Picken bags four in Futsal win

Words: Nick Brown

Saturday 11 March 2023

Picture: Phototek

TAURANGA, New Zealand - Auckland City FC’s Futsal team have opened their Ford Futsal Super League campaign with a high scoring 8-4 victory over the Bay of Plenty Surge at Trustpower Arena in Tauranga this afternoon. 


The hosts were quick out of the blocks with Arran Carter sending a shot low under Vaughan Somerville to give them a surprise lead within the first minute of the game. 


What followed was a herculean defensive effort from the home team with good chances for Josh Margetts and Art Twigg being foiled by good defending and saves by Surge custodian Chris Preece. 


The Surge then doubled their lead when the Futsal Navy Blues were caught on the break and Carter slipped the ball into the bottom left corner to double the Surge lead. 


The Futsal Navy Blues responded immediately with Bahram Ahmadi slotting past Preece to narrow the gap. 


On the stroke of half time Thomas Picken slotted home from a tight angle to equalise for the Futsal Navy Blues and leaving it 2-2 with the teams heading back to the benches for half time. 


Soon after the resumption in play the Futsal Navy Blues took the lead for the first time with the ball being worked up court brilliantly by captain Stephen Ashby to set up a simple tap in for Shaun Morgan. 


The Surge not lying down attempted to get back into the game with a few good chances one in particular chipped off the line by Adam Paulsen in a fabulous goal saving move. Shortly afterwards there was another set of fast goal scoring action as Ahamdi fired home for his second and Carter pulling one back for his hat trick for the Surge straight from kick off. 


The Surge found themselves in foul trouble towards the mid-point of the half giving away their 6th foul and each subsequent foul leading to a 10 metre spot kick. Preece saved the attempt from Denny Twigg but Picken followed up and slotted home for his brace. 


Moments later the Surge gave away another foul and Picken this time slotted home from the 10 metre spot to complete his hat trick and give the Futsal Navy Blues some breathing space. 


More damage was done when Ahmadi won the ball in the middle of the court and completed his hat trick. 


Attempting to get back into the game the Surge deployed the 5th attacker and this paid dividends when 5th man  Mario Ramos slotted home to make it 7-4. 


The scoring action rounded out in the dying moments when Picken slotted home again for his fourth and an 8-4 win for the Futsal Navy Blues. 


For Picken he acknowledged the team’s slow start but was happy with the result and his performance he said “We might have been a bit complacent after our first practice game with them when we won that 7-1 but we brought ourselves back up and and got the win which was good” and for his scoring feats it came as a surprise to a player who says he doesn’t score many “It was surprising I don;t usually score that many just happy with the boys and to get the win was the main thing” 


The Futsal Navy Blues continue in the Northern Travel series with games against the Waikato Rapids and Bay of Plenty Surge across Saturday and Sunday at Trustpower Arena in Tauranga.

Ends 

Match result
Ford Futsal SuperLeague Northern Travel Series
Saturday 11 March 2023
Bay of Plenty Surge 4 (Arran CARTER 3, Mario RAMOS) 
Auckland City FC 8 (Thomas PICKEN 4, Bahram AHMADI 3, Shaun MORGAN) 

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