Group D proved to be the closest and most unpredictable group. This arguably was the most competitive and evenly matched group with all four teams capable of making it through to the Cup competition.

The group kicked off with UK Football Finder and Stag & Co on Pitch C whilst Amsterdamse Bos took on Exiles on Pitch D. UK Football Finder, who had qualified for the tournament via a competition in the Daily Star, were quickly into their stride with a 2-0 victory over Stag & Co. Stag & Co. as you may guess from the name were a team competing as part of a stag weekend. Maybe the exertions of the previous night's activities had led to a first game hangover. Three points to UK Football Finder and the perfect start for them.

Meanwhile on Pitch D, there was a tussle between Amsterdamse Bos of Holland against their overseas visitors – the aptly named Exiles. This game proved to be a ding-dong affair with when the referee blew up the final whistle the points were to be shared. A solid start for both teams with a ‘Desmond' 2-2 draw. A brace for Dutchmen Dennis of Amsterdamse Bos and Jason Bishop the hero for Exiles with a double-strike of his own.

The second game for Amsterdamse Bos would look to be a tough affair with the local side taking on 1 st game winners UK Football Finder. UK Football Finder had kept a clean sheet (rare in this tournament) in game 1 but it was not to be a repeat in game 2 as the goals flowed at both ends. In difficult weather conditions it was certainly a better day to be a forward than a goalkeeper. The Amsterdamse Bos forwards outgunning those of UK Football Finder to edge a close one, 4-3.

In the other second game fixture, Stag & Co made up for their slow start against UK Football Finder by putting 5 goals past Exiles. A double from Graeme Routledge and strikes from Mark Goddard, Chris Connolly and Mark Sams scoring Stag & Co's first goals of the tournament. Maybe the first game defeat had stirred them into action. A much improved performance saw them jump from 4 th to 2 nd place in Group D. Exiles now found themselves in 4 th place but a win in their final game and, subject to results elsewhere, still had a chance of qualification to the Cup.

With all four teams still able to qualify the equations were complicated but the team's tasks were simple – win! So, who needed what to qualify;

Amsterdamse Bos: Avoid defeat against Stag & Co to guarantee winning Group D and Cup qualification. They could lose and still qualify if UK Football Finder drew 0-0 or 1-1 and they only lost by one goal OR Exiles beat UK Football Finder with less than a 7-goal swing in goal difference.

Stag & Co: Win to guarantee qualification. Draw and hope the other game is a draw or an Exiles win with less than an 8-goal swing in goal difference. Lose and it was the Plate.

UK Football Finder: Win and qualify. A 2-2 or higher score draw would be good enough if Amsterdamse Bos lose. 0-0 or 1-1 would be sufficient if Amsterdamse Bos lose by more than a goal. Any other possibility and the Plate beckons.

Exiles: Only a win would do. Exiles also needed Stag & Co to lose or draw if Exiles won by an 8 goal margin. If Amsterdamse Bos lost with a 7-goal swing in goal difference then a win for Exiles would see them through.

If we start at the top, Amsterdamse Bos were sitting pretty and the best odds of qualification. Their target was to avoid defeat. They missed this target in some style though. In fact, Stevie Wonder has come closer to hitting a bullseye in archery than Amsterdamse Bos came to hitting this particular target. They were put to the sword by an improving Stag & Co. Stag & Co had run riot since their opening game defeat The Dutchman Dennis scored for his third consecutive game but this was a mere consolation as Mark Goddard scored 4 with a second successive double for Graeme Routledge and a second tournament goal for Chris Connolly. The final score was 7-1 and Stag & Co had booked their place in the Cup in emphatic fashion.

With Amsterdamse Bos seemingly out of the running it was up to UK Football Finder and Exiles to claim the second Cup spot. Exiles needed to go all out for the 3 points with the other result going their way. It was not to be though as UK Football Finder ran out 3-1 winners. They would take their place in the elite top 8 whilst Exiles would take their campaign for glory to the Plate competition.