With
14 games over, there was just one more to go and
it was going to prove a pivotal game in the Group.
It's Back had the security that Hebden Bridge
Old Boy's defeat meant their place in the Plate
was secure regardless. However, they were looking
upwards and aiming at the Cup to be amongst the
elite 4 teams of this competition. To achieve
this they needed to win, and to win big. Sesimbassa
had a goal difference of +7. It's Back were currently
on +3 so needed to win by 4 goals or more. If
they both ended up on +7 It's Back would go through
courtesy of scoring more goals.
The
game was not a dead rubber though as Breast Rummage
Albion needed a result themselves. A draw would
mean they leapfrog Hebden Bridge Old Boys into
4th and the Plate. A 4-goal win for them and they
would also over-haul their opponents in this game
to make 3rd place and, in theory, an easier Plate
semi-final tie.
When
the game kicked off it was It's Back who took
the early ascendency and opened up a 3-1 half-time
lead. It's Back were well on course for the victory
they needed but at this stage they still needed
more. James Keeling's, of Breast Rummage Albion,
goal making their task that little bit tougher.
It's Back would still need at least two more goals
to make the Cup and when they went 4-1 up leaving
them so close to their target. As time ticked
away it looked like they would fall just short
but they would eventually get that all important
fifth goal and take the victory, 5-1. The goal
meant they had pulled level on 10 points and +7
goals with Sesimbassa but scoring 12 goals to
their Spanish counterparts 10.
It
was an amazing achievement Tom Brunt, George Bowman
(2), Pil Oh and Jamie Cane the goalscoring heroes.
It was so amazing that Sesimbassa had thought
they had done enough and were already waiting
by the other pitch for their Cup Semi-Final. They
were soon to get some tough news and have to prepare
for a Plate Semi-Final though. It was hard luck
for them as they'd secured 10 points out of a
possible 12 and still missed out by the narrowest
of margins. Well done to It's Back and a Cup Semi-Final
awaited them. Group B had proved to be an absolute
classic. |