Group B was shaping up very nicely and up next we had a top of the table clash. AFC Shooters 1 in first position versus second placed FC Mahou.

AFC Shooters were returning to eurofootballfives.com action having made their debut at the 2015 Algarve Open. Their A team made a steady start with two draws in their first two games before a defeat to Galacticos. They steadied the ship with another draw before getting their first win in their final game. Although only 1 defeat in 5, the draws stalled their progress and they progressed to the Plate. A 3-0 win in the QF was followed by a 0-0 draw in the SF (which they won on penalties). They then finished off the day in style with a 3-0 win in the Plate Final over Mavericks. Today in the Lisbon Veterans they would rightly have loftier ambitions given their 100% record at the start of Group B.

FC Mahou represented their toughest opponents to date. In fact, FC Mahou were yet to lose a game in the group phase of our Veterans tournaments. It was a run that stretched to 18 games and they had won 15 of those games so far. It was a hugely impressive record.

At half-time the teams were level at 0-0 as AFC Shooters 1 gave as good as they got. A draw would arguably suit them most as they would retain their 2 point lead at the top of the table. The game would not end 0-0 though as cometh the hour, cometh the man and that man was Michael Brandon. The top goalscorer at the 2018 Algarve Vets and 2019 Alicante Vets scored another priceless goal to give FC Mahou a 1-0 win.

The Maulers were the final team to play their third fixture. They were looking for their first win of the day and if they could grab victory here they would move above ACE & The Swagmen into the Plate qualification places – and they would play ACE & The Swagmen in their final fixture.

AFC Shooters 1 were in a tough battle to reach the Cup. They were currently second on goal difference with the team directly above and below them due to meet in the next fixture. They were in a strong position to qualify for the Cup provided they did not lose this game and FC Mahou v Southgate County Brewers ended in a draw. They could win Group B with a win here and FC Mahou failing to win their final match.

It was the Maulers who struck first in this one. Alex Finney scoring his team's first goal of the tournament. It was the perfect start for them (FC Mahou & Southgate County Brewers) but the worst possible start for AFC Shooters 1.

AFC Shooters 1 had recovered from 1-0 down to win 4-1 in their opening game and they were on the recovery trail again here. Stephen Parker had 3 goals to his name thus far and he was to boost his tally to 5 as he turned this game around. Neil Adebowale increased the lead to 3-1 as AFC Shooters 1 secured victory and Cup qualification regardless of the result in their rivals final fixture.

80% of Group B games were now completed with just 2 to go. We could soon have our Group B winners confirmed Southgate County Brewers met FC Mahou. This was a repeat of the 2017 Mallorca Veterans Cup Final which FC Mahou won 4-1.

If Southgate County Brewers could get their revenge they would climb above their opponents into the Cup and relegate their opponents to the Plate. A draw would see FC Mahou finish second in the table and Southgate County Brewers third. A win would see FC Mahou go through to the Cup as Group B winners.

Although they only needed a draw FC Mahou went fully out for the victory. They looked determined to secure their Cup qualification to bed as early as possible and they raced into a 4-0 lead. A Mike Brandon double set them on their way before Steve Sachro and Pete Cox opened their personal accounts in the tournament. The game calmed down somewhat in terms of scoring after that but there was still time for Pete Armstrong to find the back of the net.

Final score 5-0. FC Mahou had sealed qualification to the Cup and the Group B title. Huge congratulations to them.

We went into Game 10 of Group B with The Maulers due to host ACE & The Swagmen. With the top 3 places already decided this match was effectively a decider for the final Plate qualification place and to avoid elimination from the tournament.

Let's have a look at what was at stake for the two teams going into this encounter. For The Maulers only a win was good enough to climb above their opponents. Naturally this means, from an ACE & The Swagmen perspective, they only needed to avoid defeat to secure 4 th position.

When we reached half-time we were no closer to knowing who would be joining Southgate County Brewers in the Plate competition. We were locked together at 0-0. The longer the game remained at stalemate the greater the importance of the first goal (if there was to be one). Indeed there was to be a goal but just the solitary strike. It was Tom Taylor who scored it as he became the hero for ACE & The Swagmen – it was to be their first win in Europe in our tournaments. Well done to them.

The result dotted the I's and crossed the T's on the action in Group B as we said farewell to The Maulers who still had The Warriors to cheer on in the knockout phase.