Report: Derby Futsal 3-5 Maidenhead United

Maidenhead United returned to winning ways on Sunday, beating Derby Futsal 5-3 at Bradfield College. Despite Derby being the home team, Maidenhead played at their home court due to availability issues up north. United came from behind twice fought back and secured all three points and made their way back to Berkshire. 

 

Both teams started fast but it was Derby who took the lead in rather fortunate style. A Maidenhead corner was turned over on the edge of the Derby area before Corden broke 1-v-1 against Lazarus and finished clinically into the corner. 

 

Following the goal, United began to dominate and created multiple chances that were well kept out by Denson in the Derby goal. 

 

Diogo Luz did manage to break through by completely taking the keeper out of the game. Luz knocked the ball around one side of Denson and ran around the other before tucking the ball into an empty net. 

 

Maidenhead piled on the pressure and Derby’s only response was to foul United’s players before they could reach the goal. As a result, they quickly accumulated five fouls and eventually conceded a long penalty. Tozer stepped up following his success from the spot last week, however, this time his shot was too central and saved by Denson. 

 

The save gave Derby some belief and they were rewarded through a moment of brilliance. A well-worked free-kick routine skipped out a dummy for Cockerill to finish off the crossbar and into the top corner. 

 

No more than a minute later, Christian Edwards went down the other end and equalised. Edwards beat his man down the right wing before catching the keeper out at the near post. 

 

Just a minute before halftime, United took the lead for the first time in the game. Again, United acknowledged that scoring past Denson was no easy feat, so resorted to taking him out of the game. This time Aran Carter set Dan Abrahamson who could finish the first time from six yards out. 

 

HALF TIME – Derby Futsal 2-3 Maidenhead United 

 

United were full of energy to start the half and they started in the same way they finished the first half. Carter dribbled through before unleashing a shot that looked like it hit a hand, but the penalty appeal was turned down. However, it was him who reacted quickest to touch the ball around the keeper before being taken out. Lant stepped up and stuck the penalty in the bottom left corner, sending the keeper the wrong way. 

 

The game became very open, and Derby were chasing a way back into the game. This created many openings for United to counter-attack, but a lack of cutting edge meant their lead stayed at two goals. 

 

Eventually, Derby were able to find a way through and again it was Corden. This time he cut inside nicely from the left and shot low and hard back the way he came into the side-netting. 

 

The joy was short-lived for Derby as United made it five soon after, Tozer dribbled wide to commit the keeper before cutting it back to Phil Lant who had the easy task of finishing into an empty net to complete the scoring. 

 

FULL TIME – Derby Futsal 3-5 Maidenhead United 

 

Maidenhead will face bottom-of-the-league Wessex next week in an actual away fixture, United won the home game 4-2. While Derby head back up north to host top-of-the-table Bloomsbury.