BANWELL hosted their annual five-a-side tournament and it was extremely competitive as usual.

BANWELL hosted their annual five-a-side tournament and it was extremely competitive as usual, with 24 teams from around the area partaking in what is always the biggest senior tournament held locally.

The teams were split into four groups of six teams. Each team played each other on a round-robin basis in the group stages, and after five games the top four teams went through to the second round, with the bottom two going out of the tournament.

After an early downpour which made the pitches slick and wet on top, the sun came out for the best part of the tournament and the standard of football was high throughout and as competitive as ever.

Weston Strikers won Group A without conceeding a goal, the Inbetweeners were runners up, Steves Super Stars finished third and Sports Bar A fourth. Group B was won by Real Vale, again without conceeding a goal, with PH Monsters coming runners-up, Cheddar Cheesemen third and Sports Bar B finished fourth.

Group C was won by Shake 'n' Bake with C-Unit filling the runners-up spot, Bayern Nevaloosen finished third and East Worle Dynamos fourth.

Group D was won emphatically by Mummies Little Soldiers, The Firm, last years runners-up, came second in the group, East Worle Rangers came third and Wrington Redhill B completed the second round line-up in fourth.

East Worle along with Sports Bar both had their A and B sides through to the second stage. However this was short lived as Weston Strikers beat Sports Bar B in what was a feisty match, and Real Vale knocked out Sports Bar A, The Inbetweeners won in extra time against Cheddar Cheesmen, PH Monsters beat Steves Super Stars, Wrington Redhill B caused an upset beating Shake 'n' Bake, Mummies Little Soldiers knocked out East Worle Dynamos, with East Worle Rangers beating C-Unit and The Firm defeated Bayern Nevaloosen to complete the quarter-final line-up.

In the quarter-finals, Weston Strikers met The Firm; Real Vale played East Worle Rangers; Inbetweeners were up against Mummies Little Soldiers; and PH Monsters met Wrington Redhill B.

In a demanding seven minutes each way match, the players were starting to feel the pinch of the weather and also their fitness levels were being tested to the extreme.

Weston Strikers went through with a deserved victory over the The Firm, Real Vale eased past East Worle Rangers in a good tussle, Inbetweeners beat the previously unbeaten Mummies Little Soldiers and PH Monsters beat Wrington Redhill B to set up the semi-finals: Weston Strikers v PH Monsters and Real Vale v Inbetweeners.

PH Monsters beat Weston Strikers, who have made the last three semi-finals, but cannot quite get into the final, and Real Vale went through on penalties against Inbetweeners. In a tight final which ended 2-2, PH Monsters won on penalties.

Players of the tournament were: Callum McManus (Real Vale) and Chris Gardner (Weston Strikers)

The club would like to thank all teams that entered which made this such a great day. Also thanks to Matt Duncan, Steve Doneghan, Dave Astin, Dale Wood and Brian Holden for their refereeing throughout the day; Anthony Harvey, Chris Bradley, Ben Ferris and Kyle Payne for their barbeque and shooting gun duties; Poppy, Anne and Susie for their help on the bar.

Without forgetting tournament organiser Brad Diver, for again putting on a great tournament, which every year seems to surpass previous.

WINSCOMBE would like to recruit a new manager for their senior A team for the season. For further details please contact the club chairman Andy Flint on 01934 842094 email andyflint@talk21.com