As we went past the half-way mark in Group C results were getting more and more important as games remaining became less and less. It was 4th versus 3rd as Retainers Academy met Spider Mans 1s in the next fixture.

Momentum can often be important in these tournaments and it was Retainers Academy who came into this game off the back of a 4-2 win. Spider Mans 1s entered the field of play having just lost 6-2. It was, however, the latter who enjoyed the better of the early exchanges. They scored 3 of the 4 first half goals to hold a two goal advantage at the change of ends, 3-1.

In the five previous games in Group C the team who lead at half-time went on to win the game and that pattern continued in this fixture. Spider Mans scored three more, Retainers Academy scored two more as Spider Mans claimed all 3 points to join Benecke at the top – although the Dutch had a game in hand.

For Spider Mans 1s Alex Stewart continued his fine start to the tournament in front of goal with two more to take his total to 5. Callum McConchie grabbed a hat-trick to move onto 4 for the day whilst Steve Wildman nudged his total on to 3. For Retainers Academy Adam Watts scored not once but twice – his first goals of the day. In between, George Gaydon grabbed his fourth of the tournament.

Game 7 was Benecke versus Binham. The former had a 100% win record, the latter had a 100% loss record as top played bottom. The form book suggested this was a home banker. Benecke had scored 13 goals in their opening two games and conceded four. Binham had scored five but conceded sixteen.

The two teams' records suggested goals and we certainly got them. Benecke were looking for a win to open up a three point lead at the top and they went about it in ruthless fashion. They ran in four goals in the first half alone and by full-time were 9-0 winners. As well as the forwards doing well, goalkeeper Winston Daniels kept the first clean sheet of Group C.

Dylan George had a profitable game with four goals, Bilal Kaddouri scored twice and there was one each for Queentino Zinhagel, Fahd Ramdhani and Winston Daniels. The goalkeeper kept a clean sheet at one end and scored at the other end.

It was a result to forget for Binham FC.

It was looking like Benecke were the champions elect in Group C but there was still one, potentially two more places up for grabs in the Cup competition. One of the favourites to take one of those spots was Spider Mans 1s who currently resided in second position. Mixed Up were in third and could go level with their opponents with a win and still have a game in hand.

For Spider Mans 1s this was their final group game and final chance to put points on the board. A win for them would seal Cup qualification. This was the closest game of the group to date at half-time as the two teams were level 1-1 at the break.

In the second half it was the English team that forged ahead as although #4 scored for Mixed Up, Spider Mans 1s raced into a 5-2 lead. The final word in the game went to Mixed Up's #6 who made it 5-3 with the final kick but Spider Mans 1 st had the last laugh as they qualified for the Cup with their 3 rd win in four games.

Alex Stewart kept up his record of scoring in every game with two more as he moved on to 7 for the tournament. Callum McConchie also scored twice as he moved to 6 and Steve Wildman added another – his fourth of the day.

Game 9 of Group C promised to be the pivotal game of Group C for Retainers Academy. They were in a battle with Mixed Up to finish in third position and for the other third placed teams in Group A and B to secure a Cup qualification spot. They needed to win here, Mixed Up to fail to win their final game and then hope for the best with the remaining fixtures in the other groups.

For Binham FC this was a last chance to pick up some points in the group phase and to kickstart their campaign going into the knockout phase. Whatever the result here they would play in the Plate competition. However, a win here could improve their league position and their place in the Plate Quarter-Final draw.

Retainers Academy got back to winning ways with a 5-0 win. Harpreet Dhaliwal opened the scoring before Adry Alonso made it 2-0 then 3-0. Richard Jackson made it 4-0 and it was only half-time. Adry Alonso put the icing on the cake of a fine personal and team performance as he claimed a hat-trick for 5-0. There is also a mention for Jonny Easthope who kept just the second clean sheet in 9 Group C games.

With 9 games down there was just one more to go in Group C as Benecke took on Mixed Up. Benecke were already assured of Cup qualification and needed just one point to secure the Group C title. In truth, due to their goal difference the could probably even lose this one and still win the group.

Mixed Up didn't have that luxury – they had to win to have any hope of Cup qualification. If they won they would finish third on goal difference with 6 points which would be enough to qualify as one of the two best third placed finishes based upon how the other groups were currently looking. Anything less for Mixed Up would mean a place in the Plate competition this afternoon.

It was a close first half and the two teams reached half-time level at 1-1. Mixed Up had been in this position in their last game before going on to lose by two goals. Sadly for them it was déjà vu as they went on to lose 4-2. Dylan George was the hero for Benecke as he grabbed a hat-trick. He also lead the way in the top goal-scorers competition as he took his tournament total to 10 goals. The other goalscorer incidentally was Bilal Kaddouri.

For Mixed Up, their #7 took his tally to 5 goals but sadly for his team the defeat meant they would miss out on the Cup and finish in fourth position.