LAXEY secured their third Isle of Man FA futsal title in a row last week on an evening that showed why this relatively new game to our shores is so exciting to play and watch.
With goals, skills, bicycle kicks, penalty shoot-outs and comebacks, last Monday’s finals night at St Ninian’s provided a fitting conclusion to a very exciting summer of futsal.
The first semi-final saw the eventual winners Laxey play COYW.
The latter made a very bright start to the game and seized a deserved early lead.
However, goals from Keith Brown, Johnny Callow and six from Ashley Webster steered Laxey into the final with a comfortable 9-6 win.
The other semi featured an international line-up from Claremont Hotel and a number of Rushen United players for Flamingo Lips.
This game went back and forth with both teams showing flair and imagination in the tightest of spaces.
After the 30 minutes of normal time the teams could not be separated at 4-4, which meant the game went to penalties.
After three successful penalties each it went to sudden death. However both teams continued to keep their cool leading many to wonder whether these two heavyweights would ever be separated.
In the end an excellent save by Flamingos keeper Furo Davies meant they were one penalty away from the final.
Davies managed to squeeze his penalty into the corner of the net to send his team through.
The final lived up to all expectations with some end-to-end action.
Flamingo Lips were the better team in the early exchanges and took a big first-half lead into the break.
However as Laxey have done so many times in this league they pegged The Lips back with Callow and Webster reluctantly forgoing defensive duties to provide deadly attacking options.
Despite the awesome firepower of Flamingo Lips with the likes of Josh Kelly, Jack Saxon and Davies they couldn’t push on in the second half.
Laxey’s slick passing style proved too much and eventually they took the lead, 7-6 with only seconds to spare.
The ‘Lips’ were unable to reply meaning that Laxey retained the Manx futsal title which they have now won for the past three seasons.
A big thank you goes to the managers of the teams for their organisation and to the referees for their help in making the league run smoothly.
Finally, the FA is looking for a sponsor for the league next year.
If you are interested please contact chief executive Frank Stennett on 615576.