Maccabi GB Futsal crashed 13-0 in their latest match in the National Futsal League.
With the reverse of this fixture resulting in a 13-4 win for Baltic, MGB returned with a weakeded squad in terms of numbers, and player-manager Jon Kurrant knew this was going to be about damage-limitation for his side.
In the opening exchanges, MGB were surprisingly the more dangerous, sitting deep, soaking up pressure and springing on the counter-attack. Jamie Bernstein and Gordon-Boyd went close and, after four minutes of play, MGB really should have been 2-0 ahead.
Keeper Jordan Davidson was mopping up any creative spark Baltic were concocting and a mixture of intense defending from MGBF and complacency from Baltic meant the Community’s top Futsal side were in control after five minutes.
Confidence began to grow within the ranks, but this actually proved to be detrimental as players were taking too many touches when in possession and allowing Baltic to counter with speed. This told as soon they flew 3-0 ahead.
MGB never recovered for the remainder of the half and Baltic added three more before the break to put them 6-0 in front.
In the second half, Maccabi GB started well. Kurrant, as in the first half, was driving past players from tight situations and launching attacks, but Gordon-Boyd could not find the finishing touch despite his great movement.
Bernstein was freed for another one-on-one opportunity, but he tried to be too cute and scoop the keeper who stood tall to end the attack.
Baltic had not been in particularly great form in possession, but their counter-attack was deadly. MGB felt the full wrath of this and soon found themselves 10-0 down midway through the second half.
Jonny Cohen, a veteran at 45, made his Maccabi GB Futsal debut and nearly slotted home when he turned his defender and fizzed a shot agonisingly wide of the upright.
Although the score-line was heavily in Baltic’s favour, it was puzzling how MGBF did not have at least five goals on the score sheet. In the end it finished 13-0 in Baltic's favour.
This result leaves MGB bottom of the table with three points, one point adrift of FC Siauliai. The two teams have FA Futsal Cup fixtures this weekend coming before a showdown - on December 21 at Sport House - which could prove pivotal in who stays in the division next season.
SQUAD:
1 Jordan Davidson
5 Adam Bernstein
8 Jon Kurrant
9 Jonathan Cohen
10 Jonah Gordon-Boyd
11 Jamie Bernstein