Goal Rush in Manchester

Business Fives experienced a goal rush in Manchester as it hosted the seventh of 14 winter events this week as the national business five a side tournament reached the halfway stage of the season.

Supported by sponsors Altrad NSG, 24 companies combined to score 331 goals, a record number for Business Fives, in 84 matches raising over £3,344 in the process as companies made their bid for their place at the National final which returns to Manchester on Wednesday the 8th of April.

Man United treble winner David May was on hand to share stories from his playing career along side the likes of Cantona, Scholes, Giggs, Beckham and Schmeichel and against great’s of the game including like Roberto Carlos, Romario, Del Piero, Buddon and Ronaldo to name just a few.

The top Fundraiser prize was scooped by the L’Oreal team after their phenomenal fundraising effort for Mancunian Way which saw them raise £2,124.  Their very own, Ashley Dickson from L’Oreal was named as the lady player of the tournament as she helped her team to semi final stages. Eagle-Eye came second with a commendable £500 raised for Barnabus Manchester while AutoTrader raised £250 for Forever Manchester.

On the pitch it was Love Energy Savings, Wax Digital, UD Group, UP GS, The House Crowd, PeoplePlus, OpenMoney and Softcar who made their way to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Eventually Love Energy Savings faced Softcat in the final with both teams securing their passage to the National final.  It was Love Energy Savings man of the match Callum Jones who made the difference with the only goal of the game.

The 8 teams in the Europa League section quarters were BluJay Solutions, AutoTrader, Interlink Recruitment, Costain, Liberty Group, Altrad NSG, L’Oreal and Eagle Eye.  AutoTrader eventually came up against Interlink recruitment with AutoTrader securing their place at the National final courtesy of a penalty shootout after teams could not be separated in normal time.

The top goal scorer award was split between Niall Callaghan from Love Energy Savings and Alexander Young from the House Crowd as they both found the back of the net 15 times.

The action continues next week in Sheffield as a further 3 spots will be up for grabs again before stops in Liverpool, Leicester, Birmingham, York, Hull and Leeds.