York City Futsal will attempt to deny leaders Reading Escolla a first-ever national league title in their final game of the season on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 1.00pm).
Although designated as York’s home fixture, the contest is actually taking place at the Powerleague Trafford in Manchester, M17 8DD.
While the Minstermen are already secure from relegation following Tranmere Rovers’ heavy defeat at Oxford City Lions last weekend, Reading approach the game knowing that a nineteenth victory in twenty-two attempts finally guarantees them the title. That’s irrespective of how their only remaining challengers, London Helvecia, perform in their final couple of fixtures.
Table-topping Reading crucially emerged with a 4-1 victory at home to fourth-placed Birmingham last time, and while they are heading north on Sunday, rivals London Helvecia are travelling to FC Salisbury United before then rounding off their own campaign at home Oxford in midweek.
An outstanding Escolla have lost only once in the league this season, ironically as Helvecia visited them in February, while only otherwise being held to draws by both Loughborough and Cambridge United.
They also comfortably accounted for York 10-4 in their reverse meeting back in November, England Under-19 international Michael Bulmer scoring twice for the visitors alongside Miguel De Vicente and Magno Cavalcante.
The other two remaining games this weekend witness Tranmere once again taking on Oxford, this time in Birkenhead, while Birmingham are hosting Manchester, although with third-place now definitely out of their reach.
Photo by kind permission of Ian Parker
