We continued our preparations for the 2021/22 NFS season with a behind closed doors match against Loughborough at the weekend.
With several players unavailable the Bees turned to 2 young players, Isaac Ruston and Addi Lawrence, who have progressed through the academy to bolster the squad.
The match started evenly with both teams having chances, but Cambridge adapted their game quickly to suit the tight court pressing the Students high up and gained the upper hand when Toby Hardwick struck with a fierce long range effort following a well worked set play.
Soon after the lead was doubled with Angel Martinez emphatically hammering home following a well worked move. At this stage it already looked a long way back for the visitors, but a goal can change everything in Futsal and it was Loughborough who struck back and immediately gained in confidence, keeping possession better and working the home side. Within minutes they had drawn equal and quickly turned the game on its head with a 3rd goal.
However despite the student's efforts the Bees continued with their aggressive pressing of the ball with Natxo Zarauza and Harry Horton going close and Martinez seeing a chance inadvertently cleared off of the goal line by Horton! Cambridge were now back on top and the pressure paid off when Hardwick strode forward and confidently slid the ball past the keeper to restore parity.
Both Cambridge youngsters were now on court, backed by Martinez and Hardwick they forced the opposition into errors with their tremendous work rate and this was rewarded firstly by an own goal and then Ruston assisting Lawrence who took his first senior goal with the calmness of a far more experienced player.
Cambridge now 2 goals up again looked in control and despite an excellent fourth goal for the visitors confidently saw out the match for a deserved victory.
All round it was a strong performance from the Bees with the added bonus of Ruston and Lawrence showing they will be pushing hard for places in the squad when the season begins in a few weeks.
Full Time:
Cambridge Futsal 5-4 Loughborough Futsal