Big Dogs were back in action against Vodafone Netherlands at the start of Round 3. The team from England had returned a haul of four points from a maximum six at the start of the tournament and Vodafone Netherlands entered the game on the back of victory. It promised to be an intriguing fixture.

This game featured a hugely controversial moment as the Vodafone Netherlands goalkeeper launched a huge throw and it went straight in at the other end. As we essentially follow FIFA rules (with stated exceptions in our rules) the referee came to us under proviso to check the rules. The goal should stand as there is nothing in FIFA rules to prohibit it. We double-checked the rules on the FIFA website on our return (all 144 pages!) and there is indeed nothing to prevent the goal standing. The only rule states to Throw-Ins from the sideline where a goal can not be scored directly. Anyway, after much discussion Vodafone Netherlands agreed to chalk off the goal and keep it at 0-0 in a very sporting gesture.

It was a gesture that went unrewarded as it was Big Dogs who drew first blood in this game as a first half goal from Stephen Lawley (his third of the tournament) had put his team 1-0 up. It proved to be the only goal of the game and Big Dogs went top of the table on their own (at least until Team Extreme played).

What about that controversial moment? Maybe for future events we should make it forbidden for goalkeepers to be able to score with a throw in at our tournaments. It would make sense but today was the first time in 8 years and over 60 tournaments it's been put to the test and become an issue. Eurofootballfives.com will continue to evolve….

So, to finish off Round 3 we had Team Extreme against RFM. Team Extreme would have the chance to go joint top with a win. RFM could join Team Extreme in 3rd position if they could take victory. A draw would not be worth too much for either side as it would keep the teams in 3rd and 5th place (positions as they stood before kick-off) and mean they would lose ground on the teams above them in the context of Round 3.

With the game underway it was Team Extreme who took the early initiative and never let it slip. As Group B was evolving it was opening up and after a very tight Round 1 and Round 2 the margins of victory were getting larger as the stronger teams were flexing their muscles. Dave Cole, Dean Tinney, Antonio Vernaschi, Danh Van Vo and Nabil Zawadi (2) all found the net for Team Extreme. They had outgunned a solitary strike from Michael Walsh for RFM. Final score, 6-1.

The result meant Team Extreme moved to the top of the table. The top 3 were beginning to open up a gap on the bottom three but with two games each left that could still change.