20 games down and 8 to go in Group A – the results and points on offer were becoming increasingly crucial as we progressed through the rounds. To kick us off in Round 6 we had Smithfields OAPs versus Giggs Boson FC.

Smithfields OAPs had emerged as the biggest challengers to Naranjitos at the top and could still end up taking the Group A title if results went their way. Their first priority was to qualify for the Cup – they had a 3 point lead over Leek High Boys and a 5 point lead over Club Esportiu Llefia. They coud take the latter out of the equation with a win here.

Giggs Boson FC had started so well with 6 points from the first 6 on offer but 3 successive defeats had seen their challenge falter. They could still mathematically make the Cup but had to win the last two and hope other results would fall nicely for them though.

The game went with recent form though as Jesper Frisch scored his fourth of the tournament to put Smithfields OAPs 1-0 up. Giggs Boson FC restored parity at 1-1 and they still had a fighting chance if they could snatch victory. Instead, it was Smithfields OAPs who regained the lead thanks to Darren Harrington.

There was no way back this time for Giggs Boson FC though as Harrington scored again to turn 2-1 into 3-1 and that's how it finished.

On the same weekend as the 2016 Barcelona Fives, Barcelona were due to play Deportivo La Coruna which was originally scheduled for the Sunday. Due to TV rights, the game was moved to Saturday and a 16.15 kick-off that clashed with our tournament. Mavericks had purchased tickets before the switch and therefore departed the tournament to set sail for the Camp Nou.

That meant they would not fulfill their final 2 fixtures – it meant Club Esportiu Llefia would claim a 3-0 walkover victory.

On Pitch C, or Campo C as the locals would have it, we had Real Sosobad (Ire) versus Leek High Boys (Eng). Due to goal difference, it was practically impossible for Real Sosobad to avoid elimination at the end of the group phase. However, they had just scored their first goal which gave them something to build on and had two games left to finish their Barcelona Fives experience on a high in terms of their own performance.

There was much more at stake for Leek High Boys. At the start of the round they sat one position and three points off Smithfields OAPs in the second Cup qualification place. They needed to win here to stay in the race to make the elite knock-out competition and that is exactly what they did.

Up until this point, Leek High Boys had dealt in 1-0 wins when they had emerged victorious (3 times). With this victory they pushed the boat out and put four past their beleaguered opponents. The chief beneficiary was Tommy Coates who bagged a hat-trick plus there was a second tournament strike for Kieran Wood. Leek High Boys were still fighting.

The game on Pitch D of Round 6 in Group A was Naranjitos versus Ealing Expendables. Both teams played at the 2014 Valencia Fives but did not play each other although they both had successful tournaments. Both qualified for the Cup but Ealing Expendables went one step further getting to the Semi-Finals compared to the Quarters for Naranjitos. The English team also won their group compared to a third place finish for Naranjitos.

Today's form of these two teams was the reverse of this. Naranjitos had stormed the group so far with 5 wins and a maximum 15 points. Officially they needed 1 point from their last two games to make the Cup but due to goal difference they were effectively through.

Ealing Expendables would not be making the Cup like in Valencia and were instead battling to make the Trophy. Despite some good early performances they had near misses in terms of results. They had just picked up their first win and would look to consolidate this to make the Trophy (or possibly even the Plate).

For Ealing Expendables it was another case of “close but no cigar”. They fell behind in this one to goals from Javier Sanchez Flores and then David Moya Aparicio but hit back with James Oldham's fourth of the morning. It was another defeat though by just the odd goal – the fourth time today.

For Naranjitos, the win guaranteed Cup qualification and maintained their 100% record.