Corfe Mullen United Juniors Girls - U16 FA Youth Futsal Cup National Champions

A team of under 16 girls from Corfe Mullen United Juniors Football Club have become the FA Youth Futsal Cup National Champions.

Having progressed through the Dorset County championships and the South West regional finals, the girls travelled to Birmingham, on 23 June, where the last eight teams in England contested the national finals.

Corfe Mullen got off to a great start, winning their first game against Tupton Hall School (Derbyshire) 1-0, coutesy of an Alexis Bussell strike.  Their second match against Yorkshire Champions Bootham Futsal Club saw goals from Amber Treweek secure a 2-0 win for Corfe Mullen.

Given results in other matches, these two wins meant Corfe Mullen had already qualified for the semi finals prior to their last group match against Brazil Girls (Essex).  Despite goals from Bussell and Treweek, Corfe Mullen lost this game 2-3 and progressed to the semi finals as runners up in their group.

In their semi final the Corfe Mullen girls came up against the very physical and technical Coombeshead Academy (Devon).  This was a quite thrilling match that saw Corfe Mullen hit the woodwork on several occasions and demonstrate some quite exceptional defending, with goalkeeper Mia North pulling off a string of top class saves.  As the game progressed, the Dorset girls put together some outstanding passes and created shooting opportunities for a well taken hat-trick by Treweek.  Despite the determination and pressing from Coombeshead they could not match this, and at the buzzer, Corfe Mullen won 3-2 and secured a place in the National Final for the first time in the Club’s history.

In the final the girls were up against Garston Ladies Lionesses (Hertfordshire), who had beaten Brazil Girls in their semi final.  All the hard work the Corfe Mullen girls had put into their peparation paid off and they gave a quite exceptional team performance.  After an early goal from Bussell, the team held their nerve. Midfielder Rosie Nicklen and defenders Hannah Campbell and Kira Deadman controlled the game and ensured Garston were held at bay.  Once again, goalkeeper North kept a clean sheet and her cool head ensured her defence was well organised.  Bussell and Treweek continued to press Garston, with all six squad members contributing to a 1-0 victory in normal time.  They dominated possession and played a great passing game, which meant they became the first girls or boys team from Dorset, of any age group, ever, to lift the trophy as FA Youth Futsal Cup National Champions.

Corfe Mullen United Juniors Team Manager Ben Ansell said, “this exceptional group of girls have worked very hard during the season in the physical, technical, psychological and social aspects of their football.  Futsal is a very demanding game and the benefits of playing futsal for their long term player development has been clearly seen.  Their team performance in the National Finals was quite outstanding, they are a credit to the Club and County and we are all very proud of what they have achieved.”

Along the way the team has received support from many local people and businesses and would like to thank the following in particular: John Scott, Andy Harris, Paul Bussell, Jemma Tewkesbury, Justine Mosley, Sue Hough, Dorset FA, Corfe Mullen United Juniors FC, Mudeford Phoenix GLFC, and Monroe Hairdressing (Wareham Road, Corfe Mullen).

The Corfe Mullen squad:

Mia North (GK), Alexis Bussell (C), Hannah Campbell, Kira Deadman, Rosie Nicklen and Amber Treweek.  Also played in earlier rounds: Erin Blake, Charlotte Harris and Lauren Harris.

Enquiries

For enquiries please contact Ben Ansell, Team Manager, on 07786 174221