The afternoon knock-out phase of the 2011 Barcelona Fives began with the Plate Quarter-Finals. Pitch A kicked off with Group A's 3rd placed team, San Torrei Stags, meeting Group B's 4th placed team – Intermore FC. San Torrei Stags had played well to finish 3rd in a very strong group featuring Luminy Wolves and Equipo A so should take confidence going into this game. Intermore FC are a well organized team though and never easy to beat.

It was the Irish team who came out of the blocks faster after the lunch break and quickly established a 2-0 lead thanks to Paddy McLean and John Crangle. It was a lead they were to hold until half-time. Try as they might, San Torrei Stags were unable to find the goals they needed in the second period as Intermore FC held firm and booked their place in the Plate semi-finals. Credit goes to Intermore goalkeeper John Ryan and his defence.

San Torrei Stags had a good eurofootballfives debut in eurofootballfives competition and at our post-tournament social declared an interest in competing in the 2012 Barcelona Fives. It will be great to see them again and with this eurofootballfives experience under their belt we are sure they will do well.

Pitch B played host to the 2nd Plate Quarter-Final between Warranty Direct and Preston Youth. Warranty Direct won the Plate last year in the 2010 Barcelona Fives and were looking to become the first team to defend either a Cup/Plate trophy in 29 eurofootballfives tournaments to date. This task was looking increasingly difficult as they went into half-time 2-1 down in this fixture thanks to two goals from Ian Parry in reply to Chris Fajer's strike for the defending champions.

In the second half it was Parry again to make it 3-1 and effectively end Warranty Direct's chances of Plate trophy number two. Sadly this was the end for Warranty Direct in the 2011 Barcelona Fives. Preston Youth were not bothered by this at all – they were still in the Plate draw as they made safe passage to the Semi-Finals.

Plate Quarter-Final 3 would see Warlords Against Narrow Klunge meet Smack My Pitch Up. Warlords had been inconsistent in the morning with a good win, two good draws and a heavy defeat. Smack My Pitch Up had been steadily improving after two opening losses with a draw and then a win. The win was in their previous game and an emphatic 6-1 triumph so they came into the game high on confidence.

That confidence showed as they took no time at all to establish a 3-0 lead by the interval.Shiva Tiwari got the ball rolling and his goal was followed by Terry Beattie and Gareth Downs goals. It was a healthy lead and the Warlords were right up against it now. Although they fought hard they could not overturn such a deficit in the second half. Honours were even in the second period as the Warlords' Joey Romeu netted but so did Tiwari with his second of the game for Smack My Pitch Up. Final score, 4-1.

Who would meet Smack My Pitch Up in the Plate Semi-Finals? Bristol Bridge and Celtic Craic would do battle for the honour. Bristol Bridge qualified for the Plate courtesy of a late surge by winning their last group game and they took this form into the Quarter-Final by taking a 1-0 lead via the boot of Andrew Soppitt.

Celtic Craic, much improved from their Prague debut last July, provided evidence of this improvement as theybounced back through their chief marksman, Julian Cornelius. The full time score was 1-1 and after two goalless halves of golden goal extra time we arrived at penalties.

Bristol Bridge took the first penalty and converted it for a 1-0 lead. Celtic Craic quickly leveled before Bristol Bridge re-established the lead 2-1. Then the drama unfolded as Bristol Bridge goalkeeper Andy Fellows dominated proceedings. Fellows became an instant hero saving the Irish team's second spot-kick. He stepped up himself for his side's 3rd penalty and to put his team through. The aim was the top right corner but the postage stamp missed the envelope and Celtic Craic were still alive.

Fellows went from hero to zero. Actually, make that hero to zero to hero again as he saved the next penalty. Bristol Bridge has won the shoot-out 2-1 and were through to the Plate Semi-Finals. Our commiserations to Celtic Craic – a cruel way to go out.