Tournament double for FFA
LOUGHBOROUGH-BASED Football First Academy’s U14s had a memorable Christmas/New Year period with not one but two prestigious tournament victories.
First up was the Fox Soccer Tournament 7 a side Christmas Tournament run by Leicester City player Christian Fuchs. Playing a year up in the U15s division, the FFA boys drew their opening game against Fox Soccer but then reeled off six wins in a row to power into the final undefeated.
Their final opponents were Future Soccer Pro and another powerful performance saw FFA clinch the trophy with a comfortable 4-0 win. The FFA side featured seven players from Loughbborough’s own Woodbrook Vale School in George Moore, Sam Crabtree, Ben Eames, Declan Warren, Dan Warren, AJ Korpal and Ollie Burnett. The lads were presented their trophy by Christian Fuchs himself.
Then onto the big one - the Derby Futsal Championships and three wins out of three in the group phase sent the FFA boys into the semi finals against Rotherham Academy.
The FFA boys piled forward and created chance after chance but couldnt’t find the knockout blow. A swift counter attack from Rotherham saw them take the lead with just two minutes left, but straight from the kickoff a first time shot from Brandon Cover caught the Rotherham keeper asleep and flew into the net and they were level within seconds.
It looked like a penalty shootout was on the cards but with just eight seconds left on the clock and the boys well and truly in the last chance saloon George Moore lashed the winner into the roof of the net to break the Rotherham hearts.
The final was against old foes Tango FC and the boys took a 2-0 lead with a Brandon Cover double. A late consolation goal for Tango FC made it as tense finish but FFA held on to secure the title.
Two tournament wins out of two and the FFA boys will now enjoy a breather until the summer tournament schedule.