Derby maintain 100% record against Washington

Derby record their fourth win in four to remain joint top of the National Futsal Series Tier 2 North by beating Washington Pumas.

The NFS game, played at CitySpace in Sunderland, saw Derby run out eventual winners 9-3, with goals coming from Dylan Harris-Newton, Manny Freeman, John King and Sam Huntingdon.

Derby are joint top of the division with Cheshire both on 12 points.

The early start and early kick off was evident in the first half as Derby looked sluggish, Washington striking three times and taking the lead at one point. But the second half was a different story as Derby came out of the blocks flying, and dominated the period. 

Captain Harris-Newton came away from the game with a hattrick, his first two goals being a case of right place right time, firstly chesting in a driven pass from Huntingdon, and secondly getting a deflection on a Huntingdon shot. But his third was cool; after a neat period of passing deep in the Washington half Harris-Newton had the ball centrally, feigned to pass it, but instead slotted it into the bottom corner. The goalkeeper wasn’t expecting it.

Freeman was voted man of the match by his teammates after the game, as his footwork was close to his best this season. His first goal was a tidy finish slotting home a pass from Harris-Newton. His second came courtesy of a trademark Richard Hankey NFL style ball out. Freeman brought it out of the sky with a deft touch, beating the goalkeeper, allowing him to finish easily.

King’s first goal was so casual, a corner came to him on the left flank and he simply side footed it in the bottom corner. He made it look simple. His second was poachers’ instinct. Jack Allen and Liam Hunt tried a corner routine three times in a row from the same spot when eventually the ball got through, and King nicked it on the back post.

Huntingdons’ goals set the standard in the second half. His first came almost immediately from the restart. When he found himself on the right flank with the ball approaching he slammed it in, making no doubts. His second was tucking away a high intensity build up involving every player on the pitch.

Derby have another trip to Sunderland for the early 10:30am kick off at the end of November to play Sunderland.