Group B was arguably the most interesting of all 4 groups in terms of how the table would finish. As we went into Game 6, just 1 point separated the top 4 teams.

The next two teams to take the field were Colonel Getafe and Paralytic Athletic U23s who were currently in second and fourth position respectively. A win for either team would see them go top.

It was first blood to Paralytic Athletic U23s who opened the scoring thanks to a Nanda McCarthy strike. Colonel Getafe levelled things up at 1-1 with Paul Noonan's third goal of the day. For the fourth time in six games, it was 1-1 as the teams changed end – a measure of how evenly matched the teams in Group B were.

Could either team bag a goal in the second half to turn 1 point into 3? It was not to be as defences remained on top and, as time ticked way, there was to be no further addition to the score and the game finished 1-1.

Was it a point gained or two points dropped? Only time would tell and a lot would depend on how the teams around them responded.

Game 7 of Group B was a historic game for Shahs of Sunset. It was to be their 50th game in eurofootballfives.com competition. However, just like a batsman raising his bat to the dressing room upon completing a half century, it would be a muted celebration as there was work to be done. A batsman would need to go on and make a century, Shahs of Sunset needed to qualify from Group B.

In their previous 49 games, Shahs of Sunset boasted the following record:

Played 49

Won 26

Drawn 11

Lost 12

Goals scored 84

Goals conceded 55

A win ratio of over 50% is very good and at the end of this game Shahs of Sunset were to be on 54%. They recorded a 4-2 win over Stag Park Rangers to crown this landmark game in style.

They forget ahead in the first half thanks to 2 goals from Martin Weltman. Weltman was our top goal-scorer at the 2017 Vilnius Tournament with 6 goals and he put his team in the ascendency here.

He went on to complete his hat-trick after the break and, although Stag Park Rangers fought back, the Shahs of Sunset always had enough in the tank to see this game out. They won 4-2 with Anes Jusic claiming his fifth of the tournament.

Sam Pepper and Dean Carr were on target for Stag Park Rangers but, alas for them, the goals ultimately proved to be consolations on this occasion.

There were three games left in Group B. World Pinteur had 2 games to play whilst the other teams were all due to embark on their final fixture. World Pinteur currently sat in third place on 4 points but just 2 points off top so a win would see them climb to the summit of Group B. A draw would see them rise to second but still with a game in hand.

For Paralytic Athletic U23s this was their last chance to put points on the board. They were also on 4 points but in fourth place on goal difference. A win would put them on top and set the target at 7 points for the chasing pack. Would that be enough for Cup qualification?

If you're a betting man then you might be tempted to put your money on the score being 1-1 at half-time. It had been in each of the 3 previous Paralytic Athletic U23s games. If you were a betting man then you would have lost but the two teams were still level at the break – it was 0-0 on this occasion.

Paralytic Athletic U23s arguably needed the win more than World Pinteur as this was their final game. However, it was the French team who forged ahead. Richard Leibovici scoring World Pinteur's sixth goal of the tournament – 6 goals, 6 different scorers. World Pinteur lost a lead in the dying embers of their opening game and they were to lose the lead in the latter stages of this one too. Jonathan Clark scored his third of the tournament to make it 1-1 as Paralytic Athletic U23s secured their second draw of Group B.

The result left these two teams and Colonel Getafe locked in joint second place on 5 points. World Pinteur and Colonel Getafe had one game left each to qualify for the Cup. Paralytic Athletic U23s looked destined for the Plate (unless those other 2 teams both lost heavily in their final fixtures).

The next game in Group B was Colonel Getafe versus Stag Park Rangers. Stag Park Rangers knew they would finish in fifth place and be playing in the Wooden Spoon competition. For them this was a “free hit” and a chance to carry some momentum and gain a morale boost going into the knock-out phase.

There was much more at stake for Colonel Getafe. A win would see them qualify for the Cup (with Shahs of Sunset and World Pinteur due to meet in the final game). A draw would be good enough if World Pinteur lost to Shahs of Sunset. A defeat would be ok only if World Pinteur lost by 2 more goals than Colonel Getafe lost by.

So, Colonel Getafe had their fate in their own hands and all was going well at half-time. They were 2-1 up thanks to goals from Paul Noonan and Ben Cottam out-gunning Dave Cox's goal for Stag Park Rangers.

Things turned around in the second half as the teams found themselves level at 3-3. Guillaume Arnold was on target for Colonel Getafe whilst Dave Cox and Conor Malone scored for Stag Park Rangers.

This game finished in simply stunning fashion and it was a huge roller-coaster of emotions for the teams within the last 10 seconds of the game. Colonel Getafe were looking for a winner to guarantee a place in the Cup and they almost got it – on their final attack they managed to hit both posts before Stag Park Rangers went straight up the other end on a counter attack and scored with the last kick of the game to win it 4-3. The goal sparked wild celebrations for Stag Park Rangers who picked up their first win and, in amongst the excitement, Dave Cox had bagged his hat-trick.

Spare a thought for Colonel Getafe, if the ball had crossed the line at the other end they could have won the Group. In the space of 10 seconds they were in third and needing Shahs of Sunset to do them a favour.

To complete Group B we had Shahs of Sunset versus World Pinteur – the teams started in first and second place at kick-off but there was much to play for.

Shahs of Sunset – Cup qualification was assured due to Colonel Getafe's defeat in game #9. If they were to avoid defeat they would win Group B. Not only was this important for pride and honour but it also had a very practical benefit – they would avoid Lilchicago in the Quarter-Finals.

World Pinteur – A win would see them qualify for the Cup as Group B champions. A draw would see them qualify for the Cup in second position. If they were to lose it would be complicated. A one goal defeat was ok as they would finish second on goal difference. A three goal defeat (or larger) would see them slip to third on goal difference. A two goal defeat would be complicared – if they lost 7-5 then they would have an identical record to Colonel Getafe and we would need a penalty shoot-out. A lower scoring two goal defeat would see Colonel Getafe go through in second on “goals scored”. A higher scoring two goal defeat would see World Pinteur go through on “goals scored”.

Simple?

As it turned out those complicated possibilities were not required. Group B would end with a 0-0 draw. In such a high scoring tournament this was to be the only 0-0 draw of the day. A credit to the defences of both teams.

The result meant that Shahs of Sunset would win Group B – it was the fourth time they had won their group outright in our tournaments. They also had two other occasions where they finished joint top on points but third on goal difference.

World Pinteur would also qualify for the Cup in second position so well done to them.

Colonel Getafe would just miss out and would join Paralytic Athletic U23s in the Plate.