We
began Round 4 with each team having played 3
games. They now had just two games each to stake
their claim for the Cup or the Plate competition
in the knock-out phase.
Ze'Argon
were currently in third position and leading
the way for the Plate qualification. They sat
5 points behind the top two – if they wanted
to qualify for the Cup they had to win their
final two games and hope one of those top two
teams lost both their final fixtures. They had
a chance as they were up against AFC Underworld
in this game. AFC Underworld also had Red Light
Runners to come so if the French could win this
match it was certainly game on.
The
other perspective was that AFC Underworld needed
just a draw in this game to confirm a minimum
of a second place finish. They would obviously
hope to win Group B and were level on points
(9) at the top with Red Light Runners, level
on goal difference (+11) but were second on
goals scored (1 less).
AFC
Underworld would go on to win this game but
they were made to work for it. Arturo Prieto
kept up his record of scoring one in every game
to make it 1-0 to the Spanish. Albert Catajal
Luaces then made it 2-0 with his first goal
of the tournament.
AFC
Underworld had the win to keep the pressure
on at the top. Ze'Argon were vulnerable to the
chasing pack in third.
The
11th game in Group B was Red Light Runners versus
Rubidium Loftus Cheek.
If
Rubidium Loftus Cheek hadn't read the write up
of Red Light Runners game from the previous round
then we suggest they don't – as it would only
give them nightmares. The English were up against
a team who had won 21 and drawn 1 of their 22
games in the knock-out phase our tournament. They
had won 5-0, 4-1 and 5-1 today.
Rubidium
Loftus Cheek's record today was 1-1, 1-6, 0-7
although we do need to re-iterate they were a
man down and carrying an injury with the bare
minimum 5 players. Life was tough on the field
of play for Rubidium Loftus Cheek today.
Rubidium
Loftus Cheek would need a David versus Goliath
result to get something from this game but it
wasn't to be. Dilsoz Mohammedi (2), Cory Gallagher
(2), John Mooney and Ian Ward all scored in a
6-0 victory. It was win #4 for Red Light Runners
and, perhaps crucially, the margin of victory
gave them the edge on goal difference at the top.
The
top two teams had already secured Cup qualification
in Group B. So, all eyes were on Pitch B as the
race for the Plate qualification places hotted
up. Jackson's Five were currently in fourth place,
a point behind third, and could move two points
clear of Ze'Argon with a win. They were up against
The Funky Shepherds.
The
Funky Shepherds were so far without a win but
could still finish in third if they could win
their final 2 games and other results went their
way. Their results were improving as the margin
of defeat was lessening 5-0 against 1st placed
Red Light Runners, 3-0 against 2nd placed AFC
Underworld, 2-0 against 3rd placed Ze'Argon. In
theory, they had two winnable fixtures to come.
We
got a really good game here – Mauro Hernandez
put Jackson's Five 1-0 up. The Funky Shepherds
hit back to make it 1-1 thanks to Shane Pusey.
Mauro Hernandez, with his fourth of the tournament,
put Jackson's Five back in front at 2-1. The Funky
Shepherds responded again as Shane Pusey earned
his team a Desmond (2-2) draw.
