Our BTEC Level 3 Football Studies students took part in the first round of the EFL Trust futsal cup at York University campus on Thursday afternoon.
The first round saw our BTEC side pitted against the unbeaten and current holders of the EFL Trust Futsal Cup – Grimsby Town, as well as Mansfield Town and Accrington Stanley. But our BTEC Seasiders were entering the tournament full of confidence with both our A and B teams 1st and 2nd respectfully in the North West Futsal Development league.
The first game saw Pool take on Grimsby knowing this would be the most difficult game in the group. The Seasiders got off to a flying start taking the lead through front man Luke Harris.
Grimsby then took control of the game and quickly equalised. A tactical change for the Seasiders saw substitute Ellis Tester re-take the lead for the Tangerines, with a neat finish from a well worked Pool counter attack. But Grimsby Town hit back again to equalise, taking the game to 2-2.
With only minutes left and the game evenly poised, both teams were going for the victory but it was the Seasiders who nicked it – with a fantastic counter attack goal, scored by Grant Copeland. Blackpool held on, to end the unbeaten run of Grimsby Town.
Full time result: Blackpool FC Community Trust 3 – 2 Grimsby Town
Blackpool’s second game saw them take on Accrington Stanley who had already beaten Mansfield Town in their opening fixture. Blackpool ran out comfortable winners beating Stanley 6-0 – with goals from Grant Copeland (2) Luke Harris (2) and Matthew Graffin (2).
Full time result: Blackpool FC Community Trust 6 – 0 Accrington Stanley
Blackpool’s final fixture was against Mansfield Town and The Seasiders made it three wins out of three with a comfortable 7-0 victory. Goals from Grant Copeland (2), Luke Harris (3) and Ellis Tester (2) saw Pool qualify as group leaders and go through to the 2nd round of the cup with maximum points.
Full time result: Blackpool FC Community Trust 7 – 0 Mansfield Town
Blackpool have now progressed into the second round of the EFL Trust Futsal Cup which will take place in March 2017.
Football Development Officer Alex Taylor, who managed the Blackpool FC Community Trust BTEC side, said “The lads fully deserved the three wins. We were looking forward to testing ourselves against EFL Trust National teams and have shown we can be real contenders for the cup this season having beaten last year’s holders, Grimsby Town. We were professional in our approach against Accrington Stanley and Mansfield, showing a ruthlessness in front of goal, which we haven’t done in the past, so it was good to see.”
