Persuasion

This week's powerful plot hits the players where it hurts as Jamie gets Tash's divorce demands, Fletch is pressured to join Patrick's syndicate and Stuart is substituted against Sunderland....

Tara having flashbacks of the crash is sitting in the boardroom, with Phil, Ryan and Stuart and David, Harchester's legal advisor. He explains that Tara will only receive a ban and a fine, while Ryan will only have to do community service at most.

Fletch finds Abi in her physio room and does not tell her about the bet Patrick has explained to him. Back in the boardroom, Tara explains to fill how she'll resign to save trouble.

Meanwhile, Jamie is at The Grange and receives his divorce letter off Abi. He explains how he has to leave Shannon and go to training. At training Fletch tells Patrick how he is not going to help with the bet. Patrick automatically makes life hard for him, separating him from the rest of the team in training to do some shooting practice.

When Jacqui finds out that Tara is leaving, she asks her if she's going to tell Phil about her and Patrick. Tara tells her she isn't but she defiantly should do, as it'll work out for the best.

Fletch is not happy about his situation with the training. He see's Ryan and explains how he's sorry for everything he did. Suddenly, over the other side of the pitch, Stuart falls to the ground, screaming in pain. He explain that it's probably only cramp but Abi takes him inside anyway to check it out, Tara who is nearby helps. Patrick explains that the team for the next match is the team used in training. This means Fletch isn't being picked. As the team walk off, Fletch tells Patrick he can't do this but Patrick responds that he can do what he likes, and that Fletch will be on the bench for a very long time.

Training is over and Jamie storms out. Stuart is now fine and Abi doesn't know why. Patrick is furious with Abi for not knowing. He then explains to Fletch that it isn't just his life he can make hell. He asks Patrick to leave Abi out of it but the answer is no. Karl tells the manager that he won't tell anyone about the bet, but he can't expect to make his team lose.

Shannon is looking for Jamie and asks Sullivan and the other lads. She is told that he couldn't have gone far as his jacket is still downstairs. Jamie has gone to see Tash. He explains how he is not accepting the divorce orders. Shannon is in the changing room, she rings Jamie's phone and it goes off in his coat. She goes to pull it out the coat and finds the outrages divorce papers.

Back at The Barons, Ryan is being talked to by a shrink, he insists though that he is fine and he is annoyed with all the fuss being made.

Fletch is taking out his anger at training when Stuart comes along. They both, releasing their anger, start shooting balls at a startled Alex Lawler, who is stuck in goal dodging them. While Stuart is cleaning up, in the showers, he hears Tara, filming for HUTV in the main dressing room area.

At The Grange, Jamie and Shannon are spending some time together with the baby. Tash walks in to see Tash holding the baby and she is not very happy.

Tash returns home to Robbie and immediately starts talking about Jamie and Shannon. Robbie is again not happy, Tash explains though that he is more happy with him than he ever was with Jamie.

Tara, who is sitting in The Grange bar, is met by Ryan. Ryan explains that him slitting his wrists was not just Tara's fault. Ryan tells Tara not to leave Harchester on his account.

Fletch, who has gone to his room, finds pictures on his bed. Of him kissing another woman from a few weeks back. He runs round to see Abi to see if she's received them but she hasn't. He doesn't tell her about them.

Meanwhile, a lonely Shannon, is calling one of her ex girlfriends from back home, she gets no answer though so she leaves a message asking for her to call her back as she needs someone to talk to.

Fletch goes to see Patrick. The manager tells Fletch that the paparazzi will not leak the photos and he has it under control. He tells Karl though that he either joins the bet or the photos will be shown to Abi. Fletch gives in and explains that he'll lose matches for Patrick.

It's the day of the Harchester v Sunderland match. Stuart is fit to play. Patrick tells Fletch that he will sub him on early on, all Fletch has to do is mess up. Meanwhile, upstairs in the players' lounge, Robbie and Tash have gone to see the game.

Sunderland get the game underway, right near the start of the match, Stuart goes down in pain, and has to be replaced. Abi does not understand what is wrong as nothing at all showed up on the previous scan. Patrick obviously brings on Karl Fletcher. Fletcher gets the ball quite a lot but gives it away a lot. Sunderland counter from a Fletcher mistake and score. The half time whistle blows at The Dragons Lair, and the teams go off.

The players are not happy with Fletch. A perfectly okay Curtis is subbed for Connelly and he is not happy. Meanwhile, Tara goes to see Stuart. She explains how Ryan has forgiven her and that Stuart should to.

The second half begins and Fletcher does a marvelous run down the right hand side, to nearly give Wood a goal. Fletcher again comes close minutes later.

While the game is on Shannon is in the toilets putting on makeup when Tash comes in. Shannon tells her how Jamie isn't having a good game and it's because of the ridiculous divorce claims.

Back to the match, Connelly lays a beautiful ball into the path of Karl Fletcher, he chips it over the goalkeeper to make it 1-1. Patrick is furious.

Karl who is having a blinder, shoots from outside the area to make it 2-1. Back upstairs, Shannon explains how to Tash how it is her business to be involved in the whole divorce thing. She tells Tash that she's jealous of the two of them. Shannon asks her if she still loves her husband, Tash doesn't reply. While this whole thing has been going on, Robbie is standing there listening.

Meanwhile, in the physio room, Stuart forgives Tara, and tells her she should be able to stay, they both go out to watch the match as friends.

Fletcher has another shot from outside the area, scoring with his left foot to secure a hat-trick. It's 3-1 Harchester. Doyle is not happy. Up in the stands, Tash tells Robbie that she doesn't love Jamie and she loves him, but he isn't to sure. He tells her to prove it and move to Brighton with him but she says no again. Robbie says he's going home, and tells Tash that she knows where to find him.

All the players are now in the players lounge. Abi notices that Stuart's leg is once again alright. A very angry Tash storms in, slapping Shannon round the face, they both start fighting. Jamie comes in and breaks them up grAbing Tash. Shannon runs off. Jamie runs after her, Shannon explains how Tash is still in love with him, and she thinks that he is still in love with Tash. She explains that while they were fighting, he went for Tash and not her. She explains that she is going to go back to America and play in a tennis tournament and that Jamie should ring her when he knows what he wants.

Back in the changing room, Patrick is not happy with Fletch. Karl explains how he won't even be able to put him on the bench after the performance he just gave. He explains that he doesn't care about the picture as he'll tell her. Patrick explains how it's a silly thing to do though because he doesn't even no if he's ever going to show Abi the photo. He explains that the photo is just a tiny drop in the ocean to what he actually can do. Fletch laughs it off, but Patrick explains how there are other players in on the bet to get Harchester relegated.

Notes:

Soundtrack: Sugababes: "Round Round", Badly Drawn Boy: "Something To Talk About", U2: "Stuck In A Moment", Zero 7: "I Have Seen", Aphrodelics: "Wild Mother Fucker", Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: "Red Eyes & Tears", JJ72: "Nameless", The Music: "Float"

Season 6 Guide