THE NUMBERS GAME: NIPPERS MELT IN HEAT

HOPE

After last year's impressive run to the quarter-finals, hopes were high in the Nippers Roman camp this year. Despite the Pups snaffling the pick of their Prague heroes, Jake Gow and Jas Badeshia, for the their team, the Nippers were still boasting a squad packed with talent, including legendary and lifetime Nipper Phil Rafferty.

There was only one problem, a small squad, and their performance was to be inevitably hampered by this. But they went into the tournament full of confidence, especially after being bolstered by a couple of the McWilliam brothers. Hoggy wasn't to be risked though, due to a dodgy ankle.

DESPERATE

GROUP A: ENGLAND PUPS 4-0 ENGLAND NIPPERS

Scorers: None

The draw done in the morning rather unfairly pitted the Nippers against the Pups first off, but they weren't to be deterred and set about the game at a good pace. The encounter also had a lot of personal meaning to the Reepham boys who were desperate to put one over on Pup Captain Groom, for no other reason that he was their mate.

The Nippers dug in and defended in numbers, hoping that they could grab something on the break by utilising the pace of Mark Allen, Phil Youngman and Lawrence Bernard. It was all looking quite good approaching half time as the Pups had created very little. But then Sandric Loriot got to work for the Pups, and opened the scoring after a good move with a classy finish from just outside the box.

In the second half the Nippers stuck to their game plan to defend and frustrate the Pups but were caught too far up the field by Loriot, who once more punished them mercilessly by racing all the way from the half way line and smacking home his second of the game to make it 2-0. The Pups, comfortable now, were able to keep it tight and played out the rest of the game to leave the Nippers with nothing for their efforts.

PROMISING

GROUP A: ENGLAND NIPPERS 1-2 WELSH WIZARDS

Scorers: Mark Allen

Next up for the Nippers were an unknown quantity of Welshmen. They too had lost their first game against the Dutch, albeit by the narrowest of margins (0-1). For the most part, the Nippers actually controlled this game. As in their previous game they fell behind after a promising start. But this time they subsequently managed to bounce back and fashion some openings as the Welsh relaxed, and took full advantage as Mark Allen pounced to grab an equaliser, much to the delight of his team mates and manager Keith Groom. The joy was to be short lived, however, as the Welsh stepped up another gear and found the net once again with an unstoppable drive powered past the flailing Adcock in goal.

UP

GROUP A: HOLLAND 2-0 ENGLAND NIPPERS

Scorers: None

After the disappointment of coming so close to registering their first point of the tournament, the Nippers could have done without facing the seeded Dutch in their third match. Once again Groom Senior's charges implemented the Supremo's game-plan with a by now familiar tenacity. Defending for their lives, they made life very difficult for the orange shirts. But, once again, the flip side was that they were not able to create much themselves. Once the Dutch got their break-through the game was up. A second goal merely confirmed that there would be no knockout stage qualification for the Nippers this time out, whilst at the same time confirming the Dutch side's place in the semi-final.

DOWN

GROUP A: ENGLAND NIPPERS 2-5 ENGLAND NEW BOYS

Scorers: Phil Youngman, Graham Holden

In what was their the final group game, the Nippers felt they had their best chance of getting a win after the New Boys had been thrashed 4-0 by both the Pups and the Welsh. Unfortunately their numerically challenged squad was shrinking in the heat. Already without Hoggy, Lawrence Bernard was struggling badly with sunstroke, and as a result was unplayable.

Not for the first time, the Nippers started the game brightly enough. But the New Boys also saw this as winnable match, and despite much Nippers possession, our heroes again managed to concede the first goal after some direct football from the New Boys. The Nippers battled on gamely in the heat and got reward with a deserved Youngman equaliser. However, parity was brief as they fell 2-1 behind almost immediately.

After a rousing Groom team talk at half time they started the second half in determined mood, and it paid dividends when Holden crashed home a spectacular second equaliser. Once again though, their joy was short lived as the New Boys stepped up the pace and proved themselves too fit and quick for the aging Nipper defence as they added three further goals to leave the Nippers bottom of the group with no points and knowing that they'd have to improve otherwise the wooden spoon beckoned.

SPOONLESS

WOODEN SPOON PLAY OFF: ENGLAND NIPPERS 1-0 SOUTHERN

Scorers: Phil Youngman

Crunch time. The Nippers knew they had to win this one or they'd be going home with a wooden spoon for the first time in their history. They started very brightly, going close to breaking the deadlock on numerous occasions. The Southern goal was living a very charmed life, with their goalkeeper having an inspired game and denying all that the Nippers could throw at them.

Given the importance of the match, it was no surprise that the Nippers were staring to look a bit nervous as they desperately didn't want to concede a goal and give Southern something to cling onto. But that elusive Nippers goal eventually arrived just before half time, as Phil Youngman powered home past the watching Southern keeper to spark scenes of jubilation on the Nippers bench. Buoyed by their first lead of the tournament, the Nippers continued to pound the Southern FC goal but just couldn't find the all important second to make the game safe. Southern never really threatened, however, and duly took the wooden spoon having not scored a single goal in the entire tournament.

The Nippers were overjoyed that they'd got something for their efforts over the two days and vowed to be back next year with a bigger squad.