Monsters defeat London Utd to win CSA England Cup

Goals from Craig Wisniewski and Edward Redwood gave Monsters FC the victory in the CSA England Cup Final, beating London United 2-1.

After a slow start to the game, the deadlock was broken after 12 minutes when Scot Wisniewski traded passes with strike partner Redwood, playing in an unfamiliar out and out striker role, before firing into the net on the 'D' of the penalty area.

United had a few chances of their own - Craig CraiCo hitting the bar with a free-kick, and John Macdonald's header from a corner slapped away by Monsters keeper Igor Kuljman - but it was Monsters who dominated most of the play.

At the break it stayed 1-0 to the Monsters. United manager Bobby Hutchinson must have said something to his players at half-time, as from the restart, the Men in Black looked the more dominant team.

And it took only four minutes for them to equalise. Craico playing a "Hollywood" through ball to Danny Defranco, who crossed for Carlos Torres Pizarro, who hit it first time and bulged the onion bag with Kuljman all ends beaten.

London United dominated the next ten minutes, with chances by Rodrigo Santos, Ergun Taykin and CraiCo all required good saves from Kuljman.

But Monsters suddenly took control of the match, when an elegant pass from Darren Watkinson found Wisniewski, who then crossed for England hitman Redwood, who headed the ball past a hapless Simon Herding to make it 2-1.

United never recovered from that goal, despite the introduction of speedy wingers Ian Parker and Bobby Bricke later on, and the Monsters held on for the victory.

London United: Herding; Mitchell, Tweed, Macdonald, Weibel; Warhurst; Taykin (Parker 77), CraiCo, Defranco (Bricke 86); Rodrigo Santos, Torres Pizarro.

Subs not used: Knott, Haynes, McGrady, Szymanowski, Davies.

Goal: Torres Pizarro 50.

Monsters: Kuljman; Crandall, Bentley, Broskovic, Schweitzer; Matsson, Watkinson, Riko (Pancu 65), Morgan (Bernhardt 80); Wisniewski; Redwood.

Subs not used: Miller, Freeman, Flansky, Noriega, Mykendaal.

Goals: Wisniewski 12, Redwood 64.

Monsters see off Nottingham to reach CSA England Cup Final

Goals from Edward Redwood and Craig Wisniewski were enough for the Monsters to beat FC Nottingham 2-0 in the CSA England Cup semi-final at the Vodafone Stadium, and will return to the ground on 14th May to face London United in the final.

London United reach CSA England Cup Final

A solitary goal from Ergun Taykin helped London United was enough to beat FC London 1-0 and send the Black and Red through to the CSA England Cup Final.

German Taykin found himself clear after a through ball England superstar Craig Craico. Taykin rounded FCL keeper Christian Watson, and made no mistake in firing home.

CSA England Cup SF: London Town 4-2 Monsters

Saturday 10th April 2010

Vodafone Stadium, London. Att: 68,593.

London Town braved the new, controversial Vodafone Stadium pitch by reaching the CSA England Cup final for the third time in succession with a 4-2 win against Monsters FC.

The pitch was the centre of attention, with its new FieldTurf surface - an artificial type of grass -after previous complaints about the state of pitch.

It had to be tested by the CSA and CSA England, before getting the seal of approval by both federations.

But it was Town who adjusted the best to the new pitch, playing their passing game without a hitch against the Monsters, who decided to abandon their attacking style of play in favour of a long ball game.

That turned out to be a terrible idea for the Team in Green and Purple, and there was no way that the Monsters giant rookie striker Matt Oxley was going to get past the Blues' centre-halves Daniel Perry and Juanpa Gonzalez.

The Anglo-Spanish connection in the heart of the Town defence was so much stronger than the Anglo-Spanish connection up front with Oxley partnering with Quique Gomez.

But it was an Italian that put Town in front with half-an-hour gone, Andrea Romano breaking away from the Monsters defence and slotting it through Igor Kuljman's legs.

John Carey made it two on the stroke of half-time with a powerful header.

When Quique made it 2-1 within 30 seconds of the match, it put the Monsters back in contention as they started to play to attractive style of football, but it was all in vain as Daniel Perry made it 3-1.

Darren Watkinson pulled another back for the Monsters, before Town's Kevin Brickman scored in injury time to win 4-2.

Goals

London Town: Romano 33', Carey 44', Perry 67', Brickman 90'.

Monsters: Quique 46', Watkinson 82'.