Plate
Quarter-Final 1 saw Sporting Lesbians meet Shock
Soc ½. Having already been defeated by
Shock Soc 0.5 in the group stages this was a chance
for the Lesbians to gain some form of revenge.
With the exception of their game against Atlant
Opole, they had performed well but not yet produced
a result. The knock-out phase suddenly saw them
convert performance into results much to the despair
of Shock Soc 0.5. Shock Soc had no answer to the
onslaught as wave after wave of Sporting Lesbian
attack resulted in a comfortable 5-0 scoreline.
Rob Palmer got the ball rolling with his first
of the competition before Martin Thompson made
it 2-0 maintaining his goal a game record to make
it four in four games for him. He then unselfishly
set up Gavin McFarlane for goal number 3. A goal
that acted as a catalyst for McFarlane's goalscoring
touch as he notched numbers four and five to complete
his hat-trick.
The
second Plate Quarter-Final saw what was arguably
the game of the tournament. The Barry Moores put
their group phase disappointment behind them to
race into a 2-0 lead. Daniel Houghton finding
the net again to match Martin Thompson's record
of scoring in every fixture so far, also four
in four. The lead was extended with David Moore
finding the perfect time to score his first of
the competition. With CSF2 through to the Cup
and staring at a 2-0 deficit, it was now or never
for CSF1 to avoid humiliation at the hands of
their sister squad. Cometh the hour, cometh the
men. Alex Thomas and Oz Zamora, the two star men
so far the CSF1 squad, scoring a goal each to
bring the game level. Further goals from David
Moore and Oz Zamora meant the game was 3-3 at
full time. A nervous and lacklustre golden goal
extra time saw no further score and so we entered
penalties.
With
the matches on the other pitches finished, the
entire tournament focused on pitch B to see events
unfold. The penalties were played in a cracking
and lively atmosphere. The two keepers, Simon
Phipps and James Nott, stepped up knowing they
had the chance to become heroes. They were powerless
though as David Moore, Simon Regewell, Daniel
Houghton and Matt Pound, Ross Bowman, Oz Zamora
all scored to make it 3-3. Sudden death penalties
ensued with John Moore, Paul Bowden, Simon Phipps
and Sean Jones, Alex Thomas, James Nott all perfect
from the spot to make it 6-6. Surely something
would have to give! It did. James Hockin hit a
rocket down the centre but James Nott stood his
ground and parried it away to safety. Chris Tuck
then stepped up with the chance to send the CSF1
through. eurofootballfives.com had learnt that
Tuck had never previously scored a penalty so
CSF nerves were fraying. Tuck stolled up and planted
the ball in the back of the net to send the crowds
wild as a 40 man huddle buried Tuck as the crowds
invaded the pitch. A bitter pill for The Barry
Moores to swallow having taken the game to the
wire.
What
a game to follow that! Well Shock Soc 0.5 met
Hutnik Krakow Old Boys in the quarter finals last
year and they did so again this year with the
same result. Shock Soc booked their place in the
semi-finals thanks to goals from Rob Wood and
Steve Ellwood in a nervy 2-1 win.
Who
would they meet in the semi-finals? Well that
was for Aint Got A Clue and Real Cosmos to decide.
Aint Got A Clue had failed to make the Cup despite
a 7-1 win in their group phase so were favourites
in a contest against Real Cosmos who, despite
finishing fourth in Group C, had not disgraced
themselves. The favourites tag did not daunt Aint
Got A Clue though and they followed up their 7-1
group win with a 6-1 group win in this contest.
Glen Patching scored his third of the tournament
for Real Cosmos who were no match for their opposition.
Stuart Clark scored yet again while James March
opened his personal account in style with a hat-trick.
Further goals from Mark Lane (2 nd of the tournament)
and Robert Stone sent Aint Got A Clue into the
semi-finals on a high.
Real
Cosmos's manager Colin Gateson said that although
Real Cosmos had not done themselves justice they
all had a fantastic time and will be back next
year to compete in Europe again.
|
