The 2013 Mallorca Tournament had proven high quality in the Group Phase and we had 8 good teams who had qualified for the Cup competition and they had certainly earned their places. Amongst those who qualified we had the 2011 Mallorca Tournament winners, the 2011 Amsterdam Fives winners and last year's Runners-Up. We also had 4 English and 4 Spanish teams set to fight it out.

The first teams to do battle were Inter Women and Kazakhstan FC. Inter Women had relatively breezed through the group stages scoring 19 goals and conceding just the one. Only Es Marges had stalled their progress by being 0-0 at half-time. This was some task ahead for Kazakhstan FC.

However, Inter Women had fallen at the same stage in the 2012 Mallorca Tournament on penalties so could/would history repeat itself?

Inter Women made a bright start and took the lead through Daniel Powell but Kazakhstan hit back through Mik Nelson. They weren't level for long though as Ronnie Powell almost immediately made it 2-1. This was a tough blow for Kazakhstan FC to fall behind again so quickly. Neil Pennington then made it 3-1 before half-time and there seemed to be no way back.

After the break Mik Nelson reduced arrears to 3-2 and it was game on again. This time Kazakhstan FC avoided conceding straight away and stayed within just a goal of their opponents. Time was running away and we got into the period where the next goal would be decisive – it would either clinch a 4-2 win or would be 3-3 and penalties. Was history to repeat itself for Inter Women? Not today as they saw the game out and won 3-2.

It was a great effort for Kazakhstan FC and a good performance throughout the day for them. Against lesser opponents they may well have been in the Semi-Finals. It was great to see the lads for some beers at the Post-Tournament social and hope to see them all on tour again soon.

The third Quarter-Final saw Group C winners Peluqeria Styl take on the Runners-Up of Group B, Barley FC. Peluqeria Styl were no strangers to this part of the tournament having racked up a quality 4-0 win over Goldsmith Williams (2008 Prague Masters and 2010 Amsterdam Fives champions) in last year's Cup Quarter-Finals.

Barley FC had qualified for the Cup for the first time so were breaking new ground. They had competed in Quarter-Finals though and successfully so in the 2012 Barcelona Fives Plate when they made it all the way through to the Final.

Peluqeria Styl started superbly this game and it looked like it was going to be another comfortable Quarter-Final win for them as they established a 2-0 lead in the first half. A double strike from Alvaro Jaumo Zubillaga looked set to earn them their place in the Semi-Finals.

Barley FC had other ideas though as they showed real class and spirit to fight back. John Bailey reduced the deficit to 2-1 and you could sense that Barley FC believed they had a sniff at this. When John Bailey made it 2-2 they had more than just a sniff and were in the ascendency. They looked favourites to go on and win it.

Peluqeria Styl dug deep themselves though and re-established the lead, 3-2, thanks to Jonathan Gil Munoz. The goal initially deflated Barley FC but it wasn't long before they were laying siege to the Peluqeria Styl goal. With practically the last kick of the game Gil Munoz put the tie beyond doubt for 4-2. It perhaps flattered the Spanish and 3-2 would have been more fair to show just how close this game was. Barley FC can consider themselves a tad unlucky to go out – well done to them though on a monumental effort.

The final Quarter-Final was Es Marges versus Sportsman Arenal. Sportsman Arenal had a great morning winning 4 of 5 games and losing narrowly 1-0 in the other. Es Marges were almost as good with 3 wins, 1 draw and a 2-0 loss to their name. Sportsman Arenal would have happy memories of this stage last year when they knocked out the defending champions 2-0.

It looked like they had a tougher task ahead of them today as Toshko gave Es Marges the early lead. Sportsman Arenal pegged them back through Agusto Gonzalez. The second half followed a similar pattern with Toshko restoring the Es Marges lead soon after the re-start. Sportsman Arenal were under the pump again. For a second time they equalized, through Ruben Drober this time, and we were level at 2-2.

Sportsman Arenal then forged ahead 3-2 through Drober and Es Marges had a man sent off for two yellow cards and that pretty much ended their challenge. Sportsman Arenal were through but they were made to work very hard for it.