The A and B team were beaten on the final fixtures in April.

The Peterborough United Futsal team’s seven game winning streak came to an end in the final fixtures of April as both the ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams were beaten in their league fixtures at the Barking Sporthouse, London.

The ‘A’ team were beaten 7-1 by Norwich City which ended their hopes of qualifying for the Nationals, while the ‘B’ team were beaten 7-1 by a very strong Chelsea team.

The top four in the leagues qualify for the nationals and the ‘A’ team went in to their game against the Canaries just two points behind 4th placed Brentford.

The Posh ‘A’ team began their game with high hopes but found themselves 2-0 down in the opening two minutes with a long range effort and well-worked goal, which included a ‘Maradona turn’, beating Posh ‘keeper Louis Bland.

The Posh tried to cut the deficit immediately when top scorer Oliver Brant had a header saved, but Norwich broke from the back and soon made it 3-0.

Norwich’s first half dominance continued to pay off as they made it 4-0 from inside their own half. The Canaries snatched the ball from Posh striker Brant before sending it over Bland’s head as he was caught near the halfway line.

A poor first half soon became an awful one for the Posh as Norwich made it 5-0 and 6-0 just before half-time.

Manager Michael Johnson changed his side’s tight diamond formation to a man for man one at half-time and it certainly showed in the second half. Despite almost finding themselves 7-0 down after the restart, the Posh began to play with more freedom and expression.

Posh found themselves in far more possession which resulted in a number of Brant efforts on goal being blocked. Lewis Soames was then  harshly booked for standing in front of a Norwich free kick while trying to get back in to position, before Brant pulled one back for the Posh with his 26th goal of the campaign – a remarkable goal tally for his first season. A short Callum Avent corner was met first time by Brant with his right-footed effort deflecting in off a Norwich defender.

A series of Bland saves kept the score at 6-1 while Brant, Avent and Kieran Luxford all had shots on goal saved by the Norwich goalkeeper. Norwich struck the post with a long range free-kick before making it 7-1 late on with the Posh very unlucky not to hold on and win the second half.

Callum Avent, captain of the ‘A’ team, and top goal scorer Oliver Brant, had been recognised for their Futsal performances this year with call-ups to England trials where they made it to the third round. First year scholar Brant is keen to get back involved with the England set-up next year and is also targeting a higher goal tally.

He said: “I’ve scored 26 goals this season but I want to push myself to get 50 or 60 next season. It’s possible, and it will hopefully mean I get back in to the England trials.”

The ‘B’ team began their game in a very organised, rigid and defensive formation as they found themselves up against a Chelsea ‘B’ side that included many ‘A’ team players due to a last minute postponement.

Chelsea, unsurprisingly, found themselves in a lot of possession early on with their ‘keeper joining their attacks, but it was Posh ‘keeper Ashley Moore that registered the first shot on target. Moore found himself receiving the ball just inside the Chelsea half and his long range effort forced a Posh corner.

Posh’s resilient defending and organisation forced Chelsea in to a series of long range shots with several of them coming from their ‘keeper. There were only so many blocks and saves the Posh could make before going behind and before they knew it they were 3-0 down.

Despite the score, the Posh ‘B’ side continued to win back possession in their own half but Ben Doyle and Dan Hardy saw their long range efforts blocked as they tried to catch the Chelsea ‘keeper a long way off his line.

Moore was called in to action a number of times after the restart and Chelsea’s quality soon prevailed when they made it 4-0 following a neat one-two. Chris Wyhatt pulled on back for the Posh from inside his own half. Wyhatt intercepted a Chelsea pass on the edge of his own box and went for goal first time with Chelsea playing fly ‘keeper.

Chelsea’s utilisation of the fly ‘keeper paid off when they made it 5-1. Their ‘keeper received the ball in the Posh half and his first time shot evaded everyone before finding the bottom corner. The Londoners soon made it 6 and 7-1 before Posh’s Ethan Stokes saw his long range effort shave the far post.

Posh ‘A’ team: Louis Bland (GK), Callum Avent ©, Kieran Luxford, Oliver Brant, Lewis Soames, Josh Pearce.
Posh ‘B’ team: Ashley Moore (GK & c), Dan Hardy, Ethan Stokes, Ben Doyle, Chris Wyhatt, Luke Frankin.