As the 2017 Mallorca Tournament Quarter-Finals were about to get underway we were down to the elite 8 teams in the tournament with England, Lithuania and Spain each represented.

We started on Pitch A with Lilchicago versus Finn's Chins. Lilchicago had the second best record of all the teams in the group phase and as Group A champions they would be much fancied versus Finn's Chins. Finn's Chins qualified for this stage as the best third placed team which meant they were ranked 7th in the tournament coming into the knock-out stage.

These two teams had met in the very first round in Group A. We admit it is odd that two teams from the same group come face to face but when you have teams qualifying from 3 groups into 4 Quarter-Finals it is a distinct possibility especially with a pre-arranged draw. There is going to be a 1 in 3 chance that the best third placed team will come from the Group A to meet the Group A winners.

Earlier in the day, this fixture resulted in a 3-2 win to Lilchicago. This tie was equally tight – tighter in fact. We finished all square at 1-1. Mantas Garsvinkas scored the goal for the Lithuanian team. Ben Fillingham scored for Finn's Chins (as he had done in the earlier fixture between these two). We would need a penalty shoot-out to decide this one. Finn's Chins would shoot first.

Ross Lawson was the first man up – a successful spot kick sent his team on their way. Sarunas Krasuaskas equalized for Lilchicago. All eyes were on Aaron Messenger as he strode towards the penalty spot and was also successful. Having scored in the game, Mantas Garsvinkas was the next man up for Lilchicago but he missed and Finn's Chins were 1 kick away from the final. Ben Fillingham was the man who had a chance to clinch it…..and he did. A sensational result for Finn's Chins.

It was tournament over for Lilchicago who had put in a very strong performance and we hope they'll be back for another crack at a title. We visit Lithuania in September so hopefully we shall see them then.

So, who would meet Finn's Chins in the Semi-Final? It was Wilmslow Whoppers against Palma Bay. Wilmslow Whoppers had been dominant in the group stage this morning scoring 16 goals as they boasted the tournament's only 100% record. Before the tournament began we were unable to pick who the favourites were but if you asked us now then Wilmslow Whoppers would surely be where the smart money was going.

In the end, Palma Bay also had a good morning and qualified for the Cup as the second best 3rd placed team. They started particularly slowly losing their first two games but then picked up with three successive wins. A game against Wilmslow Whoppers could hardly be considered a “reward” for their morning's efforts.

In the first Quarter-Final the form book went out the window to some degree. Here on Pitch B it very much went with form as Wilmslow Whoppers asserted their authority early on. They took no time at all in establishing a 3-0 lead. Laurence Taylor and Jamie Frost (2) meant the English team would kick off the second half with a comfortable cushion.

Laurence Taylor and Craig Plunkett were on the mark in the second half as the goals continued to flow for the Whoppers. An Eden Ruiz goal gave Palma Bay something to cheer but sadly for him and his team-mates it was to be their last goal of the day. Final score, 5-1.

Quarter-Final three was Melee FC versus Son Gual. This promised to be the closest Quarter-Final tie yet as it was the winners of Group C versus the 2nd team in Group B.

Melee FC had qualified for the Cup competition for the fifth successive time and on the four previous occasions had reached the Cup Final twice and the Cup Semi-Final one. They were unbeaten in normal time in Quarter-Finals as although they went out at this stage at the 2016 Riga Tournament it was on penalties.

Son Gual were an improving force in our tournaments. In their first 4 tournaments they qualified for the Plate each time (winning it at the 2013 Mallorca Fives). At their most recent tournament, however, they qualified for the Cup but went out at the first hurdle to Policia Local. Could they go further this time?

It looked good early on as it was the Spanish team who hit the front. Paul Roman gave Son Gual the lead which they held until half-time. Melee FC staged a second half comeback and equalized through Chris Pilsbury. The final score was 1-1 and we would require a second penalty shoot-out of the round to decide matters.

Son Gual had never been involved in a penalty shoot-out at our tournaments before. For Melee FC, this would be a fourth – all at the Cup Quarter-Final stage. At the 2014 Amsterdam Fives they defeated East Compton Eagles (2-0), at the 2015 Lisbon Tournament they defeated Cheesecake FC (3-1) but at the 2016 Riga Tournament they went down (1-0) to L'Albiceleste.

Here in Mallorca it was to be a second successive Quarter-Final exit on pens for Melee FC. Son Gual won the shoot-out, 2-1. It was a cruel exit for Melee FC who we thought would make the Cup Final from the bottom half of the draw – Son Gual had other ideas though.

The final Quarter-Final was Mavericks versus Mallorca Look. This was the third tournament for Mavericks and a second placed finish represented their best performance to date. They were breaking new ground as they qualified for the Cup for the first time.

This was tournament #2 for Mallorca Look. They reached this same stage last year where they drew 2-2 with Los Pibes. They then went out 2-0 on penalties to compatriots Los Pibes.

It was the Runners-Up from Group and Group C respectively so the two teams should have been well matched and they proved to be so. We reached half-time with both defences on top and no score.

So, we kicked off the second half still level at 0-0 but the game would not end that way. The longer the game went on the more crucial that first goal would be. When it came, it came the way of Mallorca Look who had Carlos Prieto Real to thank for the lead. It was Prieto Real's fourth goal of the tournament.

1-0 became 2-0 when Antonio Torres doubled the lead and effectively sealed his team's participation in the Semi-Finals.

There was no way back for Mavericks on what had been a personal best achievement for them in our tournaments. Sadly though, it was the end of their day – on the pitch at least.