Plate Semi-Final time and things were getting interesting. First up was Ashtead Vets versus The Warriors. Both teams had come close to qualifying for the elite Cup competition taking their challenge right up to their final group game but had just missed out.

Ashtead Vets finished Group A on 8 points with 2 wins, 2 draws and just the one defeat. The Warriors finished with 6 points, 2 wins and 3 defeats. Ashtead Vets had a +3 goal difference compared to -2 for The Warriors and Ashtead Vets, on the stats, would kick-off as favourites.

On the field of play the two teams were evenly matched and there was nothing to separate the two teams at half-time. It was all square, 0-0. This was playing into The Warriors winning formula - their two victories to date had been built on 0-0 half-time platforms and a second half winning goal. It was to be a familiar pattern in this fixure as Paul Janman scored the goal for The Warriors that built on a base of defensive solidity.

Ashtead Vets were unable to find an equalizer and as a result they were out of the tournament. We'd like to thank them for their attendance and apologise for the earlier delays – due to the cancellation of RTAlgarve which was their first game, they'd had the worst of it. I hope we'll see you on tour again soon.

For The Warriors, they may need to change the “1-0 to the Arsenal” chant to “1-0 to the Warriors”. They were on their way to the Plate Final.

The second Semi-Final was an encounter between Water Boy and Norton Old Boys. Both teams had enjoyed previous success at Plate level in our tournaments with Water Boy winning the Plate at the 2013 Algarve Open and Norton Old Boys winning it at the 2012 Mallorca Tournament – both in the Open Age sections.

For Norton Old Boys this already represented their best Veterans Tournament appearance (admittedly only in their 2nd attempt) and their best Algarve appearance where they picked up the Wooden Spoon in the 2013 Algarve Open.

These two teams had met before in Group B of the 2013 Algarve Open and it was a very close game in which Water Boy emerged as narrow victors 1-0. It looked like we may be in for a case of déjà vu as it was Water Boy opened the scoring here through Joao Mendonca – the same man who scored in this fixture 2 years ago. Norton Old Boys were unable to equalize in 2013 but they were in 2015 – Mark Paget scoring the goal.

It was a vital goal as it earned Norton Old Boys a draw and a penalty shoot-out would decide the contest. After the first round of penalties it was level 1-1 thanks to successful strikes from Bernardo Agostinho (Water Boy) and Mark Paget (Norton Old Boys). The exemplary spot kicks continued with Mario Garvao and Mike Baber converting.

The next round of penalties would settle matters – Pedro Vilhena, with four goals in the tournament, missed. Richard Hassan – scored. A great win for Norton Old Boys and they were in a 2nd Plate Final!