Three more qualify for Business Fives final after Glasgow construction, housing and property heat
Business Fives’ winter season continued with the Glasgow construction, housing and property heat on Tuesday where 12 companies across the sector met in the city.
Supported by tournament media partners Insider.co.uk and industry partners Scottish Housing News, Scottish Construction Now and the Scottish Property Federation, the event got underway with editors, Kieran Findlay from SHN and SCN and Philip Gates from Insider.co.uk addressing the audience.
The 12 teams conjured up an impressive 213 goals in 34 matches as the tournament started with an initial round robin phase to determine the positions for the Champions League and Europa League stages with both routes offering a passage to the national final in Glasgow on March 14.
It was teams from Tri-Fix industrial fasteners, Multiplex, who made it to last year’s winter final, Mactaggart & Mickel Homes along with Advance Construction Scotland who set the early pace and won their respective groups to book their place in the Champions League. They were joined by McCarthy & Stone, James Frew & GasSure, Dougall Baillie Associates and BTO Solicitors.
Over in the Europa League, Gladman Scotland came up against Story Contracting and Business Moves Group facing Muir Construction.
The Champions League quarter finals were close encounters and it was Multiplex who kept up their and unbeaten run to book a semi-final spot against James Frew. Advance Construction booked their place in the semi-finals to play Mactaggart & Mickel who were beginning to hit form at the right time after edging past McCarthy & Stone 4-3.
The Champions League final was a hotly contested affair with MacTaggart & Mickel finding themselves 3-0 up but the team from James Frew fought back and rallied late and with momentum on their side the final whistle blew too early for their liking and the home builders won 3-2. With James Frew taking consolation in the fact they qualified for the National final. Former Rangers captain and Street Soccer Scotland coach, Ally Dawson along with former Celtic star Jim Melrose singled out Charlie Hobbs as the star player in the final for a superb solo performance.
In the Europa League final it was an even tighter affair ending 3 goals all between Story Contracting and Business Moves Group. Kieran Tidzer added to his tally as top goal scorer for the heat to finish on 17 goals. To split the pair apart it was penalties that decided who would go through to the National final. Captain David Kellighan held his nerve and slotted home as Story Contracting won the tie.
The former Celtic and Rangers players shared stories from their playing careers before conducting the prize presentation to the successful teams.
The Business Fives action continues on Thursday in Edinburgh with the Professional Services heat where 3 more teams will join the 6 qualifiers from the construction housing and property sector, Capital City Electrical, GVA, Comprehensive Design Architects, Mactaggart & Mickel, James Frew and Story Contracting.