We entered the second half of Group A with things very tight – we had three teams in mid-table all level on three points and just one win away from joining North London at the top of the tree. Going into their third fixtures of the day, it was Drunk Perfect and Naranjitos, two of those teams on three points, who had the first opportunity to put another 3 points on the board.

This was an all-Spanish encounter between two teams who were each making their fourth eurofootballfives.com appearance but this was the first time they had played in the same tournament. Naranjitos came into the game with momentum having won their previous fixture. In the first half they looked set to make it two wins out of two as Jose Luis Cortes (3 goals in 3 games) and Jorge Bayer Saez (first goal today, scored five in the 2014 Barcelona Fives) put them in command at half-time.

At 2-0 down was there a way back for Drunk Perfect? They had won their first game in style 5-1 but a 4-1 defeat and now trailing 2-0 threatened to upset their campaign. They responded well in the second half though and it was they who scored the next goal to make it 2-1. Yannick Michiels was the scorer and it was also his third goal in as many games. Time was ultimately against Drunk Perfect as Naranjitos saw out the 2-1 victory.

It was another win for Naranjitos and they moved level with North London at the top of Group A.

Could anyone prevent North London winning Group A? If they were, they would need Saladmode FC to do them a favour and win this one. If North London could make it three wins out of three they would be just a point from winning the group. If Saladmode FC could claim victory then they would make it a 3 horse race at the top of Group A on 6 points and still in the hunt for the group victory themselves.

Having won both their games so far, North London would no doubt start as favourites. Saladmode FC had just won their first game of the day and although they lost the first game 5-1 we can often see travelling teams putting a bad first game down to a hangover and especially on debut as they also adapt to European conditions. They came into the game on an upward trajectory of form and that continued into the first half here as they lead 2-1 at half-time.

Could North London hit back after the break? If they could find an equalizer they would lead the way in Group A by 1 point and maintain an unbeaten record. If they could turn the game on its head and win they would have one foot in the Cup Quarter-Finals and a 100% record intact. The pivotal fourth goal of the game went to Saladmode FC though as they extended their lead to 3-1 and completed a stunning victory. Goals from Liam Porter, Peter Cornwell and Sam O'Connor made it two wins out of two for them.

For North London it was a first defeat of the day but they still had a share of the lead in Group A – they would need to put this disappointment behind them going into their final game as qualification was still very much in their own hands.

Game 8 was FC Seagrave versus Drunk Perfect. FC Seagrave were yet to register their first win of the day but they had remained competitive and it was only by the odd goal that they had missed out on points so far. With another 6 on offer they could still move up the Group A table and into the Plate qualification places.

Drunk Perfect were playing their final fixture and they could still reach 6 points which at this stage would make it a four team tie at the top but with the other teams all still to play. Their fate would lie in the Plate or Trophy but a win here would maximize their chances of playing in the second tier knock-out competition.

FC Seagrave had so far played out two 0-0 opening halves. In this game there were to be goals in the first half but they were still held to parity – this time it was 2-2. Danny King scored both goals for the English team. Goals from Giovanni Galle and Miguel Camacho (both scoring their second of the tournament) meant it would be all to play for in the second half.

When the full-time whistle blew it was as we were at half-time, still locked together at 2-2 and the teams would have to take a point each for their efforts. In the context of the group table it did not do either team much good. It ensured these teams would finish 4th and 5th – FC Seagrave still had one game left to see if it would be they or Drunk Perfect who would finish the higher.

The penultimate game was an important one in Group A. We had a cracker in store as it was two of the three teams leading the way on 6 points coming head to head. It was also two teams bang in form as both had lost their opening games but had won their two subsequent fixtures. A win here would put them in touching distance of the Cup as even it did not secure the Group A title then 9 points should be enough to qualify as one of the best second place finishers (although not totally guaranteed).

The two teams had their fate in their own hands to a certain extent and if they could win it they would be in pole position to win the group. What of a draw though? Well, it would pave the way for North London to win the group with a win but if that was not to happen then it could well come down to goal difference which would see North London win the group (if they drew their last game), Naranjitos would win the group (if North London lost their game) on goal difference but it was not much use for Saladmode FC as 7 points would almost certainly not be enough to make the Cup as a Runner-Up. This was a game the English team realistically needed to win.

It did not start well for Saladmode FC as Naranjitos established an early 2-0 lead thanks to Jose Luis Cortes – he was having a great day in front of goal as he took his tally to 5 goals and was one of the early contenders for the “golden boot” award.

Saladmode FC had shown they had the power to respond with 2 wins after opening defeat. They would need to show these powers of recovery again to turn around a 2-0 deficit in their final half of football in the group stage. To be fair to them they did exactly that with a 3 goal salvation job – Liam Porter bagged a brace (to take him to four for the day) and there was a second in as many games for Peter Cornwell. However, a second half Javier Hernandez Torres goal for Naranjitos would ultimate prove crucial in preventing Saladmode FC taking all 3 points. At full time the final score was 3-3.

So, in the “live” league table it was Naranjitos who lead the way from Saladmode FC courtesy of goal difference but North London were waiting in the wings to have the final say in Group A.

Finally in Group A we had North London versus FC Seagrave. Thanks to the draw in the above game North London needed only a draw to take the Group A title via goal difference – a win would see them do it in style. A defeat though would see them miss out on Cup qualification and play in the Plate – they could afford no slip-ups.

For FC Seagrave there was a chance to join Drunk Perfect on 4 points and with a three goal win could see them finish in 4th place and that might even be enough to make the Plate (if it proved to be the best return of all the 4th placed teams – there was a distinct chance it could be). Anything less than a 3 goal win for FC Seagrave would see them finish in 5th position and compete in this afternoon's Trophy competition.

The first half went with the form book as North London opened up a 2-0 lead thanks to a double strike from Vass Constantinides that took his tally to the day to four. Larry Costi opened his personal account after the break and made two deposits to seal the win for North London and complete the Group A victory for his team. It was a fine morning's work for arguably the youngest team in the tournament.

For FC Seagrave there was a consolation with a goal from Danny King – his third in two games. It would not be enough though as they ended up on the wrong end of the 4-1 score. They would need to regroup and go again in this afternoon's Trophy competition.