We were down to our final 4 teams in the Plate competition with 3 out of the 4 teams representing England and the other team representing Portugal. It was Portugal versus England to kick us off as PMPCAR hosted AAK S&S.

PMPCAR had gained a bye to the Semi-Final after Tommie's Guns withdrawal. This could work in their favour by giving their lungs a rest but it could work against them by allowing muscles etc to stiffen up. AAK S&S, like a well-oiled machine, had kept their engine running with a slick 4-0 win over Retainers Academy.

We had quite a game on our hands in normal time with AAK S&S twice going ahead but twice getting pegged back. Gary Bartley and Daniel Flower were their scorers in the last round and were both on target again here. After Bartley initially gave AAK S&S the lead Ivo Geada equalized. Then, after Flower restored the lead, Geada scored a second of the game to earn his team a 2-2 draw. We would need penalties to decide who would go through to the Plate Final.

It would be AAK S&S to take the first penalty. Gary Bartley was the man charged with the honour – he went to his left, PMPCAR's Ricardo Marcaz stuck out a right boot to make the save. It was an immediate advantage to the Portuguese with David Silva (no, not that one) up next. His crisp strike cannoned back off the bar. A let off for AAK S&S. Kevin Stork was the next man up for AAK S&S who struck a power penalty to the goalkeeper's right for 1-0. Pedro Domingos immediately equalized for PMPCAR. Richard Clubley struck his penalty into the bottom corner for AAK S&S which meant PMPCAR had to score to stay in it. Diogo Santos took it and Dan Best in goal managed to get to it but there was too much power on the strike and it went in off the ‘keeper into the roof of the net for 2-2. We would require sudden death penalties.

Daniel Flower was the next man up for AAK S&S. He blasted it down the middle but Ricardo Marcaz made the save. It meant Ivo Geada, with two goals in the game, had a chance to win it. It was another power penalty down the middle but what a save from Dan Best. He stuck up a left hand and a very strong left arm to tip the ball over the bar. We stayed at 2-2.

Dan Best penalty saver would hope to become Dan Best penalty scorer as he stepped up. He went to the left and scored it and put the pressure on the Portuguese. It was now Ricardo Marcaz, the PMPCAR goalkeeper, to take the penalty – he sent Dan Best the wrong way. 3-3.

The teams could now refresh their penalty takers and Gary Bartley stepped forward again as he looked to make amends for that first penalty. He made no mistake this time as he struck his penalty through the goalkeeper. Pedro Domingos was next up for PMPCAR – he went for power down the middle and it was another superb save by Dan Best. Not only did he do superbly to get a hand to it but to get such a strong contact to divert the ball away from goal. AAK S&S had won it, 4-3.

We had to bid farewell to PMPCAR for this year and would like to thank them for joining us at the Lisbon Tournament. AAK S&S had a European final to prepare for.

The second Semi-Final was Brewin Dolphin versus FC Seagrave. Brewin Dolphin got back to winning ways in the Quarter-Finals and now had 4 wins and 4 defeats from their 8 games so far. Two more wins and they would be taking home the winner's trophy and medals.

FC Seagrave were competing in the Plate competition for the first time. In their previous knock-out appearances they had reached the elite Cup competition at the 2010 Algarve Open where they finished runners-up. Then, at the 2015 Barcelona Fives they reached the third tier Trophy competition and went out at the Semi-Final stage. Could they reach a second European final here in Lisbon?

They had racked up three wins on the bounce and things were looking good for them when Denis Moran tucked away his sixth goal of the day. It was a lead they maintained until half-time. After the break Brewin Dolphin were back on level terms. David Stephenson became their third player of the day to reach three goals. The game ended 1-1 and we would also require penalties to decide the second Semi-Final.

FC Seagrave would take the first penalty. Matt Allard would step forward to take it. With 7 goals to his name in today's games it was perhaps no surprise to see him convert. David Stephenson, fresh from his equalizer in normal time, equalized from the spot in the shoot-out.

Denis Moran scored in normal time but was unable to replicate his form in front of goal in the shoot-out and the advantage swung to Brewin Dolphin. Geoffrey Hanratty rammed home that advantage when he scored his penalty to make it 2-1. Paul Wilson was then up for FC Seagrave but he was also unable to find the net. It meant FC Seagrave were out but Brewin Dolphin were still alive in this tournament.