Game 6 of Group A saw league leaders Atlantic Star take on 3rd place Bozeat All Stars. Both teams were unbeaten but Atlantic Star had the stronger position going into the game. They knew a win would virtually guarantee their Cup qualification. A Bozeat win would see them leapfrog their opponents into top spot and make the group very interesting.

Atlantic Star drew first blood as Paul Costello gave them a 1-0 lead at the interval. Bozeat All Stars had proved they were no pushovers against CEPL when they fought back from a first-half deficit to claim a point. They did it again here as Matthew Smith and Marty Legg goals cancelled out Aaron Connerans second half strike. The game finished 2-2 and both teams remained unbeaten. It kept the group very tight at the top and all four present teams still had the chance of making the Cup.

That situation soon changed though when we added CEPL's three walkover points to the table. It put them on 7 points and ahead of Atlantic Star on goal difference. It also meant Alphasights could now not reach the Cup as their maximum points tally could potentially be 6.

Alphasights had the chance of getting the first of those 3 points when they met Bozeat All Stars. For the ‘away' team on the fixture list this was an opportunity to move from 3rd to first with a win and guarantee Cup qualification if they could win by two goals as CEPL and Atlantic Star were still to meet each other.

It all went according to plan in the opening period as Matthew Smith and Marty Legg established the required two goal lead. In the second half they went from strength to strength as Dan Bayes made it three before two more from Canadian Marty Legg (a hat-trick for him) completed a fine victory. There was time for Rob Wootton to score his second of the tournament but it was, alas, a consolation in a 5-1 defeat.

Next up was effectively the group decider. With both teams on 7 points behind Bozeat All Stars on 8 points a draw would mean a three-way tie at the top and if that was the case it would be CEPL and Bozeat All Stars going through on goal difference. Atlantic Star therefore had to win. If they did, they would progress at the expense of CEPL.

At the end of the first-half it looked like CEPL would be going through as the teams were tied at 1-1 thanks to Aaron Conneran for the team from Manchester and Matthew Morgan for the team from Tilburg. The Dutch were really up for this game and their squad was galvanized in support for their team. The third goal of the game, from Morgan, was met with rapturous celebrations. Those celebrations were out again not long after as they went 3-1 up as Morgan completed his hat-trick. It looked like they were going through but then Paul Costello reduced arrears to 3-2 and it was game on again. Atlantic Star needed to find two more goals but time was against them and the match ended 3-2.

It was a great achievement for CEPL to reach the Cup. Atlantic Star would have to settle for the Plate – they would be joined by Alphasights who picked up their 3-0 walkover win versus Hutnik to complete the group table.

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