Side finish as runners-up in EFL Trust Futsal Trophy
The Iron’s Futsal side were edged out by Brighton & Hove Albion in the EFL Trust Futsal Trophy final after topping their group.
The Seagulls won 5-1 in the final, after the Iron had won each of their previous four games.
United topped their group in the morning with a 3-0 win over Bristol Rovers before backing that up with a 4-0 victory over Peterborough United. The Iron had already topped the group by this point and faced Cheltenham Town to complete the unbeaten record – with a 5-3 scoreline seeing the side through to face the runners-up of Group B.
The runner-up emerged to be Oldham Athletic and the Iron then sailed through to the final following a 3-0 win. However, despite impressive performances throughout the day, four quick fire goals while chasing the game were to be the difference as the side finished in second place.
Jonty Jackson bagged a brace in the opening encounter against the Gas to make it 2-0 before Kurt Robinson rounded off the scoring to put the Iron in a commanding start from their 10am kick-off.
Jordan Spencer, who was the tournament’s top scorers in the qualifying stages, got his first of the finals in the second game against the Posh to make it 1-0 before Ashley Simpson (two) and Robinson rounded off the 4-0 win to put the side through to the semi-finals.
The final group game against Cheltenham Town proved to be a little more tricky though, despite the fact the Robins had lost their previous two games.
Jackson, Simpson, Morgan Smith and Robinson all netted to make it 4-0 before the Iron conceded their first goal of the tournament. Jackson got his second and United’s fifth to make it 5-1 before two further goals from the opponents set up a close finish.
Nevertheless, the side progressed with maximum points to face the Latics. That encounter took over 18 minutes to break the deadlock, with just 90 seconds remaining on the clock when the net was finally rustled – Morgan Smith accredited with the strike.
With Oldham then chasing the game, United were able to pile forward on the counter attack, with Simpson grabbing two more goals to make the scoreline look comfortable at 3-0.
With Brighton coming through to the final after beating the runners-up of Group A, the first 10 minutes of the final started in stalemate with neither team wanting to go behind.
That opening goal came half way through the encounter though, with an unfortunate own goal putting the Seagulls ahead. With the Iron chasing the game, a change of tactics were required, but this opened up the side, who soon found themselves 5-0 down. Jordan Spencer did get a goal back, but Brighton sealed the title with a further goal.
