Results
 

Tommie's Guns (Eng)

1*

V

1

Fail Madrid (Eng)

Rayford Athletic (Eng)

1*

V

1

9 Nana Budds (Eng)

* Tommie's Guns won 3-2 on penalties.

* Rayford Athletic won 3-2 on penalties
 

We were down to our final 4 teams in the Plate competition with all 4 teams representing England.

The first Semi-Final would see Tommie's Guns take on Fail Madrid. Tommie's Guns, in their second eurofootballfives.com appearance, had reached their second Semi-Final. In the 2014 Bratislava Fives they exited at the Trophy Semi-Final stage 7-3 to Ziar Crew. You would fancy they would do better this time around as they were currently on a run of 3 wins in 4 games. Their opponents Fail Madrid were also getting stronger as the tournament went on and with 4 very close Quarter-Finals we expected the Semi-Finals to pan out in much the same way.

For once, we were not wrong and it was therefore no surprise to see the two teams locked together at 0-0 as we reached half-time. There was little in it in the second half either as the two teams strived to find the vital breakthrough but we did get goals – two of them. There was a goal each for Fail Madrid's Robert Maller who equalised Tommie's Guns' goal from Pat Vernall. At the full-time whistle it was 1-1 and a penalty shoot-out would ensue.

Tommie's Guns had the honour of taking the first shot and Pat Vernall it was to step up. He scored in the game and he scored in the shoot-out to give his side the lead. Graham Hargraves quickly levelled it up at 1-1. Alex Meecham, with two goals in the tournament was next up for Tommie's Guns but his effort would not find the back of the net and it was advantage Fail Madrid. They took full advantage as Robert Maller put them 2-1 ahead.

Luke Materacki, who scored from the spot in normal time in the Quarter-Final, put away his penalty to level it at 2-2. Adam Avery had the chance to send his team through to the Final but he saw his penalty saved by Luke Materacki. So, sudden death would follow. We started with our original kickers and it was Pat Vernall who was successful again. Fail Madrid now had a penalty to stay in it – Graham Hargraves needed to net again but Luke Materacki saved his second successive penalty and it was Tommie's Guns who would emerge victorious. It was a cruel exit for Fail Madrid but only one team could advance.

 
 
 

The second Semi-Final was Rayford Athletic versus 9 Nana Budds. Both teams had come through tough Quarter-Finals could they raise their game for a push to reach the Plate Final. We'd seen an epic first Semi-Final – could this one live up to it? It certainly could.

As with all the games in the Plate so far there was very little to separate the teams and that is great testament to the players out there on the pitch. 9 Nana Budds made the breakthrough in this game and they held a slender 1-0 lead at half-time. Paul Taylor the man who gave his team hope of progressing. Thomas Metcalfe dashed that hope after the break as he put Rayford Athletic level again at 1-1. There was to be no further goals and the second Semi-Final would also go to penalties.

Having won their Quarter-Final on penalties we were sure the shoot-out would hold no fears for Rayford Athletic especially having been a goal down in normal time. 9 Nana Budds were yet to contest a penalty shoot-out in our tournaments – until now.

It was Rayford Athletic to shoot first as Daniel Key successfully converted his spot-kick as he had done in the Quarter-Final. Will Crowther, with 3 goals in the tournament, found the back of the net to make it 1-1. Andrew Key missed his penalty but it didn't matter for Rayford Athletic as Jack Kennedy failed to take advantage and it remained 1-1. Ross Bennett was successful with his penalty piling on the pressure for John Mastel. He had to score to keep his team in it and he did just that, 2-2. We were into sudden death.

Aaron Skeats was up next for Rayford Athletic – missed. It was down to Tim Moore – the 9 Nana Budds goalkeeper against his opposing number Aaron Allibon and it was the man in nets who was the hero to keep the shoot-out going. Lee Welbourn struck his penalty home to make it 3-2 and Paul Taylor now had a penalty to keep his team in it. He scored in normal time but was unable to repeat the feat in the penalty shoot-out. 9 Nana Budds were out, Rayford Athletic were through to the Plate Final on debut.
 
 
 
 
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