As the 2014 Berlin Fives Cup Quarter-Finals were about to get underway we were down to the 8 top performing teams in the tournament representing France, England and Germany. There would be 7 games which would decide who would emerge victorious and claim the third Berlin Fives title.

We started on Pitch A with Grant Thornton versus Multiple Scoregasms as France met England. The Group A champions Grant Thornton were targeting a second tournament win in as many tournaments after success in May last year at the 2013 Mallorca Fives. They had looked on superb form today emerging from their group with a 100% record.

We throught Multiple Scoregasms were going to do the same and also emerge with a 100% record but they lost 4-2 to All of Ronan's Men in their final Group B fixture and wondered if that may have an effect on their performance here. If it did it was for a determination to bounce back as they stunned Grant Thornton with two early goals from Mike Classen and Darren Choytooa.

Grant Thornton would need one hell of a comeback in the second half and it looked on as Cedric Castarede's sixth goal of the tournament reduced the deficit to 2-1. The next goal was going to be crucial and when Luke Wilczek claimed it they had one foot in the Semi-Finals. When Stuart Dunlop made it 4-1 they could jump into the next round with both feet. They had pulled off a stunning victory.

For Grant Thornton it was maybe a surprising defeat and their first exit at the Quarter-Finals stage since the 2012 Budapest Fives. We are sure they will come back stronger for the experience next time.

Hasanheide Hotspur had two teams in the Cup Quarter-Finals at the 2012 Berlin Fives and both went out. They made amends 12 months ago when they defeated SLFN Y on Golden Goal to make the Semi-Final. Could they defeat 3 Lions FC and emulate that feat.

3 Lions FC had qualified for the Cup for the second time. The last time was at the 2009 Amsterdam Fives when they had won their group and due to a quirk of fate met a team from their group who they'd already beaten that day. In the knock-out phase they lost and crashed out when they were probably the favourites to go all the way and win it. Could they put that demon to bed and make their first Cup Semi-Final?

It would be tough today as Hasanheide Hotspur hit the front early and never looked back. 3 Lions FC had the bare minimum 5 players and without the luxury of the substitutes were beginning to look weary in comparison to a Hasanheide Hotspur team who were using the full depths of their squad well.

Hasanheide Hotspur lead 4-1 at the break and completed a 6-1 win by full-time. Richard Hanley and Eamonn O'Neill both continuing their fine goalscoring run with two goals and three goals respectively. Rory Kierans, who scored the Golden Goal this time last year, also contributed with his fourth of the tournament. Thomas Nolan's fifth of the day was consolation for him.

We had to say goodbye to 3 Lions FC and would like to thank Chris Baginsky for organizing his troops once again – the longest serving team in the tournament dating back to 2008.

Quarter-Final three was Luso Team versus Frank Hirth B. This was arguably the tightest of all the Quarter-Finals and produced a superb game…if a little feisty at times.

Frank Hirth B got off to a flyer by quickly establishing a 2-0 lead early on with both goals from Nick Wastell. Luso Team were not to give up without a fight though as they reduced the deficit to 2-1 before half-time. After the break it was 2-2 as Luso Team pulled level and the momentum was with them.

How could Frank Hirth B respond? Pretty well is the answer as Nick Wastell completed his hat-trick. Luso Team could be forgiven for letting their heads drop having fought so well to get level only to go behind again but to their credit they got back into it again and made it 3-3. It remained 3-3 at full-time.

So we would have two periods of Golden Goal extra time (if required) and then a potential penalty shoot-out. It was now or never for these two teams as just one moment of brilliance could be the difference between a Semi-Final and a return home.

Step forward Mark Funnell who struck the 7 th and decisive blow in this contest as he fired Frank Hirth B into the next round.

For Luso Team the debut was over but two goals in this game for David Teixeira (the other was scored by Rouag Drari) helped Teixeira to the Top Goalscorer award with 8 goals on the day – many congratulations to him. Luso Team certainly impressed on debut but the ultimate glory would not be theirs today.

The final Quarter-Final was Frank Hirth A against Doddsy Stag B. The Group D winners had reached this stage with 12 points, 13 goals and conceded just f5. If they could secure a fifth victory they would set-up a Frank Hirth derby in the Semi-Finals. They would play a Doddsy Stag B team who had won 2 and drawn 1 of their 4 games to date and secured qualification for this stage with a dramatic late winner in their final group game.

There was little between the teams at the start of the game but it was early honours to Frank Hirth A as they took a slender 1-0 lead into half-time. It was a lead they were to hold on to and expand on after the break as they booked their place in the next round.

Neil Barratt scored his fourth of the competition for Doddsy Stag B but it a consolation in a losing goal as Frank Hirth A continued to look fluent in front of goal. They seemed to have goals from all over the pitch as Matt Limb, Dan Spackman and Rohit Julani all added to their tally with Ross Annand also joining the party.

Following the Doddsy Stag A exit in the Plate Quarter-Finals but both teams looked impressive considering they were on “stag action”. There were some good footballers on show and we'd love to see them back on tour again and do some damage in the later rounds of our tournaments.