Welcome to Bratislava and the inaugural Bratislava Fives 5-a-side football tournament. With 24-teams assembled to do battle from Belarus, the Czech Republic England, Hungary, Ireland and Slovakia this promised to be a great day of action. The sun was out and shining brightly on the superb venue that would play host to the day's festivities.

First up in Group A was Ziar Crew (Svk) versus Skidmarks (Eng). The English team were one of four previous winners in the line-up and they were making their fifth eurofootballfives.com appearance. They were one of two teams hoping to secure their third eurofootballfives title. On debut they claimed the 2011 Valencia Fives title and followed this up with victory in the 2012 Krakow Trophy. Only Olympic Phil Babb and Athletico Do Hollande have had such a successful introduction to eurofootballfives.com competition. Olympic Phil Babb won their first 4 tournaments (Amsterdam 2008, Algarve 2009, Prague 2010 and Budapest 2011) and Athletico Do Hollande won the Algarve Open in 2010 and 2011. Skidmarks almost become only the second team to claim three titles in a row when they reached the 2013 Mallorca Fives Cup Final. French team Grant Thornton took the title that day. In the 2014 Budapest Fives they won their 6-team group and were looking on fine form until they came up against Argentina in the Quarter-Finals and lost 2-0. Skidmarks will certainly be amongst the favourites in Bratislava.

Their opponents Ziar Crew who were on debut and acquitting themselves well on their first European start. They reached half-time with a 1-0 lead thanks to Filip Sipikal. However, they were not to earn a prized scalp as Luke Hatfield ensured the points were shared with a second half goal to make it 1-1.

The final fixture in the opening round of Group A was Dynamo Clapham versus Frankie's Footballing Fantasy.

Dynamo Clapham return to eurofootballfives.com action for their 4 th tournament They played their first 2 tournaments under the name El Studs Bilbao making a fine debut at the 2009 Prague Trophy when they finished top of their 6 team group before a Cup Semi-Final exit. A return to action at the 2010 Krakow Trophy was less successful when DHL Prague Red knocked them out on penalties in the Plate Quarter Finals. At the 2012 Berlin Fives they played as Hertha Beerlin and Bayer Never-Lose-Em. The latter were the most successful in the group phase finishing 4th on 7 points before a Plate Quarter-Final loss 1-0 to East Compton Seagulls. Heertha Berlin featured in our first ever third-tier Trophy competition and went all the way winning the Trophy Final on penalties.

Frankie's Footballing Fantasy are part of the Bure Park Old Boys team who are making their 6th eurofootballfives.com appearance following trips to Prague, Valencia (x3) and Krakow….more on them later.

It was first blood in the opening round to Frankie's Footballing Fantasy as they edged a tight fixture with a solitary goal. The hero of the moment was Ian Mansley who secured all three points for his team.