London United 5-0 Glasgow FC

Sunday 30th March - MLF First Kick
HMV Park, Essex

A rampant London United showed everyone why they play some of the best football in Britain with a thumping 5-0 victory over Glasgow FC at HMV Park.

The first four goals they scored was not without quality.

Ian Parker played a one-two with CraiCo and then crossed the ball for Rodrigo Santos, who hit a spectacular diving header home for the 1-0.

It was the first MLF goal for the Brazilian, who also made his league debut.

The second goal was just brilliant. Ian Parker delivered a brilliant corner, and CraiCo just backheeled it in with his left foot and the make the score 2-0.

The third goal was good as well. Kevin Warhurst played a great through-ball, and Edward Redwood broke the offside trap and rounded the keeper to score another brilliant goal and make it 3-0.

And Redwood was on the scoresheet again after a quality backheel from Cristiano Costa.

At 4-0, and the game virtually over, an Ashton Reid corner found the head of John Macdonald, and the rookie centre-back scored the 5-0.

Geordies 1-0 Monsters

Saturday 29th March - MLF First Kick
St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne

Steven Tweedy's late header gave the Newcastle Geordies all three points in the season opener against the Middlesbrough Monsters.

The 20-year-old rookie defender headed in a Kevin Cohen corner and celebrated his first goal with a "Tweedy Twirl".

Mighty Mice 1-0 Eagles

Saturday 29th March - MLF First Kick
Triple M Stadium, Kirkby, Merseyside

The Merseyside Mighty Mice won the game against the Edinburgh Eagles after a late strike from Erik Redwood.

Erik, younger brother of London United attacker Edward, scored a great 20-yard volley.

Real Birmingham 0-0 Druids

Saturday 29th March - MLF First Kick
Villa Park, Birmingham

The Dublin Druids marked their MLF début with a 0-0 draw at CSA England Cup holders Real Birmingham.

Real started the season without Ryan Roberts after the Australian midfielder's sending off in last week's Super Cup defeat to London United.

Dublin goalkeeper Shane Murphy made some brilliant stops from Steven Tillman and Marek Pozanek to keep the game deadlocked.

Knights 2-1 Lightning

Saturday 29th March - MLF First Kick
Carrow Road, Norwich

A Brian Nixon double saw East Anglia Knights beat Leeds Lightning 2-1.

Sean Jackson got the Lightning's consolation goal.

Strikers 0-1 Ajax London

Saturday 29th March - MLF First Kick
Bramall Lane, Sheffield

Ajax London won 1-0 after a spectacular goal from Peter Elkins at Sheffield Strikers.

Elkins did a scissors kick after a sweet cross from Aaron Wijnkamp.

Kevin Henderson had the Strikers' best chance, but fired over the bar from 10 yards out.

Pirates 2-0 Dragons

Saturday 29th March - MLF First Kick
Pirates Park, Bristol

The Bristol Pirates saw off the Cardiff Dragons 2-0 at Pirates Park with goals from Dougie Strickland and David Wright.

Rookie Strickland, younger brother of London United captain and defender Mark, headed the Pirates into the lead after eight minutes after an Alex Wijnkamp corner.

And it was Wijnkamp who created the second, the Dutch midfielder crossing for Wright who one-time volleyer with 20 minutes left.

Fire 0-2 FC London

Saturday 29th March - MLF First Kick
The City Ground, Nottingham

FC London got their season off to a flying start as the Superhoops won 2-0 at Nottingham Fire.

James Douglas headed in the first goal after 24 minutes after a Bradley Hatfield cross.

And then Umit Kubilay finished off the Fire with a trademark free-kick ten minutes from time.

Ruckus 1-0 Magic

Friday 28th March - MLF First Kick
Madejski Stadium, Reading, Berkshire

César Wurns-Herrera's last-gasp winner was enough for the Reading Ruckus to mark their inaugural MLF game with a win.

The Swiss, 25, collected the ball from a Julio Marconi after the Argentinian played César in with a through-ball.

César then nutmegged the ball under Edward Wilson to send the Madejski Stadium into ecstacy.

There was a lot of razzmatazz before the game, with loud rock music and all 18 MLF team logos carried out on to the pitch as the opening ceremony was one of the best you'll ever see.

The game was the first of a Madejski double header, with Reading Football Club playing their Premier League game with Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

César gave Andrew 'Cezza' Corne all sorts of problems as he continued the threaten the Magic.

And César got his reward in the stoppage time with a one-niller that the Ruckus thoroughly deserved.

John Macdonald Factfile

Full Name: John Richard Paul Macdonald
Nickname(s): Big Mac, J-Mac, Johnny Mac, JM6
Date of Birth: 10 July 1987
Place of Birth: Hammersmith, England
Position(s): Central Defender, Libero/Sweeper, Defensive Midfielder
Height: 190 cm
Weight: 85 kg
Hair Colour: Dark brown
Eye Colour: Green
Team: London United
Favourite Team(s): Chelsea & London United
Favourite Player(s): Gianfranco Zola & Steve Jefferson
Favourite Food: Kebab
Favourite Destination: California - LA to be exact
Favourite Actor: Jim Carey
Favourite Movie: Bruce Almighty
Favourite TV Show: Dream Team
Favourite Music: Hip-Hop and Rap
Favourite Artist: Eminem
Favourite Song: Without Me - Eminem
Favourite Match to Watch: Chelsea v Bolton, 2005, when Chelsea won the Premiership for the first time
Favourite Match to Play: 2007 CSA Youth World Cup Final against Portugal - the crowning moment in my career so far

John Macdonald is one of the most exciting young defenders in England. His gut-wrenching determination and never-say-die attitude have earned him the CSA England Young Defender of the Year award in 2007. He takes risks a lot and is always willing to score a goal, even if he has to take one for the team. He is a brilliant header of the ball, his 6'2"½ frame can frighten even the toughest of jumpers, and had the most powerful header during his time in the Regional Leagues. In 2007, he captained the England CSA U21 to victory in the CSA Youth World Cup winning 2-0 against Portugal in the final, with Big Mac himself heading in the second. In 2008, he was the first pick of the SuperDraft, drafted by his boyhood idols London United from the Regional League's Essex United. He is expected to share a lot of time with England CSA captain Mark Strickland in the centre of defence for the upcoming season.

