Tekkers Lovakia and JNJ Middle East met in their final Group A games. Tekkers Lovakia were top of the Group A table and were effectively through as the teams in second and third position were due to play each other. Only a four goal defeat for Tekkers and a 2-2 draw (or higher score draw) in JNJ Serbia versus JNJ Russia A or a five goal defeat (or heavier) with a draw in the Serbia game could prevent them making the Cup. However, they would not want to leave things to chance and secure at least a point here to go through.

For JNJ Middle East, other results in Round 4 had conspired against them to mean Cup qualification was now beyond them. They were 4 points behind Tekkers Lovakia and 3 points behind JNJ Serbia and JNJ Russia A who were due to play each other so no matter what they did 3rd place was their best possible finish. They had already qualified for the Plate as 4 th place was their worst possible finish.

With the teams on the pitch it was a pretty even game and a close contest. There was nothing to separate the teams in the opening period and they turned round all square at 0-0. After the interval the deadlock would be broken and it was Josh Lynn who made the breakthrough. It was to be the only goal of the game and would earn Tekkers Lovakia all three points.

Tekkers Lovakia finished Group A with four consecutive wins and 13 points from a possible 15. They were looking in fine form. JNJ Middle East would need to re-group for their assault on the Plate competition.

The 15th and final game of Group A was JNJ Serbia versus JNJ Russia A. It left us with a thrilling climax to Group A as this was effectively a knock-out tie. It would decide which team would progress to the Cup and which team would have to settle for the Plate competition. JNJ Serbia had second place in their command at the moment so only needed to avoid defeat to confirm 2nd place. JNJ Russia A needed to win to leapfrog above their opponents and keep their hopes of retaining their title alive. For the record, JNJ Russia A won 4-1 when they met in Group B in Budapest 2013.

There was all to play for and we reached half-time with JNJ Russia getting closer to qualification as they lead 1-0 thanks to a goal from Vladimir Doroshenkov. As we all know 1-0 is only a slender lead and this game was still on a knife edge. The second half was just a superb game of football to watch with goals flying in at both ends and the teams performing brilliantly under the pressure. Four more goals - Aleksandar Drobjnak and Marko Matanovic for JNJ Serbia, Valeriy Shumov for JNJ Russia A – meant we entered the closing stages of the game with JNJ Russia A leading 3-2.

As things stood JNJ Russia A were qualifying in second position and with time running out it looked like they had done just enough. JNJ Serbia never gave up though and in the final seconds of the game Nenad Stojanovic equalized for 3-3 to send JNJ Serbia and their supporters into delirium. They snatched a draw and 2nd place from JNJ Russia A and would qualify for the Cup. It was a sensational finale to the game and Group A.

Incidentally, it meant JNJ Serbia had finished second in their group for the third year in a row. For the third year in a row they finished with 3 wins, 1 draw, 1 defeat and 10 points. #consistency as you would say on Twitter!

It was a cruel blow for JNJ Russia A as that goal, in a flash, ended their hopes of retaining their title. Could they recover from the disappointment and add a Plate trophy to last year's Cup success?