We began with a lot to play for in Round 5 – 3 teams were vying for 2 places in the Cup competition. It was any 2 from 5 teams who could qualify (or be dragged down into the Plate competition). Up first was the top of the table clash – Big Time Krakow versus Krakowcaine.

Krakowcaine came into the game with the advantage as they held a 2 point lead over Big Time Krakow (and Deddington Sea Eagles) so they only needed a draw to ensure their qualification. A win would guarantee them the Group A title. They also had the best form with 3 wins in a row and were unbeaten. Despite this great form, Krakowcaine could still miss out on the Cup if they lost and Deddington Sea Eagles won.

Big Time Krakow were also unbeaten and had gone win-draw-win-draw so far today. If they finished with a win then they would progress to the Cup. They would win the title as long as their win was greater than Deddington Sea Eagles final game win.

Preview over, game on. Krakowcaine came firing out the traps and forged a 2-0 lead in the first half. Nacho Mochales was the top goalscorer at the 2016 Algarve Open with 8 goals. He took his tally to 7 here when he made it 1-0. Eloy Rubio scored for the second game in a row to give his team a commanding lead. After the break, Krakowcaine stretched their lead to 3-0 thanks to Beni Weber. It was a superb performance and a superb result that clinched the Group A title in style.

For Big Time Krakow, it was a huge blow and potentially one that would see them miss out on the Cup. They now had to hope Deddington Sea Eagles failed to win.

The final thing to wrap up Group A was Fylde FC A versus Deddington Sea Eagles. Both teams had much to play for. Let's see what was at stake:

Fylde FC A: They had to better the result of Projetio Tokio to jump above the Brazilian team and reach 4th place. Things were out of their hands though and as Projetio Tokio played the bottom team they must have feared the worst.

Deddington Sea Eagles: They had to better the result of Big Time Krakow to finish in the top two and make the Cup. Anything else would mean a place in the Plate. They would have had high hopes as Big Time Krakow were up against the league leaders.

Nathaniel Smithies scored his third goal of the tournament and put Fylde FC A in pole position at half-time as they lead 1-0. If the teams had been monitoring the other pitches they would have had good news. Projetio Tokio were drawing 0-0 so, as things stood, Fylde FC A would be going through. Although Deddington Sea Eagles were trailing they would have seen that Big Time Krakow were 2-0 down. If they could find an equaliser and take a point from the game then they would be through to the Cup.

The second half saw a goal each – Ramzy Elftesi for Fylde FC A and Mark Cook for Deddington Sea Eagles. The game finished 2-1 and Fylde FC A had fully earned their place in the Plate after Cracow United's late equaliser against Projetio Tokio.

Well, we said it would be the final thing to wrap up Group A but it wasn't. The result meant Deddington Sea Eagles and Big Time Krakow finished with an identical record in terms of points, goal difference and goals scored. When we looked at head-to-head records we reminded ourselves the teams had drawn 1-1. There was only one way to settle this – a penalty shootout!