Game 11 of Group A was the big one. It was Dream Team versus FC Mahou in the battle of the top two.

Both teams had a 100% record, both teams had been amongst the goals and been strong defensively. There was only 1 goal conceded between the two sides in their combined six games. A win would make the winners almost certain of winning Group A (barring any banana skin in Round 5). A draw would see both mathematically secure Cup qualification with FC Mahou topping the table on goal difference.

Defeat could open the door for one of The Warriors or CT1 to potentially prevent the loser qualifying for the Cup. This assumed the loser of this game also lost their last game and The Warriors/CT1 won both their last games.

The teams played out a 0-0 first half before the goals arrived in the second period. It was Dream Team who made the initial breakthrough – Jose Martinez Martinez maintaining his goal per game record. That goal was cancelled out by Mike Brandon who possessed the same run of scoring in every game.

Dream Team then went ahead at 2-1 before Mike Brandon equalized again. The two teams took a point each and both secured safe passage to the Cup. Well done to both.

Up next on Pitch D was CT1 versus The Warriors. With the two Cup qualification places now settled these two teams were fighting it out for a place in the Plate. At kick-off they occupied fourth and fifth positions in the table respectively. A win would give the victor a 2 point cushion in third place over their rivals. A draw would mean three teams level on 4 points.

It was the Spanish team CT1 who advanced their claim for a place in the Plate thanks to a goal from Cristian Hurtado. The Warriors had never failed to reach the knock-out phase of our tournaments but that record was looking in jeopardy. An Alex Finney would allay those fears a little as they equalized at 1-1. The score remained 1-1 as we entered half-time.

There was to be no addition to the score in the second half which left things really tight with 3 teams locked on 4 points and Sandgate Salmons not mathematically out of it in sixth.