United clinch Super Cup title

MLF champions London United won the CSA England Super Cup at Wembley on Sunday winning 1-0 against CSA England Cup winners Real Birmingham after Edward Redwood's penalty kick.

The PK was awarded after Ryan Roberts thought he was the goalkeeper and saved the ball with hands before it crossed the line after Ian Parker's scrambling shot.

The Australian was sent off and it was up to Redwood to take the spot-kick, he kicked past Darren Nicholls.

Ex-Real skipper and defender Mark Strickland lifted the trophy for his current side London United as a sea of black and red looked on in celebration.

Strickland urges referee respect plans

London United captain Mark Strickland says he would back plans to stamp out the hounding of referees.

Strickland was speaking in light of criticism directed towards London United for their disrespectful behaviour towards Brian Blond on Thursday afternoon.

It was the latest in a series of incidents which have led for calls to introduce new rules that would only allow captains to speak to referees.

"I think it'll be one of them where I'll have to give it a go," said Strickland.

"But if it doesn't work then CSA England will have to say no, it isn't working," he told TORadio's World of Sports programme.


Strickland and fellow defender John Macdonald berate referee Blond on Thursday

London United players surrounded referee Blond appearing to bully him out of red carding Ashton Reid following a late tackle on Andrew Harrison during Thursday's 7-1 win against Watford Antlers in the KitKat Challenge preseason final.

Reid has been widely condemned for his behaviour towards Blond to whom he refused to acknowledge or even look at as the referee attempted to yellow card him.

But Strickland has defended the behaviour of the London United players following the incident.

"It is a natural reaction," he said.

"The fans show their frustration and the players do the same because they are passionate about the game.

"I do agree there has to be a line drawn and confronting the referee has to be taken out of the game."

The behaviour of football players and the standard of tackling has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks but Strickland does not believe the game has changed or that challenges or attitudes are getting worse.

"I personally don't think it has got out of hand and I don't think it is any worse than it used to be," he said.

"It is just being publicized and spoken about a bit more at the moment.

"These tackles have gone on for years and have never been spoken of before.

"Usually it was just a yellow card and everyone would get on with it. Now it is spoken about on television and publicized in the papers and ex-referees are given their views and the game has moved on a lot."

Red Hot Redsy

Edward Redwood scored five goals on Thursday as London United hammered Watford Antlers 7-1 in the KitKat Challenge Cup final at Whitlow Park athletics complex in Middlesex.

Redwood scored his fifth completely unchallenged, with the goalkeeper out to attack for a corner, but captain Mark Strickland cleared it to Redwood, who proceeded to fire from 30 yards out.

Here's video footage of it:


However, the game was overshadowed by Ashton Reid's challenge on Andrew Harrison on the stroke of half-time, the England CSA U21 full-back mistimed his tackle on the Canada CSA U21 winger, and typically ugly scenes followed. Reid had his back turned when the referee finally brandished out the yellow card.

Ashton Reid in Preseason Bust-Up

Extracted from The Daily Poop

London United rookie left-back Ashton Reid made a poor challenge on Watford Antlers' midfielder Andrew Harrison in a preseason game on Thursday.

Reid tackles Harrison high and late and Antlers players had a run and Ashton to ran off trying to avoid them. Captain Mark Strickland was so pissed off with the referee, he threaten to Kung-Fu him. John Macdonald inexplicably yelled "YOU B******" straight into the referee's face. J-Mac got so pissed with the ref that he took one of his Asics Tigreors off and threatened to throw it in the referee's face. He was booked for trying to do so. Ashton Reid had his back turned to the ref as he finally booked him after 3 minutes and 51 seconds of madness.

"I apologise to anyone I offended, and of course Andrew who I tackled. It was not malicious," Reid told LUTV.

"I didn't mean to diss the ref. I recognise this as a part of my game I need to work on and control."

The 19-year-old England CSA U21 left-back, who watched a replay of the match on TV on Friday morning, is adamant he did not intend to hurt Harrison, adding: "I did not mean to go in hard that way.

"It was high but I tried to read the ball and get it first but he was a little bit too quick for me.

"Again it was not malicious and I am a little disappointed with what some people are saying, that I meant it.

"Of course it was a bad tackle at the time but in the heat of the moment you want to win the game and win every tackle. As I said, I am sorry for Andrew but it was never meant."

Harrison himself has said that he holds no grudge towards Reid for the tackle.

"He went to win the ball and I've just got there quicker," said the Canadian on Friday.

"I wasn't thinking about whether he would be sent off, I knew the challenge was high but so was the ball.

"I am not blaming him for it, I've probably done a similar challenge in my career. He said he never meant it afterwards and that's fine with me."

Watford Antlers are a Regional League side by the way if you're wondering.

Here's the video footage of the tackle: