After a 3-3 draw in this fixture last year, a close contest was expected in the futsal, and that is exactly what transpired.
Futsal is often a game of finesse, but this is Roses, and this was a fiercely-competitive, physical match. York took an early lead through David Clarkson, but the game remained close on both the pitch and the scoreboard until York’s Alex Ingham took the game into his own hands. He turned to fire low into the Lancaster net before a free-kick gave the hosts a seemingly unassailable 3-0 lead. Lancaster responded with a carbon-copy free-kick of their own from Naufal Aufa, but despite that lifeline it was York who were in charge at the break.
But Lancaster started the second half as the brighter side, and reaped their rewards. They squeezed in an improbable second direct from a corner, and the pressure mounted on York as a penalty appeal was turned down and a shot was blocked on the line. The pressure showed when a shot deflected in off Rafael Yu, but parity was short-lived, as Ingham turned his man to complete his hat-trick and restore York’s lead.
Ingham had the beating of the Lancaster defence all day, and was finding space where none seemed to exist. Ross Penlington was twice denied by the York goalkeeper before Ingham – who else? – fired in his fourth. Ingham was denied again by Lancaster keeper Ash Jennings, while Daniel Kommu struck the post at the other end.
It was Kommu who gave Lancaster hope with a penalty, but as they pushed for a leveller in the dying stages they were caught out by Clarkson. The man who opened the scoring also finished it, firing low past Jennings to put the victory beyond doubt.
The full-time whistle brought a tight contest to an end. Lancaster had spirit, but York had Alex Ingham, and that made all the difference.
