point Futsal has been developing across the country so there hasn’t been any relegation as there have been no new teams to step up.

However next season the leagues will be restructured and the bottom teams from Div 2 North, South and Midlands could drop out. So a victory was vital but top of the league Loughborough Untied Futsal Club were the visitors to Hayesfield on Sunday 22nd March and hadn’t lost away all season.

Bath went into half time 5-2 in front of the league leaders, Loughborough United (IFA) with Bath managing the game very well. Second half underway and Bath increase the scoreline to 7-3 with victory firmly in their sites. However IFA decided to use their fly keeper with great effect to take the score line to 12-8.

4 minutes remained on the clock when IFA conceded their 5th foul which results in a 10m penalty for every foul from then on; Ramos scored the resulting 10m penalty. Then IFA had a man sent off for a last man cynical foul, Ramos stepped up again and scored. Pedro then rifled the ball into the bottom corner from 15 yards out putting the score at 12-11.

There was another twist in the tale then Bath then had a player sent off which meant the team was down to 4 men for 2 minutes when they scored their next goal. IFA conceded another 10m penalty with 30 seconds to go and Fabio had no problem slotting the ball away giving Bath the lead and final sore 13-12.

This was Loughborough United first defeat in the league since the opening game of the season and lifted Bath over Coventry by a point.

Man of the Match – Fabio Ramos

Goalscorers:

Whittaker (8) (23)
Dennis (13) (14) (31)
Ermand (17) (36)
Bourton (18)
Jethwani (23)
Ramos (33) (39) (39)
Ferreira (39)

The foundation for Bath Futsal Club is strong for next season with their two development squads playing in the local Futsal leagues throughout the summer. Their youth coaching is going well with links to local schools strengthening all the time, helping to introduce more players to this fast paced version of the beautiful game. Billy Whittaker is also committed to next season and is helping secure sponsorship deals for the 2015/16 season, which should see them compete in an even stronger national league with the prospect of new clubs.

Their biggest achievement by Michael and Billy this season is Bath Futsal Club now being confirmed as a Charter Standard adult club. This is huge for the club and you can find out what it means for the club and local community alike here.

We look forward to seeing what the future holds for Bath Futsal club and will continue to bring you news throughout the summer along with full squad player profiles for next season. Well done to all the players and fans alike for the successes achieved in the second half of this season and best of luck to Michael as he starts University in Bournemouth in September.

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