Having just lost the lead in Group D Sesimbassa were eager to return to the top when they met Bede FC who themselves were high on confidence after their first European win. Sesimbassa were now finding their form though and finding the luxury of being solid at the back and free scoring up front – the perfect combination.

Sesimbassa scored twice in each half (as they did in their second game) and Andreu Xufre kept a third clean sheet in a row. They had won their last four halves of football 2-0 and sharing the goals around. Goals in this one came from Daniel Plazuelo, Oriol Belles, Pere Ferrer and Joan Aguilar. Sesimbassa returned to the top. Bede FC remained in 3rd with one game to go to decide their fate in the knockout stages.

Bristol Bridge were in need of a victory in their third game despite a draw against the top team first time out. They must have been scratching their heads to find themselves in their current position. They came up against Your Mum's Athletic who were on a mission to make it 3 wins out of 3, reclaim 1st place and wrap up Cup qualification into the bargain.

For a long time in this game the outcome was undecided and Bristol Bridge can consider themselves to lose by the narrowest of margins again to a solitary Matthew Totman strike. Bristol Bridge had played better than 1 point out of 9. Your Mum's Athletic though were laughing with a maximum 9 points out of a possible 9. They were top of Group D again.

Game 8 was Preston Youth versus Bede FC. The form book suggested a Bede FC win and thanks to goals from captain Troy Grant and Dave Gatt before the break they looked on course for win number 2. This would have suited them down to the ground as a draw would have been good enough for them to make the Plate. It was not all plain-sailing though as Ian Parry struck for Preston Youth to keep them in touching distance at 2-1.

This was a proverbial game of two halves though and Preston Youth swung the pendulum in their favour as Ian Parry completed a hat-trick and a further goal from Matt Ryan finished off a great comeback to win 4-2. The win put them in the Plate qualification bracket for the first time today. Bede FC were in 4th place now but needed Bristol Bridge to lose their last game to make the Plate themselves.

The penultimate game was the big one of Group D as top placed Your Mum's Athletic met 2nd placed Sesimbassa. Both had secured qualification for the Cup but the group title was at stake. Sesimbassa had to win whereas Your Mum's Athletic only needed to avoid defeat so maybe the onus was on the Spanish to go on the front foot. Needing to attack, they did and, Sesimbassa scored the opening goal through Oriol Belles' third of the campaign.

In the 2nd period they extended their lead to 2-0 through Marc Jorge. Your Mum's Athletic could not reply and became the fourth team to find Andreu Xufre unbeatable in the Spanish goal. Could anyone beat this man?

Congratulations to both teams for Cup qualification and also to Sesimbassa for winning Group D.

Finally in Group D, Bristol Bridge met Preston Youth. Preston Youth were virtually through on goal difference unless they lost by 4 goals which would let Bede FC in. Bristol Bridge had to win to go through. Bede FC were watching with interest and hoping the result would go their way. Only two of the three could go through to the Plate, the other would play in the Wooden Spoon.

When the game got underway it proved a tight nervy affair and at half-time there was just one goal in it – that goal came from Peter Phillips of Bristol Bridge. Bede FC were hoping that Preston Youth could hit back. In the second half Bristol Bridge took the opportunity to extend their lead as Alex Bryant, Lee Roberts and Peter Phillips again all scored. As it became increasingly apparent Bristol Bridge were going to this one, Bede FC must have jumped on the other horse and hoped Bristol Bridge would win by 4 or more. Ian Parry scored a consolation though that was much more important than he could have thought – it was the goal that sent them into the Plate on goals scored. Both teams left the pitch happy, Bede FC watching must have been disappointed.