Results
 

Janssen Portugal (Por)

2

V

3

JNJ Pinewood (Eng)

Maidenhead 1 (Eng)

2

V

1

JNJ Middle East (UAE)

Synthes UK 1 (Eng)

4

V

1

Beeston Operation Leeds (Eng)

 

Round 7 began with Janssen Portugal and JNJ Pinewood. Let's have a look at what was at stake for the two teams:

Janssen Portugal: Win the game and finish 5th earning a bye to the Plate Semi-Finals. A draw or defeat would see them progress to the Plate Quarter-Finals in either 6th or 7th (subject to Beeston Operation Leeds final result).

JNJ Pinewood: Win the game combined with a Maidenhead 1 defeat and they would qualify for the Cup. If Maidenhead 1 drew it would come down to goal difference. Should they miss out on the Cup they would be guaranteed 5th. A draw here would also guarantee them 5th and a place in the Plate Semi-Final. A defeat would see them slip into the Plate Quarter-Finals.

At the end of the first period of play the game was all square at 1-1. Trevor John was on the scoresheet for the English, Rodrigo Martins was on target for the Portuguese. As the game reached the final stages the score had moved on to 2-2 with Fraser Harland scoring his third of the day for JNJ Pinewood. Tiago Santos scored Janssen Portugal's second.

With time running out there was to be a sting in the tail as Fraser Harland struck a late winner for JNJ Pinewood and picked up a vital win his team – would it be enough? All eyes would be on Pitch B for Maidenhead 1's result.

 
 
 

The last group game on Pitch B was to be Maidenhead 1 versus JNJ Middle East. The final round of fixtures would all be played simultaneously so we had to look at the permutations for the teams at kick-off. However, we are sure subs would be keeping tabs on progress of proceedings on the other pitches.

At kick-off, Maidenhead 1 knew that a win would guarantee them a place in the Cup and a third place finish. Defeat would seem them vulnerable to JNJ Pinewood snatching their current 4th place with a win. If JNJ Pinewood won and Maidenhead 1 drew it would come down to goal difference. These teams currently sat on -3 and -1 respectively.

For JNJ Middle East Cup qualification and a minimum of second place was already guaranteed. In their sights was the Group B victory – they needed to win and hope Synthes UK 1 lost/drew their final game.

Recent form for Maidenhead 1 had not been positive. They started the day so well with 3 unanswered goals and picking up 7 points from a possible 9. Two defeats since and conceding 5 in the process had threatened their Cup qualification – they needed to reverse their run of form. JNJ Middle East had won 4 in a row but just tasted first defeat – they too were looking to bounce back?

On the field of play we had 3 goals to enjoy and it was Maidenhead 1 who edged it 2-1 to pick up the vital 3 points they needed. Alvaro Martinez scored in their previous game and he was on target again here (twice) as his goals propelled his team into the elite Cup competition.

JNJ Middle East scored through Peter Lane as his team finished in second position in Group B. I am sure if you offered this to them at the start of play they'd have taken it. It was a great effort from the team.

 
 
 

The final game of Group B was a top versus bottom clash. In theory, this should have been a straightforward process for Synthes UK 1 to pick up the win they needed to guarantee the Group B title. They came into the game on the back of four successive wins and the top scorers in the table.

Beeston Operation Leeds had a tough task on their hands. They could still finish 5th and earn an extended lunch break and bye to the Plate Semi-Finals. It would be very difficult in practise though as they needed to:

(a) win by 5 goals and hope Janssen Portugal versus JNJ Pinewood was a draw.

or

(b) hope Janssen Portugal won and then win by 4 goals or more than Janssen Portugal won by.

With the game underway this all proved academic from quite early in the piece. Synthes UK 1 hit the front and lead 2-0 at the break. Both goals went to Adam Love who was challenging for the top goalscorer award with 8 goals.

Synthes UK 1 added further goals from Matt Talbot and Liam Robinson after the break. Kahl Newrick's third goal of the day was some, if scant, consolation for Beeston Operation Leeds.

The final score was 4-1 and Synthes UK 1 wrapped up the Group B title. It meant they had win their group in all 3 of their JNJ Euro Soccer Tournament appearances – a fine record.

 
 
Table
 
Team
Pld
Won
Drawn
Lost
For
Agst
Pts

Synthes UK 1 (Eng)

6

5

1

0

16

5

16

JNJ Middle East (UAE)

6

4

0

2

10

4

12

Maidenhead 1 (Eng)

6

3

1

2

6

6

10

Slavoj Consumer (Cze)

6

3

0

3

7

5

9

JNJ Pinewood (Eng)

6

2

2

2

7

9

8

Janssen Portugal (Por)

6

1

0

5

5

11

3

Beeston Operation Leeds (Eng)

6

1

0

5

4

15

3

 
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