We were at the 2022 Amsterdam Fives Cup Semi-Final stage and from the 12 teams who started the day we were down to the final 4. Both Semi-Finals were Netherlands versus England affairs and both featured a team from the Sporting Armada stable. Could the English team claim both the winners and runner-up spots? We've never had a 1-2 from the same club before.

Up first was FC Kicks versus Atletico Armada. FC Kicks were the only team from the morning group phase with a 100% record today as they recorded the maximum 15 points with 19 goals scored and just 6 conceded. They were looking in formidable form. Atletico Armada were so close to matching them, they had 4 wins from 4 and only a 4-3 defeat in their final game – a thrilling game against the eventual Group B winners – prevented them also having that 100% success record. Atletico had scored 21 and conceded 8 this morning so had an identical goal difference compared to their opponents. This therefore promised to be a thriller and that's exactly what we got.

Atletico Armada quickly put that previous game defeat behind them as they surged into a 2-0 first half lead. Ben Renshaw and Jimmy Denman each scored their fifth of the tournament to put the English team in a commanding position. As has happened a number of times in this tournament a team trailing 2-0 has scored before half-time to give themselves a fighting chance after the break and that's exactly what FC Kicks did through Auke Jager. 2-1 at half-time.

Atletico Armada restored that two goal supremacy when Jimmy Denman made it 3-1 but it did not prove to be a knockout blow. FC Kicks came roaring back as Auke Jager completed a hat-trick to make it 3-2 and then 3-3. Just as we thought we might need a penalty shoot-out to decide this one we got a winning goal.

Joost Ropen was the man with the golden touch as his goal with the last kick of the game sent FC Kicks into the Cup Final, 4-3. It was really tough on Atletico Armada but they had been great today. Commiserations to them.

So, who would take their place in the Cup Final from the second Semi-Final? The two teams set to do battle were Amsterdam Barbarians against Sporting Armada.

This game on paper looked like a close call. Amsterdam Barbarians claimed the Group A title with 13 points (4 wins, 1 draw) including a 4-3 win over Atletico Armada. Sporting Armada were very similar with 12 points (4 wins, 1 defeat) which included a 3-2 defeat to FC Kicks who were in the process of edging out Atletico Armada 4-3 on Pitch 1. In fact, all 4 Semi-Finalists appeared to be closely matched.

What followed therefore was quite a surprise as we Sporting Armada blew Amsterdam Barbarians away in the first half. They were 4-0 up by the break with Will Wood's opener preceding a Harry Tampsett hat-trick. After the break Sporting Armada showed their opponents no mercy. Harry Tampsett added another two to make it 6-0.

There was brief respite for Amsterdam Barbarians when Mattia Mantovani reduced the lead to 6-1 but Harry Tampsett and Ryan Higgins further extended the lead to 8-1. Rudy Takacs scored what would be his team's final goal of the day for 8-2.

The final word would go to Harry Tampsett who made it 9-2 with his seventh goal of the game. It took his tally to 11 goals and he was currently the tournament top scorer. It was a stunning performance from Sporting Armada – not the victory as such but the sheer margin of the victory.