As the 2012 Berlin Fives Cup Quarter-Finals were about to get underway we were down to the 8 top performing teams in the tournament representing the Czech Republic, England and Germany. There would be 7 games which would decide who would emerge victorious and claim the first ever Berlin Fives title.

We started on Pitch A with Germany versus England as Hasanheide Camels met East Compton Eagles. The two teams came into the game with impressive records behind them. The Camels came into the game as Winners of Group A and remained unbeaten in the tournament so far. East Compton Eagles were Runners Up in Group B and also unbeaten – both teams had a record of 4 wins and 1 draw. Even if you look at goal differences then the Camels were 14-4 and the Eagles 13-5 so there was very little to choose between the two sides.

In the first half there was just the one goal to split the two teams and it was claimed by Chris Catling to give the East Compton Eagles a precious 1-0 lead. Could the Camels hit back in the second half?

Their task got more difficult when Andy Cockrean made it 2-0 to the Eagles and they were looking like making the Semi-Finals. That was guaranteed when Cockrean scored again to make it 3-0.

It was tournament over for Hasanheide Camels but not over for Hasanheide Hotspur as a whole as their Bulls team was still in action over on Group B.

Quarter-Final three was Bafta Boys versus Northern Monkeys. Bafta Boys were making great strides on debut and were hugely impressive. They qualified from Group B as winners scoring an incredible 21 goals in the process and conceding just 4 as they collected 13 out of a possible 15 points on offer.

The Northern Monkeys had history in eurofootballfives.com tournament winning our first ever tournament in the 2007 Krakow Trophy with two Cup Quarter-Final exits since in the 2008 Krakow Trophy and 2009 Algarve Open. They would hope to avoid making that three Quarter-Final exits in a row. Based upon statistics, Northern Monkeys were probably the outsiders of the final 8 teams with the lowest points tally of all the teams (9) but they were unbeaten like their opponents and in this format they had every chance. With the game finishing in a draw they would go to the lottery of penalties.

Northern Monkeys held the early advantage in this Quarter-Final as a double strike from David Dyson (his 7th and 8th goals of the day) put them 2-1 up at half-term. Joe Bardwell was on target for Bafta Boys in the first period with his 11th of the day. In the second period it was Bardwell's 12th of the tournament that put the teams level at 2-2 and that's the way it finished.

We went into penalties. The Northern Monkeys had already had issues with penalty in this tournament in the group game against Hasanheide Camels where they scored a penalty twice without waiting for the referee's whistle and then missing the legally taken penalty. Could this be a factor in the shoot-out. It didn't start well for either team as both missed their opening strikes. The Northern Monkeys missed their second penalty but Bafta Boys converted for a 1-0 lead. The Monkeys missed again and Bafta Boys were through to the Semi-Finals.

The 2007 Krakow Trophy champions were out but we look forward to see them again next season where they have identified the 2013 Algarve Open as their tournament of choice.

The final Quarter-Final was DHL Prague White versus Shrewsbury Townsend. DHL Prague had qualified for the Cup Quarter-Finals on 6 previous occasions – a victory in the 2007 Prague Trophy that saw them eventually finish Runners-Up and defeats 1-0 in the 2011 Prague Masters and 2008 Barca Fives, 3-0 in the 2009 Barca Fives, 6-1 in the 2009 Prague Masters, and on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the 2008 Prague Trophy. With 5 wins out of 5 in the group stage and the only 100% record in the tournament they would hopefully add to that 2007 success in this Quarter-Final.

In their way was Shrewsbury Townsend who had two goal-less draws in 5 games but in the other 3 games provided explosive victories 5-0, 5-0 and 6-1. With only one goal conceded and firepower up front they would be dangerous opponents for the Group D winners.

Shrewsbury Townsend forged a 2-0 lead in this one when Mark Policarpo put them ahead and Matty Horne doubled the advantage to make it 2-0 at half-time. What could DHL Prague White do from here? There was some way back with Vincent Guerin scoring his 7 th of the day but he would not get another chance to add to his tally as Horne scored his second of the game and Shrewsbury Townsend were through. Final score, 3-1.

It was a tough call on DHL Prague White who had been superb throughout but then one below par performance (by their manager's own admission) and they're out. You have to have some sympathy for them.