Depo Originals (Ire)

1

v

2

Skidmarks (Eng)

Algarve Stars (Por)

2

V

0

AFC Shooters B (Eng)

Why Always Morris? (Eng)

1

v

0

Depo Originals (Ire)

 
 

As we entered the final Round of games we had a whole host of potential outcomes regarding who would qualify for the Cup, the Plate and the Wooden Spoon. There was still everything to play for as the final round of games kicked off.

On Pitch B we had Depo Originals of Ireland versus Skidmarks of England. Depo Originals were currently fruitless in terms of points and had two games to play in Round 5. The highest they could finish was 4 th and to make the Plate they needed to win 1 of their final 2 games otherwise they would be in the Wooden Spoon.

For Skidmarks the equation was pretty simple – win. They could reach 8 points and this total would mean they would finish 3rd or 4th depending upon Why Always Morris?'s result in the final game. If this was good enough to finish 3rd they would definitely make the Cup as one of the two best 3rd placed finishers. If it was 4th place, the Plate would await them.

It started off well enough for Skidmarks as Ashley Britten continued to be the source of goals for his team. His 3rd of the tournament put Skidmarks ahead. Goal difference could still be a factor if Skidmarks won and Why Always Morris? drew the teams would both be on 8 points. Why Always Morris? would have a goal difference of +1. A 1 goal lead here gave Skidmarks a goal difference also of +1. Why Always Morris? had scored more though so Skidmarks really needed a 2 goal margin to give themselves a more secure footing.

They did get a second goal (through 2011 Valencia Fives top goalscorer Luke Hatfield) but Johnny Gray of Depo Originals also scored so the game finished 2-1. Skidmarks had done what they could on the pitch they would now have to sit and wait to see if they had done enough.

 
 
 

On Pitch B, Algarve Stars met AFC Shooters B. Algarve Stars needed only to avoid defeat to guarantee the Group C title would be theirs. They could even afford a defeat if Why Always Morris? failed to win their final fixture. AFC Shooters B would most likely play in the Plate regardless of what happened here. They could reach 6 points with a win (good enough for Cup qualification in Group A) but this would take them no higher than 5th in the table. A draw would see 5th place guaranteed and should they lose they would have to hope Depo Originals didn't win their final game and overturn their goal difference advantage in the process.

Algarve Stars were the only unbeaten team in Group C and they showed no signs of letting that statistic slip as they forged ahead in this game through Binlo. It was a goal that would see the Portuguese team lead 1-0 at the break. Algarve Stars had only conceded twice so far today and so AFC Shooters B would have a tough task getting back into this game.

That task got even tougher when Nuno Pines doubled the lead for the Algarve Stars. The home team was heading towards the Group C title and into the Cup Quarter-Finals on a high. AFC Shooters B were indeed to finish in 5th place and they would progress to the afternoon Plate competition.

 
 
 

That left us with Why Always Morris? versus Depo Originals. Now, we had a fascinating situation potentially arising between Skidmarks and Why Always Morris? Should this game finish 0-0 both teams would have identical points, identical goal difference, identical goals scored and an identical head-to-head record as the two teams drew 0-0 when they met earlier in the day. So we would need penalties to see who finished third and who finished fourth. This was not just an academic exercise – Cup qualification would depend upon this potential penalty shoot-out.

Skidmarks watching on were hoping that Depo Originals could do them a favour by winning the game or at the least hold Why Always Morris? to a draw to give them a shout on penalties. Why Always Morris? needed a goal and to avoid defeat and they were through.

The first half came and went with the scores level at 0-0. The game had quite a following and as Depo Originals tired it increasingly became defence versus attack. Why Always Morris? desperately trying to get the goal and Depo Originals defending feverishly. Mark Higgins in the Depo goal was also having a superb game – clearly inspired by the swelling crowd on the touchlines.

Word had gone round what was at stake and the crowd was cheering for the underdogs to get the draw and take us to penalty shoot-out. This was the last group game of the tournament so the numbers around the sidelines were plentiful. There was some atmosphere and as the game went on it looked like the crowd may get what they wanted.

Then the vital moment, Dean Broadhurst popped up with the crucial strike to break Depo Originals resistance and Skidmarks hearts. You felt there was no way back for the Irish and even if there was 1-1 would see Why Always Morris? through on goals scored.

As it was Why Always Morris? won the game 1-0 and that result would see them finish in 2nd place – a superb morning's work.

 
 

Team

Pld

Won

Drawn

Lost

For

Agst

Pts

Algarve Stars (Por)

5

4

1

0

9

2

13

Why Always Morris? (Eng)

5

3

1

1

5

3

10

Drunken DisAudley (Eng)

5

3

0

2

6

4

9

Skidmarks (Eng)

5

2

2

1

4

3

8

AFC Shooters B (Eng)

5

1

0

4

2

6

3

Depo Originals (Ire)

5

0

0

5

1

9

0

 
 
 
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