Group
B was kicked off by 2008 Prague Masters Plate
Winners, Prisoners,
against eurofootballfives.com debutants Bristol
Bridge Supporters. The Prisoners appeared
to be suffering a hangover from their Prague success
(and the previous night's frivolities) as they
found themselves under severe pressure from the
Bristol Bridge Supporters. The debutants finding
good early form and dominating the game. This
dominance could not be turned into goals though
and the Prisoners stole all three points late
on thanks to a goal from their Swiss player, Fabio
Hoesli. 1-0 the final score.
1-0
also proved to be the final score on Pitch D in
the other Group B opener. This game was an all-Spanish
clash between United
and the Q Detectives.
A goal from Melchor Zarlo Toledano of United proving
the difference between the two teams and getting
United off to the perfect start.
The
final team in Group B to kick-off their campaign
was the third Spanish team in the group – Rapid
Bosco Navas. They met Prisoners
with 3 points already to their name. They were
unable to increase their points tally though as
goals from Daniel Gomez Santamaria, Xavi Llimona
and Luis Beato outgunned the solitary strike from
Justin Phillips of Prisoners to secure a 3-1 win.
Bristol
Bridge Supporters will feel aggrieved to
have lost their first game having been the better
of the two teams. They had the chance to put the
record straight against United
of Spain. This time they got the rewards for their
performance as they edged a 5-goal thriller, 3-2.
Lee Roberts (2) and Peter Phillips scoring their
first goals of the tournament. Antonio Lopez and
Javi Sanchez Esteban scoring for United.
Q
Detectives second game was against the
Prisoners. The
two team names suggested this was a Cops versus
Robbers clash and if that was the case the Prisoners
fought the law and the law one. Only just though
as a close game was decided by a solitary strike
from the Q Detectives' Jordi. The English team
had so far struggled to find their Prague form
but this was a better performance.
As
with Group A, all teams showed they were well-matched
and capable of taking points from any of their
opponents. A very close group was developing.
Just
as we mention a close group the commentator's
curse haunts us as the next game was the most
one-sided group of the game. Bristol
Bridge Supporters buoyed from their first
three points of the tournament turned up the heat
on the Q Detectives
and hit them for six. Peter Phillips notched a
hat-trick to go with a brace for Douglas Cload
and a second goal in as many games for Lee Roberts.
The 6-0 scoreline laying down a marker in Group
B.
United,
who themselves had lost to Bristol Bridge Supporters
in their previous fixture, met Rapid
Bosco Navas who had won their only game
to date. United made it two wins in two games
against Spanish opposition with a 2-1. The goals
came from Melchor Zarlo Toledano and Aureli Huesca
Jimenez to put them joint top of the group. Rapid
Bosco Navas remained on three points but with
two more games to decide their fate.
United
then made it three wins from four games when they
completed their group fixtures against Prisoners.
A 4-2 win put them on 9 points and Cup qualification
assured. Prisoners though were confined to the
Plate and would look to put their group form behind
them in the knock-out stages.
Bristol
Bridge Supporters final game was against
Rapid Bosco Navas
with all three points needed to top the group
on goal difference. The game proved to be a very
close encounter and with both defences on top
neither team could force a way through. The final
whistle blew with the two teams deadlocked at
0-0. A point a decent return for both teams.
That
draw meant Rapid Bosco
Navas just needed to avoid defeat against
Q Detectives in
their final game to make the Cup. Q Detectives
were not out of it though but they had to win.
Anything less and they would proceed to the Plate.
The win did in fact prove beyond them as David
Garcia Gallego in the Rapid Bosco Navas goal kept
his second successive clean sheet to secure their
qualification. Goals from Jaume Sannicolas and
Oscar Fuster ensured they took all 3 points with
a 2-0 win and finished in third place on 7 points.
The best record of all the 3rd placed teams in
Groups A, B and C.
United
won Group B with Bristol Bridge Supporters and
Rapid Bosco Navas joining them in the Cup.
The
Plate beckoned for the Prisoners and Q Detectives.
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