We began Round 5 with much to decide. Whilst the group winners had already been determined, we didn't know who would be joining them. 3 teams still had a chance for a possible 2 further Cup places (if the third placed team ended up as one of the two best third placed teams). 9 points was often the benchmark for this but looking at the other groups, 8 or even 7 points could possibly do it today.

Alabama Hotpockets were up next and their fate was in their own hands. A win would almost certainly secure Cup football. A draw would leave them sweating a little whilst defeat would see them sweating a lot. AFC Blue Boys 1 needed a point to guarantee qualification for the Plate.

Alabama Hotpockets had seen their form wane a little with 6 points from the first 6 and then 1 point from the next 6 available but they looked to be back to winning form here. It was an excellent first half just as they needed to assert themselves. Darragh Enright would bag his fourth and fifth goals of the day to put his team 2-0 up at the break. The Irish didn't have it all their own way though as Krystian Walendziak reduced the deficit to 2-1 but the Polish could not force an equalizer as Alabama Hotpockets booked their place in the Cup. Well done to them.

AFC Blue Boys 1 would progress to the Plate competition.

That left us with Lindfield FC B versus Pinkneys Green FC. With all 14 other games in the group completed these two teams knew exactly what they needed to do. What was at stake as we reached the conclusion of Group C?

Lindfield FC: A 3-goal win would see them finish 2 nd , a smaller win would see them finish 3rd but with 10 points both would be good enough for the Cup. A draw would mean third and see them miss out on goal difference as Las Zacaranas had already finished on 8 points with +3 in Group A (Malo Guerreros had 9 points in third in Group B). Defeat would still see third position and a place in the Plate.

Pinkneys Green FC: A win would see them rise above AFC Blue Boys 1 and also Sunrisers Madrid (on goal difference) to finish fourth. A draw or defeat would mean 6 th place and probably the Plate (unless Squirrel Squad FC won their final game).

The game was delicately poised and the pressure was really on Lindfield FC B knowing they had to win to secure Cup football. At half-time they were half-way there to achieving that goal as Louis Pople scored for the third game in a row to make it 1-0.

At this stage it was enough but Pinkneys Green were the fly in the ointment. Thomas Hicks played the role of party-pooper as his third of the tournament equalized for Pinkneys Green FC and earned a draw. It was a damaging point for Lindfield FC B.

Both teams would indeed progress to the Plate competition.