Video highlights from the Men’s Futsal Premier League Round 1 clash between Boomerangs FS Blue and Queanbeyan City are now available online.  Please click the link to view the highlights (or watch the embedded version below)

MATCH OF THE ROUND: QUEANBEYAN OFF TO WINNING START

By Antony Perry

Queanbeyan City FC got its 2012 Capital Futsal Premier League campaign off to a winning start in the opening round of the 2012 season, edging out Boomerangs FS Blue 2-1 at the AIS last Thursday night. It was a hard-fought victory for City, which was made to come from behind after Boomerangs’ Jason O’Dwyer opened the scoring with a skilful header midway through the first half. However, a long-range effort from Rory Devlin soon after O’Dwyer’s opener and Rui Ferreira’s neat finish in the shadows of half time ensured City a confidence-boosting win over last season’s runner-up. City looked the better of the two sides in the opening exchanges, maintaining possession and quickly settling into a patient passing rhythm that put it in control of the match.

City’s failure to check a David Dexter run into the area, however, almost resulted in a Boomerangs opener as early as the first minute. An ominous delivery from David Lee was met by Dexter, who hesitated before releasing a weak effort directly at City’s shot-stopper Chris Trajanoski. The error proved to be a minor hiccup as City began to pierce the Boomerangs defensive line – albeit without finding the back of the net – while not having to do much defending of its own due to wasteful passing amongst the Boomerangs unit.

Devlin had an attempt from distance knocked down by Boomerangs’ goal keeper Ashley Collins, who only just managed to clear the ball away from a fast-approaching Dragan Stegnjaic looking to follow up Devlin’s effort. Devlin turned provider shortly after, splitting the Boomerangs defence with an exquisite through ball that was latched onto by Nathan Walker, who fired his shot just wide of the right post.

With the Boomerangs defence looking frail, Collins opted to hoist the ball long from a restart in play. The goal keeper’s throw was met by O’Dwyer just inside the City area, who guided the ball into the back of the net with a crafty header over a helpless Trajanoski to give his side a 1-0 lead. It wasn’t long before City responded, though. An easy loss of possession by Boomerangs allowed Stegnjaic to go on a penetrating run into the opposition half. The City man skilfully evaded his trackers and turned to deliver a pass to the onrushing Devlin, who unleashed a stunning long-range strike to draw his side level at 1-1.

Soon after Devlin’s equaliser, Ferreira gave City a well-deserved lead. A Stegnjaic corner was volleyed across the face of the Boomerangs goal by Devlin and was duly tapped in by the well-positioned Ferreira.
City went into half time holding a 2-1 lead. The second half proved a frustrating time for both sides, with neither able to find the back of the net. A poor display of passing and an inability to finish its opportunities meant Boomerangs, for the most part, failed to threaten the City defence. Similarly, City was unable to carry its impressive form from the first half into the second. Ultimately, the two sides were left to rue poor execution in what was an uneventful second half, with City clinging to its 2-1 lead to secure the premiership points.

ROUND 1 WRAP

In other matches a hat-trick from Mark Shields helped get TUFC Gunners off to a winning start as they thrashed the hapless Boomerangs FS White 8-1. Shields may have bagged a treble but it was head-line act Ufuk Talay who stole the show with the former Galatasary and Sydney FC playmaker running riot in his maiden Futsal Premier League appearance. Talay set up numerous chances for his team and found the net twice as the Gunners dominated their opponents. James McLachlan, Simon Badman and Antoni Jagarinec also struck as the TUFC side dominated the play. Josh Calabria netted the consolation goal for Boomerangs White.

Meanwhile Champions Canberra City Prawns started the defence of their crown with a 5-1 hammering of Weston Creek Timberwolves. Daniel Fulton, who will make his long awaited Futsalroo debut this weekend in a series of matches against New Zealand in Auckland, scored twice for the Prawns who also netted via the boot of Ryan Keir, Ryan Kyprianou and Trent Flanigan as they got off to a solid start. Tony Aleksovski struck for the Timberwolves who have aligned themselves with Weston Creek for the 2012 season but they were well beaten in the end.

RESULTS
TUFC Gunners 8 (Mark Shields (3), Ufuk Talay (2), James McLachlan, Simon Badman, Antoni Jagarinec) Boomerangs FS White 1 (Josh Calabria)

Queanbeyan City 2 (Rui Ferreira, Rory Devlin) Boomerangs FS Blue 1 (Jason O’Dwyer)

Weston Creek Timberwolves 1 (Tony Aleksovski) Canberra City Prawns 5 (Daniel Fulton (2), Ryan Keir, Ryan Kyprianou, Trent Flanigan)

TABLE

LEADING SCORERS
3 Mark SHIELDS (TUFC Gunners)
2 Daniel FULTON (Canberra City Prawns), Ufuk TALAY (TUFC Gunners)
1 Jason O’DWYER (Boomerangs FS Blue), Josh CALABRIA (Boomerangs FS White), Trent FLANIGAN, Ryan KEIR, Ryan KYPRIANOU (Canberra City Prawns), Rory DEVLIN, Rui FERREIRA (Queanbeyan City), Simon BADMAN, Antoni JAGARINEC, James McLACHLAN (TUFC Gunners), Tony ALEKSOVSKI (Weston Creek Timberwolves)

MATCH OF THE ROUND: Queanbeyan off to winning start in FPL