Group B began with Water Boy of Portugal taking on Goals Aloud of Wales. Water Boy made their debut in the 2010 Algarve Open where they finished 2 nd in their group and winning a Cup Quarter-Final 3-0 before losing to Athletico Do Holland 1-0 in the Semi-Final. In 2011 (playing as Aguas Do Algarve) they drew a tough group which included Dutch side Athletico Do Hollande and it was a credit to them to finish 2 nd . A 1-0 Cup Quarter-Final win followed before losing in the Semi-Finals 5-1 to Cheesecake FC. Would they make a 3 rd successive Cup Semi-Final or better this year.

Goals Aloud became the first team to represent Wales in eurofootballfives.com tournaments when they played in 2011's Amsterdam Fives. In a 7-team group they were one of 4 teams to finish level on 7 points in joint 3 rd although goal difference meant they were in 6 th position meaning Plate Quarter-Final qualification where they went out 3-2 to Ireland's Deportivo Dooradoyle (who are playing in Group D in this tournament).

The form book would therefore suggest a home win for Water Boy but nothing can be taken for granted and that form book has often been metaphorically torn to shreds but it seemed not on this occasion as Water Boy forged a 2-0 first half lead as Mario Sebastiao got the ball rolling and Bernardo Agostinho found the net. It was double trouble for Goals Aloud in the second period as Sebastiao again and Paulo Correia also struck for a 4-0 win. Water Boy were up and running.

Goals Aloud should not be disheartened though as they still had 3 more games to get their European challenge on track.

The second game in Group B saw Apsley House versus RS Ocean Village FC. Apsley House will no doubt be one of the favourites although captain Chris Owen has dampened their hopes by saying they are not thinking of glory this year – Alex Ferguson mind games perhaps? Apsley House made their debut in the 2008 Prague Masters where they impressed. They finished runners-up behind Goldsmith Williams who have since gone on to make four finals (winning two). In that tournament Apsley House's Lee Carter was top goalscorer with an amazing return of 17 goals! In 2011, they went 7 games unbeaten to claim the Krakow Trophy title.

RS Ocean Village made their debut in the 2010 Krakow Trophy where they proved competitive but unfortunate. In every single game they lost 2-1. In the 2011 Algarve Open they put that record to bed kicking off with a 3-0 victory over Mar Olhao, a 0-0 draw against Dynamo Fucdarest and a 2-1 win against Misfits. Only a 2-0 defeat to Redhill Rovers prevented Group B victory – it was a significant result as it meant they met Athletico Do Hollande in the Cup Quarter-Finals which resulted in defeat. They return to the 2012 Algarve Open hoping to repeat their group form and get a kinder Quarter-Final draw!

The first-half in this tie proved tight and with the scores level at 1-1 as the aforementioned Lee Carter struck for Apsley House but an own goal saw Ocean Village enter the second period with parity. In the second half Apsley House showed just why they were considered one of the tournament favourites as they eased away from their opponents with Carter claiming his hat-trick and Chris Evans seeing them through to a 4-2 victory.

Bridge House come to the Algarve for their 4th appearance in just over 18 months. They have played twice in the Valencia Fives – in 2010 entering two sides who both made it to the Cup competition before bowing out at the quarter-final stage with Bridge House A pushing eventual winners Futbol City close in a narrow 4-3 defeat. In 2011 they drew the Group of Death which featured the eventual winners and runners-up so they played in the Plate tournament where they finished 2nd. In between, they competed in our 2011 Budapest Fives tournament under the names of Bridge House Badgers and MacBengals. Bridge House Badgers made the Cup Quarter-Finals and MacBengals the Plate Semi-Finals both losing to Hungarian opposition. They have a twin-pronged attack in Portugal with two teams – FC Melts and Bore Off United. FC Melts would begin their 2012 Algarve Open campaign against Water Boy.

Water Boy were playing their second game and looking to build on opening game victory. Anything but a defeat would see them top the Group B table. It was a good start for FC Melts who managed to match their opponents stride for stride. At the end of the game it was honours even with goals from Arni Baldersson (FC Melts) and Bernardo Agostinho (Water Boy) earning their teams a 1-1 draw. It was a solid start for FC Melts.

Game 4 was Goals Aloud versus Apsley House. The former were looking to bounce back from opening defeat to Water Boy whereas Apsley House were looking to make it two wins out of two – if they could they would lead Group B at the half-way stage.

The Welsh side were well in contention in this game and by the break the two teams were level at 1-1. Apsley House were held 1-1 in their opening game before going on to win 4-2 and would need another second half performance to collect all three points. They say lightning doesn't strike twice but in the 2012 Algarve Open it did as Aplsey House scored three goals in the second period, and conceded, for a second 4-2 win in a row. Goals from Lee Carter (2), Alex Kurzweil and Tommy Peters gave them victory.

Chris Mellett scored Goals Aloud's first goal of the day plus a further strike from Stephen Ollier kept them in this game for long periods but alas they were to be mere consolations.

The game that would take us to the half-way stage of Group B was RS Ocean Village FC versus FC Melts. The game was an opportunity for RS Ocean Village to move into third place with a win. A win for FC Melts would see them go joint 2nd with a draw meaning the teams would tread water and remain in 3rd and 4th positions.

At half-time it was advantage FC Melts who were 2-1 up. In the second half they extended the lead to 3-1 and then 4-1. There were two goals each for Alex Mitchell and Ian Balding for FC Melts and Ocean Village FC had forced an own goal at the other end.

The final score of 4-1 meant RS Ocean Village were sitting in 4th position with FC Melts in joint 2nd place and in keen contention for Cup qualification.