Results
 

Hebden Bridge Old Boys (Eng)

0

v

1

Sesimbassa (Spa)

Anglo Knights (Spa)

5

v

0

Norton Hill Old Boys (Eng)

Breast Rummage Albion (Eng)

1

v

5

It's Back (Eng)

 
 

As we entered the final Round of games there was much to play for with 5 of the 6 teams still able to top the Group. Sesimbassa were the form team in the group on the back of two successive wins and momentum was with them. However, Hebden Bridge Old Boys had lost their last two games after a bright start. They had to arrest this slide and put those two defeats to the back of their mind for one last push to make the Cup. At half-time they had kept it tight and managed to hold their Spanish opponents and keep it 0-0. Hebden Bridge Old Boys had one of the smallest squads on the day and with the Spanish heat on their backs maybe this proved the crucial factor as Sesimbassa were able to ring the changes and keep their squad fresh. In the end the Spanish had just enough in the tank to edge past the Old Boys and won the game through a sole Jordi Hernandez strike.

 

The goal put them on 10 points and in pole position for Cup qualification. They would have to wait for the It's Back and Anglo Knight results to learn their exact fate. Hebden Bridge Old Boys remained in 4 th but to stay there and make the Plate, they'd have to hope Breast Rummage Albion would lose in their final game.

 
 
 

Anglo Knights entered their final game knowing a win would secure them the Group B title. A draw would leave them sweating on the It's Back result. They took this possibility totally out of the equation though as they swept to a 5-0 victory which included the only hat-trick of the tournament from Anwar Celaya. Kenneth Perez and Oriol Fabregas also helped themselves to goals and the Spanish stormed to the Group B title. On their quest for their second Barcelona Fives title they had survived the first hurdle of the group stage and were now two games from achieving that goal. Norton Hill Old Boy's challenge was over for this year and they've already given early indication that Prague will be their tour destination for next year. Lads, we look forward to seeing you then.

 
 
 

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.

 
 
Table
 
Team
Pld
Won
Drawn
Lost
For
Agst
Pts

Anglo Knights (Spa)

5

3

2

0

13

3

11

It's Back (Eng)

5

3

1

1

12

5

10

Sesimbassa (Spa)

5

3

1

1

10

3

10

Hebden Bridge Old Boys (Eng)

5

2

0

3

5

5

6

Breast Rummage Albion (Eng)

5

2

0

3

5

12

6

Norton Hill Old Boys (Eng)

5

0

0

5

0

17

0

 
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