York City Futsal 1 Loughborough Futsal 1

Skipper Miguel De Vicente signed-off with a goal but former York City Futsal goalkeeper Myles Chadwick denied victory in a 1-1 draw with Loughborough at the YorkSport Arena.

The Minstermen had taken a first-half lead when Daniel Pedras gained the sixth foul of the opening period, with De Vicente, on his final appearance before taking up new employment in Oxford, smashing home the penalty.

But the visitors were always dangerous on the counterattack and Kyle Lilley equalised after the break following the lively Tomasso Toti being thwarted by Vladimir De Paula.

However, York spurned a later opportunity to claim their first victory in five games as De Vicente had a second penalty kept out by Chadwick.


Photo: Ian Parker

Skipper Miguel De Vicente scored on his final York appearance

His opposite number, Brazilian net-minder De Paula, had already made a couple of important blocks as the two sides contested for early supremacy.

Nevertheless York began to push on and leading marksman Pedras went close on three separate occasions, one of those being met by Chadwick.

The departing De Vicente was then twice too high before Fabinho Almeida’s clever through pass almost sent in Robbie Bettson.

But De Vicente’s penalty still ensured them a narrow interval lead, although that had required a sharp fingertip save from De Paula late in the opening half

It could also have been cancelled out soon after the restart when the visitors struck the crossbar on the break. Pedras was next similarly denied as his deflected free-kick came back off an upright.

The dangerous Pedras was frustrated once again when released one-on-one with keeper Chadwick, who also turned aside from the seven-goal pivot after falling low to his right.

And the visitors took full advantage of that with Lilley levelling on the rebound when De Paula initially blocked from the threatening Toti.

De Paula soon produced another couple of excellent saves ahead of De Vicente lifting over the crossbar – and then missing a second penalty after Pedras was again fouled.

England international Robbie Bettson was also kept out by Chadwick and De Vicente crashed the rebound over, before there was a narrow escape at the other end as keeper De Paula deflected wide at close-range.

There was still just enough time remaining for the referee, who had already dismissed the Loughborough manager, to ignore a couple of heavy challenges as both De Vicente and Pedras raced in on goal during another chaotic ending.