The first semi-final to take place would see Group Winners Liverbirds FC take on Liverpool rivals and the 4 th place team in the group, Liverpool Feds. A seven point superior group phase record and a 4-0 victory for Liverbirds FC when these two teams met earlier in the day would make Liverbirds FC strong favourites.

The first goal in these encounters often proves crucial in dictating the pattern of play and so it proved in this game. If the much-fancied team scores first they often run away with it while if the underdogs score first it gives them something to hold on to me and means the favourites have a real game on their hands.

In this game it was Liverpool Feds who drew first blood taking the lead through Kara Hickey and as suggested above they were holding on as Liverbirds FC came back strong at them with Chantelle Thompson pulling the strings and directing proceedings. They could not find that elusive goal though and the half-time whistle went with Liverpool Feds going into the turnaround at 1-0 up. The second half continued in much the same vein until the vital second goal. A breakaway and Liverpool Feds were now 2-0 to the good through Natalie White. The tournament favourites Liverbirds FC were now fighting for their lives and becoming increasing exasperated. By contrast, Liverpool Feds were much more relaxed and taking control of the game. Natalie White scored her second to put the game beyond doubt at 3-0. Liverbirds FC eventually did break Liverpool Feds through Chantelle Thompson to make it 3-1 and offer revived hope. This was quickly dashed though when Gemma Perischine finished off the scoring for a final score of 4-1.

An amazing performance by Liverpool Feds and the first time a 4 th placed team has beaten the top team in a eurofootballfives.com semi-final. The result also saw the biggest swing from a group game to a knock-out win. A huge 7-goal swing against a very good Liverbirds FC team.

If you thought that game was good then there was just as much entertainment, intrigue and drama in the second semi-final. On paper this was predicted to be a closer game with just two points separating the teams in the group phase. Camden Town Ladies were slight favourites having finished second in the group and winning this equivalent fixture 2-0 in the group stage earlier in the day.

Just as in the first semi-final though the form book went out the window as the ‘underdog' took the lead. Lou Dutton, topscorer for BA Speedbirds 1, scored her fifth goal of the tournament to put them into a first half lead. The goal stirred Camden Town Ladies into action but with Svitlana Klachko performing well in the BA Speedbirds goal the score stayed 1-0 at half-time.

The second half followed in much the same fashion as Camden Town Ladies searched for the equaliser. Chance after chance was created with Klachko preserving the 1-0 scoreline while at the other end there were chances for 2-0. Then the drama kicked in though as the seconds ticked away in the final minute up stepped Carmel Clinton to put Camden Town Ladies level at 1-1 just as BA Speedbirds 1 thought a place in the final was there.

The final whistle went and Golden Goal extra time was upon us. No sooner than the game had kicked off again for extra time then the drama continued for all the wrong reasons. Carmel Clinton lost her balance while playing the ball and landed awkwardly. It was clear immediately that she was in pain and after medical inspection and a visit to the hospital it emerged she had fractured her arm. A sad way for her tournament to finish.

The game restarted and appeared to effect the Camden Town Ladies players understandably worried about the welfare of their team-mate. BA Speedbirds went onto win the game with the Golden Goal scored by none other than Lou Dutton – her second of the game and the goal that meant BA Speedbirds had qualified for their first eurofootballfives.com final.