Maccabi GB Futsal suffered another heavy defeat in their latest FA National Futsal League Division 1 South fixture - going down 9-1 against Genesis.
Having succumbed 13-4 to Baltic in their opener, Maccabi fans were expecting a tough test against a team involved in the top flight for a number of seasons, with manager Trevor Tamatave having developed a strong squad over the years.
Maccabi GB Futsal were missing Alex Olcot, Ben Weinberger and player-manager Jon Kurrant, and handed a debut to Adam Bernstein.
In the opening exchanges of the game, Maccabi GB had the majority of the ball, with Genesis happy to sit and counter-attack. This allowed captain Scott Shulton and Aviel Schwarz to dictate play for the home side, who looked happy in possession.
Genesis created their best openings on the counter early on, but Jordan Davidson was equal to their efforts, with some excellent shot-stopping to keep the scores level.
Shulton was beginning to settle strongly and, out in the wide-right position of the court, he scooped the ball down the line, evaded his defender and flew down the channel. He disguised a shot and smashed the ball to Barnett at the back-post who coolly slotted home to give Maccabi GB the advantage inside five minutes.
The home side had the momentum and should have gone 2-0 up when Shulton smashed a free-kick to the open space at the back-post, but no-one was there to put it away. Shulton and Barnett were creating chances at will, with Barnett’s pivot hold-up play exemplary.
Phillips nearly got on the scoresheet. A great one-two combination with Shulton allowed the former to unleash a shot that was deflected behind for yet another corner to Maccabi GB. Shulton accrued a very soft yellow card for a challenge conceded just in his team’s territory.
Genesis, who had been very quiet up until now, were starting to be more aggressive defensively and did everything right in a three-versus-two situation, apart from apply the finishing touch. Maccabi GB had been given their first real warning.
Genesis drew level in the 15th minute. A great, penetrative pass found them in a two-on-one position, but some woeful MGB tracking meant they had time to manoeuvre past Davidson before smashing the goal home.
For the next two minutes, it was an end-to-end game before the event that changed the shape of the match. In the 18th minute, Shulton pulled back a Genesis midfielder on the half-way line. The resulted in a professional foul, meaning he picked up another yellow card and was subsequently sent off. Maccabi GB were down to four players and Genesis made it count, going in at half-time 1-2 up.
The second half was a catastrophe from MGB’s point of view. Pressure cues and lack of tracking of runners meant Genesis had a field day.
The middle of the court was constantly being opened up and Genesis soon raced to a 1-6 lead with only five minutes passing in the second half. Davidson’s superb shot-stopping meant the deficit stopped for a period of time during the half, but Genesis’ dogged defensive pressure and counter-attacking meant an eight goal second half destruction of Maccabi GB to finish the game 9-1.
Maccabi GB Futsal have two weeks off until their next fixture against Helvecia. The step-up is a big one and the side will need to improve if they are going to have a chance of staying in the division.
SQUAD:
1) Jordan Davidson
5) Adam Bernstein
7) Sam Sollosi
8) Scott Shulton (capt)
9) Jamie Bernstein
10) Jonah Gordon-Boyd
11) Gideon Barnett
12) Josh Phillips
14) Avi Schwarz
Goalscorer: Barnett 5