JANELLE HITS FOUR IN SHARKS DRAW

Camilla was an inspiration as always

REPORT by DAVE JONES


GREAT WHITE SHARKS 6 (Janelle 4, Salma, Camilla)
CUNNING STUNTS 6
BIRMINGHAM LADIES FUTSAL LEAGUE PREMIERSHIP - MARCH 25, 2015

IN their first season back in the Premiership the Sharks are fourth and safe from relegation.
Normally, that would be celebrated as a great achievement, but a closer look at the stats reveals what a farce the Premiership has become.
Of the Sharks five wins, four have been 8-0 walkovers (ie the other team not showing up), while the other was also a walkover but the friendly subsequently played, where Sharks beat Championship team Kings Heathens 11-1, became classed as a league game.
So you have a situation where a team has avoided relegation by not winning a single match on court against another Premiership side - dismal.
Of course on the other side of the coin, the Sharks proved what great supporters they are of the league by turning up for every match, even when short of players.
GWS deserved those 8-0 wins for supporting a league where other teams on many weeks cannot be bothered.
You have to ask, why is the Futsal Arena running two ladies divisions? Why not have one large division to ensure more matches are played each week?
The Arena is taking fees off teams who are not even getting a competitive match some weeks.
Rant over.....
Meanwhile, on Wednesday night, Sharks drew 6-6 in an exciting game against league newcomers Cunning Stunts (I keep taking great care when typing out this team's name).
The game started brilliantly for Sharks when goalkeeper Salma released a long ball which has headed into her own net by an opponent.
In reply, Cunning had a number of attempts on goal which were all stopped by Salma before one eventually found the net.
Stunts went 2-1 up but it was not long before Janelle smashed home a volley.
This boosted the Sharks' confidence and it was game on!
During play Aisha suffered a trapped nerve leaving her feeling uncomfortable but she still played her part in beautifully setting up goals for Camilla and Janelle.
The first half also saw Dee suffer an ankle injury when deflecting an opponents' shot.
Half time 4-3 to Sharks - a satisfactory score but the game was far from over.
The second half saw GWS show even more power with the main movements by Hayley, Janelle and Camilla.
Janelle was on fire and with 1.40 remaining she leveled at 6-6 with her fourth goal of the match.
Final score 6-6.
Salma said: "Both teams knew this was a tough battle and a great contest from start to finish! Superb, superb stuff last night team. Amazing game from start to finish - chasing the score to the wire!  We played with a team carrying injuries and still took a point.
"Sharks I love your dedication - just keep yourself fit girls and credit goes to Camilla who pointed out at half time we was about to give the game away! You really did wake us up and for once we controlled the game and got a score.
"We can do it when we want!! #Believe  xx"

FRIENDLY - MARCH 18
Under Estimated 6 Great White Sharks 3 (Janelle, Hameeda 2)
Dee reports....
The game was one of the best games we've had against Under Estimated in a long while.
It was open to us to win from the beginning. We dominated the first half with an amazing strong right foot goal from Janelle as she twisted and turned around their defence.  
Under Estimated tried their very hardest to penetrate out defence but with a motivated and strong team we resisted hard by communicating and working hard to cover each-other's positions.
But through a minor slip from a left hand kick UE slid one through past our defence of which the keeper couldn't see coming
However this didn't deter us. Hameeda then through sheer perseverance wriggled past and defended the ball when we she almost lost it to push it in all the way past the keeper to give us her second walk in goal of the season (she literally walked in with it) from a clumsy attempted save from their keeper.
Throughout the whole first half. Every player passed and moved to create options for our team mates. And there were several attempts and almost every attempt a near miss which was very unlucky. But we all grasped at opportunity to try and score. Towards the end of the second half Hameeda carried on as strong as ever and a good pass from us sneak a blinder in. One that even the defence nor the keeper could see coming
Second half was a bit calmer and weaker. I think fitness gets the better of us. We slacked slightly in defence and let get Under Estimated get ahead 6-3.
It was unfortunate but it's a game we thoroughly enjoyed and it's one of the very few games where we were united as a team hence why we enjoyed it so much. 

Camilla was our keeper for the game. And thanks to her great saves and motivational screams from the goal we feel we did well against the Premiership Champions.