MATCH REPORT: BATH 5 – 17 CAMBRIDGE UNITED
Cambridge United Futsal secured an impressive 17-5 away win over Bath FC to guarantee a play-off place in the National Futsal League Midlands Division Two and take a big step towards winning the League.
Travelling for the furthest away trip of the season, the U’s lined up against a side whom they had beaten on the opening day of the season 13-6 at the University of Cambridge Sports Centre, and once again proved to be too much for their opponents, albeit after Bath had ran United close in the first half.
Playing on a narrow pitch, the sides produced a high tempo fixture with the hosts getting off the mark first when they opened the scoring on two minutes.
United sparked into action though and a well-worked attacking rotation saw them equalise before the men in amber and black pressed from the resulting kick off to snatch the advantage.
A spell in which the U’s lacked concentration lead to Bath restoring their winning advantage, but Luis Mendonca’s men learned their lessons quickly and soon wrestled their way back to 5-6 in front before the break.
The second half was a whole different story as Cambridge blew away their opponents at a blistering pace, as indicated by a three goal haul within five minutes of the game restarting to open up a four goal lead.
With Bath now trailing by a considerable margin and desperate to get back in the match, they pushed their goalkeeper forward, which only allowed the visitors to punish the home side through a succession of quick counter attacking moves.
In the end, United proved to have too much quality against a young Bath squad and the score line finished 17-5 to the U’s, who had arguably produced their best 20 minutes of Futsal of the season.
Meanwhile, in the other top three clash of the day, Kettering managed to narrowly defeat University of Gloucestershire 6-5, which puts the U’s level of points with UOG with one game left of the season.
With the league being decided on goal difference, the Us head to their last game of the regular season against Kettering with a strong chance of winning the title, and will only not achieve this if they lose by 19 goals or more.
Bath FC - CUFC = 5-17 (HT: 5-6)
CUFC goals: A. Antelo (3), T. Hardwick (1), L. Chadwick (2), P. Pereira (4), A. Morcillo (4), M. Bouttell (2), L. Mendonca (1)
Tickets for the U’s potential title winning game against Kettering on Sunday, at the University of Cambridge Sports Centre, 3pm kick-off can be bought online here.