The 2013 Barcelona Fives had been the most difficult ever to qualify for the Cup competition and therefore we expected a very strong Plate competition with some quality teams that would have otherwise made the Cup in some of our other tournaments.

The Plate Quarter-Finals would begin with JF & The Pullbacks meeting Burritos FC. JF & The Pullbacks lost just one game, finished 2nd and in any other tournament this would have seen them go through to the Cup. It therefore made them one of the favourites for the Plate competition especially as they were the highest ranked team in the Plate draw (9th in the group stages).

Burritos FC were no pushovers themselves though and had the lead in Group C at one stage. I think it is fair to say there were no easy games at this level and the two teams proved pretty evenly matched. As if to prove this point the teams reached half-time level at 1-1 with goals from Michael Meredith (JF & The Pullbacks) and James Burton (Burritos FC)

It was all up for grabs in the second period and in the end there would be just one more goal in this game to settle matters. Anthony Farrell popped up at the perfect time to score his first of the day and with it put his team into the Semi-Finals. JF & the Pullbacks were through.

Burritos FC were out as they joined Burritos FC with Mustard on the sidelines. The two teams were a great addition to the tournament and played the game in a great spirit and on another day could have made further strides through the tournament draw.

Pitch B played host to the 2nd Plate Quarter-Final between Stanford FC and Alphasights. Both teams came into the game with similar records and a similar upturn in form. Stanford FC claimed 1 point from the first 6 available before two wins against the league leaders (at the time) propelled them into 2nd place. Alphasights had lost their first two games before two emphatic wins saw them finish 3rd and reach the Plate.

For one of these teams the run would continue, for the other the day would end here. Alphasights had scored 11 goals in their last two games and the rich vein of goalscoring form continued in the opening period as Sam Jones and Dean Prosineca opened up a 2-0 lead for them.

Stanford FC were staring at defeat but still had time to get back into this. Mark Reed's first goal of the day through them a lifeline but Jonathan Patterson's goal at the other end meant it was 3-1 to Alphasights.

Stanford FC had made an impressive debut and with youth on their side showed there was more to come from them. It was great to see the lads at the post-tournament social too.

Plate Quarter-Final 3 would see Shahs of Sunset meet ADP Madness. The Shahs of Sunset were one of the teams that could feel unlucky for not being in the Cup draw. They were part of a three-way tie at the top of Group A but were in the Plate due to goal difference. With 3 wins and 1 narrow defeat to their name they were surely one of the favourites in the Plate.

Their opponents ADP Madness enjoyed a great start to the day with two consecutive wins but two successive defeats meant they were on a downward run of form. They would need to arrest this slide or find themselves out of the competition.

The break may have done ADP Madness some good as they had regained their early morning form and were making a real game of it. We reached half-time with the game still goalless at 0-0. In the second half the deadlock was broken by Anes Jusic's third goal of the day. It proved to be the only goal of the game and meant Shahs of Sunset were though.

It was the curse of the Quarter-Finals for ADP Madness though as they became the 4th out of the 4 ADP teams to play in the knock-out phase so far to exit at this stage.

Who would meet Shahs of Sunset in the Plate Semi-Finals? Farcelona were hoping to emulate their travelling companions (JF & The Pullbacks) by making it through to the next round. Their opponents would be The Depo Allstars.

Farcelona had begun the day really well with 7 points from a maximum 9 before defeat in the final game. The Depo Allstars could boast an identical record. With both teams coming into the game on the back of defeat they needed to turn fortunes around quickly to avoid the proverbial early bath.

We were treated to three goals in the opening period with The Depo Allstars edging it 2-1. Mark Robinson scored for Farcelona with a Patrick O'Brien double for the Irish team – his third and fourth of the day.

There was to be no further score after the break and The Depo Allstars were through to the next round. It was the end of the road for Farcelona who could now support JF & The Pullbacks with a few consolatory beers in hand.