Warriors edge out Breakers to remain at the top

Dural Warriors 5 Breakers FC 4

Dural’s 16 Boys held off a strong second half come back from 4th placed Breakers FC to maintain their position at the top of the table in a thrilling game that featured a fine first half hat-trick from Dural’s Ryan Johnstone.

Dural got off to a very good start when they took an early lead. Blake Rosier took the ball down the right hand side then fed the ball to Ryan Johnstone whose curling shot looped onto the top of the crossbar but instead of going over it unexpectedly dropped straight down and spun into the net.

After weathering a lot of early Dural pressure the Breakers got back into the game. Gene Varano broke free and his shot forced an excellent save from Jake Moon in goal. From the resulting corner the Breakers scored an unusual goal when an attempted long ball pass out of defence was blocked by Louis Edwards and the force of the deflection carried it spinning wildly into the top right corner of the goal to make it 1-1.

Dural grabbed the lead back when Sam Bingham sped down the right side fed the ball across court to Ryan Johnstone who slotted the ball past the advancing keeper.

The Breakers like to play a fast tempo game but it was Dural who were passing moving the around the court with more assurance and discipline.

Dural scored again before the end of the half to make it 3-1 when they were awarded a free kick right on the edge of the area. The resulting shot cannoned off the wall and the ball eventually fell to Ryan Johnstone who completed his hat trick when he lifted the ball over the advancing keeper.

Just before half time Dural hit the post when Matt Brown cleverly swivelled out of a three man challenge and slammed his shot against the base of the post.

After half time the Breakers looked an improved side and were retaining better possession of the ball which led to immediate positive results.

The Breakers pulled a goal back when they were awarded a free kick outside the area. Jordan Edwards stepped up and drilled the ball past a wall of defenders into the net to make it 3-2.

Soon after the Breakers made it 3-3. A quick counter attack down the right side saw the ball passed across court to Jordan Edwards trekking forward in support who slotted the ball home.

It was game on at 3-3 with competition for the ball fierce. But it was Dural who again took the lead when a pass directly from a free kick went to an unmarked Sam Bingham who slammed his low shot into the net to make it 4-3.

The Breakers hit back when they were awarded a penalty for handball and Panayoti Gotsis stepped up and made no mistake from the spot to make it 4-4.

Dural nearly took the lead when Sam Bingham crashed a shot onto the bar. But shortly after Dural grabbed the decisive goal when the ball was won in a mid-court tackle and spilled to Blake Rosier who turned his marker and smashed his shot into the net to make it 5-4.

The Breakers nearly levelled the game when a certain goal was cleared off the line by the Dural defence.

Dural saw off a gallant second half fight back from the Breakers but did enough to deserve the win in a thrilling exhibition of fast and skilful Futsal from both sides.