Group D got off to a disappointing start when it emerged that the Barcelona nightlife had claimed a victim with the hangover's of Rick's Trick United delaying them en route to the ground as they missed the coach. This handed a 3-0 victory to the Black Sheep who claimed three points without breaking sweat.

Group D got underway in earnest as Kazakhstan FC met Blyborough United. Kazakhstan FC entered eurofootballfives.com competition for the first time in November 2011's Barca Fives. Having drawn a tough group with Midshires FC and Rapid Bosco Navas they finished 3rd and narrowly missed out on Cup qualification. They played in the Plate and went on to make the final before finishing runners-up to HMS Sultan FC. How would they fare this time against a Blyborough United team making their debut?

Rather well was the answer as Graeme Little opened the scoring to give Kazakhstan FC the lead. In an entertaining and open game that had chances at both ends it was Kazakhstan who scored next to make it 2-0 by half-time. After the break it was 3-0 and a great start for the men in AC Milan colours – Little had scored a second and Phillip Beeston had opened his personal account. A good solid three points.

For Blyborough United it was a good opening performance. They played well and on another day could have got a better result but Kazakhstan took their chances and the points.

Next up were debutants Barley FC against Spanish team Black Sheep with the latter already 3 points to the good courtesy of a walkover win – this was their first game on the field of play though.

Black Sheep debuted in the 2009 Barcelona Fives finishing 2nd in their group before going out in the Cup Quarter-Finals to eventual winners Anglo Knights of Spain. In 2011 they won Group C before losing in the Cup Semi-Finals on penalties to 2008 winners Rapid Bosco Navas. They would therefore pose a particular threat to Barley FC.

Barley FC put in a great opening performance though and the teams looked well matched. We reached the break and we were still level at 0-0. The Black Sheep probably held the balance of play slightly but Barley FC were well worth a point and so it was cruel on the English team when Albert Marx Garcia (third top goalscorer with 9 goals playing for Equipo A in the 2011 Barcelona Fives) popped up to score a fairly late winner and take all 3 points. There was lots to admire from Barley FC and plenty to encourage them for the rest of the tournament.

Rick's Trick United has now arrived and would meet a Kazakhstan FC team looking to take their place at the top of Group D. It would be a big ask to beat Kazakhstan under normal circumstances but arriving late with little time to warm-up and prepare would only serve to stiffen their task. So then, they could have done without a wonder strike from captain Brian Leigh arrowing into the bottom corner to open the scoring.

It was a goal that would set the ball rolling for Kazakhstan FC and they would not relinquish their grip on the game as Little claimed a hat-trick to put him on 5 for the tournament and there was another goal for Phillip Beeston.

The 5-0 win put Kazakhstan FC top of Group D and looking good. Rick's Trick United though were in 5th place and looking up.

The game that would take us to the halfway stage of Group D would be against two teams who lost their opening games despite good performances on debut. We are sure they would have learned a lot from this first eurofootballfives.com experience but who would have learned most?

Difficult to say early doors as the teams were locked together at 1-1 thanks to goals from Damian Butler (Barley FC) and Phil Spindley (Blyborough United). With half-time approaching there was a vital blow struck by captain Shane Mason to give his team a crucial 2-1 lead going into the break.

There was to be no further scoring in the second period and Blyborough United would gain all three points. It was a very valuable 3 points too keeping them in striking distance of the two teams at the top of Group D. Barley FC without doing too much wrong had a lot of work to do.