Results
 

Krwiodawcy (Pol)

3*

V

3

Bure Park Seniors (Eng)

FC Dad's Club (Eng)

5

V

5*

Bure Park Old Boys (Eng)

* Krwiodawcy (Pol) won 5-4 on penalties.

* Bure Park Old Boys (Eng) won 5-4 on penalties.
 

We were down to our final 4 teams in the Plate competition. The first Semi-Final would see Krwiodawcy versus Bure Park Seniors. Krwiodawcy came into the knock-out phase on a mixed run of form with 2 wins and 2 defeats. Bure Park Seniors had been competitive without being able to get that first win on the board – now would be the perfect time to strike. Krwiodawcy edged out Bure Park Old Boys (2-1) earlier in the day and we expected another close match here versus the Seniors.

It was Bure Park Seniors who struck first here and they struck early. Richard Holliday the man with the goal and the English team were on top. They almost had the cushion of a second but an opportunity went astray as it didn't quite reach Holliday who was in a dangerous position at the far post. They could have done with that cushion as Krwiodawcy levelled to make it 1-1 through Marcin Grzybowski.

The second half kicked off still level at 1-1 but the game was to swing in favour of Krwiodawcy. Dmytro Kulykov scored twice to put them 3-1 up and they were strong favourites to go through. Credit to Pure Park Seniors who did not give up though and Oskar Calusi scored twice to restore parity to the situation. His goals ensured a superb comeback and the game ended 3-3. The English team had earned themselves a penalty shootout.

Oszkar Calusi, with 7 goals in the tournament, would take the first penalty for Bure Park Seniors and he duly scored. Marcin Drzybowski quickly equalized. Roy McConnell and Simon Dearing then both scored whilst Oleksandr Demydov and Dmytro Kulykov both equalized to leave us level at 3-3. We were now into sudden death.

Paul James (Bure Park Seniors) and Dariusz Zyta (Krwiodawcy) each converted to make it 4-4. Richard Holliday who opened the scoring in the game then saw his penalty saved before Peter Revesz slotted home to send the Polish team through to the Plate Final. It was a cruel exit for Bure Park Seniors after such a great recovery in normal time.

 
 
 

Who would join Krwiodawcy in the Plate Final? The two teams set to do battle were FC Dad's Club and Bure Park Old Boys. Only a few moments ago, at the end of the group phase, we had the latest chapter of games between these clubs. It was a classic, could we dream of another such thrilling game?

Lisbon 2017: Saga Louts 5-0 The Special Ones

Mallorca 2018: Bure Park Old Boys 1-1 The Special Ones

Budapest 2019: Bure Park Old Boys 3-0 FC Dad's Club

Krakow 2022: Bure Park Seniors 4-5 FC Dad's Club

Could the “Old Boys” succeed where the “Seniors” could not? They got off to the perfect start with an Ian Mansley goal but were soon pegged back by Mark Ashurst. Ian Mansley restored the 2-1 lead but Ashurst again cancelled it out to make it 2-2 at half-time (as it was for Bure Park Seniors v FC Dad's Club).

Matt Johnson put Bure Park Old Boys ahead for a third time after the break before FC Dad's Club equalized for a third time thanks to Rob Evans. Neil Collett put FC Dad's Club ahead for the first time as this game was proving to be just as much of a see-saw contest as game against the “Seniors”. Matt Johnson already had a hat-trick today and he was to secure another as he swung the game back in favour of Bure Park Old Boys, 5-4. Talking of hat-trick heroes brings us to Mark Ashurst who completed his third hat-trick of the day to level it up at 5-5. It was perhaps only fitting that a penalty shoot-out was required to settle this one.

Rob Evans, Tej Mahal & Mark Ashurst were all successful for FC Dad's Club whilst Ian Mansley, Matt Johnson and Dave Tyrell were all successful for Bure Park Old Boys. We were still locked together and would go into sudden death. James Davidson (FC Dad's Club) and Nathan Vicentijevic (BP Old Boys) kept the success rate at 100%. Max Croce would be the unfortunate man to miss the first penalty but it was less of a miss and more of a save as Darren Campo diving to his left pushed the spot kick away to safety. It gave Chris Weedon the opportunity to win it for his team – no pressure! Weedon duly obliged and his team had a final to prepare for.

Huge commiserations to FC Dad's Club – they'd been superb today and they had given us some sensational games a 4-3, a 5-4 and now a 5-5. Pure box office!

On a personal level, many congratulations to Mark Ashurst who finished as the top scorer in the tournament with an impressive haul of 10 goals. Many congratulations.

 
 
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