Los Swallacticos of Northern Ireland were next in action against ADP Royals of Spain. Los Swallacticos were the first team to represent Northern Ireland in our competitions since Jordans Town at the 2008 Amsterdam Fives. Jordans Town won the Plate on that occasion – could Los Swallacticos emulate their glory?

ADP Royals were the second of the ADP Spain teams to get underway. ADP Dream Team had started with a defeat – could the Royals do any better? Things certainly started well for them as they took a first half lead through Ricardo Martinez. It was a lead they were to keep until half-time.

Los Swallacticos came out fighting in the second half and equalized through Barry O'Neill. With the game delicately poised it was Deaghlan O'Hagan who scored the third and final goal to secure a 2-1 victory.

Next up was Deportivo Dooradoyle of Ireland versus ADP Netherlands 1 – as the name suggests – from the Netherlands. Deportivo Dooradoyle made their debut at the 2011 Amsterdam Fives. They reached the Plate Quarter-Finals with success over Goals Aloud (Wal). In the Semi-Finals they were victorious 3-1 over CEPL of Holland before a narrow defeat in the final to Rigford Seahawks (also 2009 Krakow Trophy & 2012 Berlin Fives Cup winners and 2009 Prague Trophy Plate winners). In the 2012 Algarve Open they drew a tough group and finished 4 th to make the Plate again. Their day ended against French side CFC B at the Quarter-Final stage on this occasion.

How would ADP Netherlands 1 fare against them in their first eurofootballfives.com fixture?

Pretty well was the answer as they took a 1-0 lead into half-time thanks to Jan Van Rabenswaaij. After the break they eased away from their opponents with two goals from Mark Stoop and one each for Jeroen Quispel and Michael Nagelhout.

The final score was 5-0 and they joined Melee FC at the top of Group A.

Farcelona were the final team to get their campaign started when they took on Rapid Bosco Navas. Farcelona were part of the County (Re)United group who played in the 2011 Valencia Fives where they finished 3rd in their 5 team group before bowing out in the Quarter-Final stage to Coverton Road. They followed this up in the 2012 Krakow Trophy with a twin-pronged attack as Half Parisian Saint Germain and D'ya Want Florentina. D'ya Want Florentina were the most successful of the two squads reaching the Plate Semi-Finals.

Rapid Bosco Navas had lost their first game and had no margin of error if they wanted to reach the Cup for the 8th time. Things were looking bleak at the half-way mark in this game as Mark Arthur gave Farcelona a 1-0 lead. In the second half Juan Martinez pulled one back for Rapid Bosco Navas to make it 1-1 and that's how it finished. Only time would tell if this was a point gained or two lost for Farcelona but having had the lead it will have felt like a blow.

For Rapid Bosco Navas it was a good recovery but 1 point from 6 left them a lot of work to do in Group B.

Game 4 saw two victorious teams from the opening fixtures come face to face. It was a great chance for them to stamp their authority in Group B and open up a three point lead.

The first half proved this was an even contest with little to separate the two teams. Defences and goalkeepers were on top and the teams reached the interval all square at 0-0.

Those wanting to see goals would not be disappointed in the second half as we had three of them to enjoy. Mike Trotter scored for Club Tropicana Drinks FC but his strike was outgunned by goals from Deaghlan O'Hagan and Duncan Macauley. It was another 2-1 win for Los Swallacticos and they were making steady progress.

Game 5 saw ADP Royals take on Farcelona. Both these teams had started their campaign well in their first games but neither could clinch victory. ADP Royals had led 1-0 before losing 2-1 whereas Farcelona had led 1-0 and had to settle for a point. Taking the lead in this game could therefore be dangerous.

Mark Arthur scored for the second game in a row to give Farcelona the early lead and just like against Rapid Bosco Navas they took that lead into the break. Could they hold on for all 3 points or could ADP Royals hit back?

Mark Arthurs struck again for 2-0 and with that extra goal cushion they never looked back. The defence was strong and kept a clean sheet to help earn the full 3 points in this game and move on to 4 points and second place in the table. Farcelona sat in a healthy second position. ADP Royals brought up the rear in 5th position.