Rockers snap away losing streak

Manchester Rockers finally learned how to win away from home again when Gary McManus' goal won it for the northerners at FC Nottingham.

Scot McManus took a shot from 10 yards which beat keeper Mehdi Kaziri.

This was the Rockers' first away win since they won 1-0 at Sheffield Strikers on 9 April.

Goals
FC Nottingham: none.
Manchester Rockers: McManus 44'.

Krzysti off the mark

Karlo Krzystofski made a scoring debut on his return to the Dragons as the Welsh outfit sent basement boys Leicester Phantoms deeper into the mire with a 2-0 victory at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Welsh skipper Krzystofski only took thirteen minutes to find the back to the net, with a trademark shot from outside the area.

James Bruce then doubled the Dragons' lead 12 minutes from time.

Goals
Dragons: Karlo Krzystofski 13', Bruce 78'.
Leicester Phantoms: none.

Romano brace buries 'Burgh

Andrea Romano's two-goal performance gave London Town a 3-0 win against Edinburgh at Easter Road.

Zvonimir Markovic also played well, setting up one Romano goal and then scoring a goal himself.

This result for Edinburgh means the Scottish side are still 18th in the table, although they remain ten points clear of relegation-threatened Leicester Phantoms.

Goals
Edinburgh: none.
London Town: Romano 5', 80', Markovic 76'.

FCL lose unbeaten home record

Dublin Shamrocks claimed an unlikely victory at FC London with a goal from Austrian Wolfgang Babatz.

This now means that FCL have lost at home for the first time this season.

Goals
FC London: none.
Dublin Shamrocks:Babatz 55'.

Town show Phantoms little mercy

Daniel Perry celebrates as Town steamroller Phantoms

Leicester Phantoms 0-6 London Town

Ruthless London Town gave sorry Leicester Phantoms a harsh lesson as the visitors left the Leicester Stadium 6-0 winners.

Phantoms remain bottom of the BritLeague table, and are everyone's favourites for relegation, although Ulster FC are only one point above them.

Goals
Leicester Phantoms: none.
London Town: Carey 5', 87', Perry 26', Markovic 48', Quique 77', Hessler 89'.

Redwood breaks duck at last

Redwood shows his joy and relief
Manchester Rockers 0-1 Monsters

Edward Redwood finally ended his goal drought with as Monsters beat Manchester Rockers 1-0.

The England striker, who had not found the back of the net since his country's 3-1 win over Wales in June, got the ball on the edge of the box whilst his back was facing goal, turned and then beat keeper Edward Wilson.

Rockers continue to slip and slide, having only won one match in ten, falling from sixth to thirteenth.

Goals
Manchester Rockers: none.
Monsters: Redwood 64'.

Dragons sign Karlo Krzystofski on season-long loan

The Dragons have secured the loan signing of Barcelona Bullfighters striker Karlo Krzystofski until the end of the season.

Wales captain Krzystofski, 25, will begin a second spell with the club he started his career with and said he is looking forward to the challenge.

"I'm back home," declared Krzystofski. "I've always wanted to come back here one day and now here I am."

Krzystofski started his career with the then-Cardiff Crew in 2001 as a 15-year-old - still to this day the youngest player ever to play in the BritLeague - and stayed there six more years before in 2007, going to London United, then FC London, then East Anglia Knights and then to Barcelona Bullfighters just last year.

The Welsh superstar, sporting newly dyed red hair which matches the colour of the Dragons' shirt, hopes he can stay at the Dragons beyond the end of the season.

"I'd like to stay here. We're currently 10th in the BritLeague, and I'm here to make sure we finish in the top ten, after battling relegation early doors in the season.

"I've played in Barcelona, I've won European trophies, but for me, nothing beats playing here with the Dragons."

Shocker as Rockers beat Town

Mid-table Manchester Rockers ripped up the form book when claimed a surprising 1-0 victory over title-chasing London Town.

Manchester's new French striker Christophe Minardi, a signing from AS Essonne, scored his first goal as time ran out.

Town had dominated most of the play, but great defending plus the goalkeeping of Ed Wilson had served the Rockers well.

And the home side got their reward when Juanpa allowed Minardi space to run into and the Gallic hitman beat Marco Schuipers unchallenged.

Goals
Manchester Rockers: Minardi 89'.
London Town: none.

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.

CSA ECL: Carey magic stuns Monsters

John Carey's wonder goal gave London Town a 1-0 advantage in the first leg of the European Champions League semi-final at Monsters Park.

Carey dribbled many Monsters' defenders before chipping keeper Igor Kuljman.

The winner of the tie will play the winner of the Madrid Magic-Barcelona Bullfighters clash in the final on Saturday 28th May 2011.

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.

London United 2-2 Monsters

London United and the Monsters played to a 2-2 draw at HMV Park.

The match was centred around Monsters striker Edward Redwood, making his BritLeague debut in neon and purple against his former employers, whose fans jeered him every time he touched the ball. And it was almost inevitable that he would silence his former fans and get on the scoresheet, taking him only ten minutes.

However, as a mark of respect to United, he did not celebrate.

London United debutant Danny Defranco equalised for the Men in Black, curling a shot past a helpless keeper Igor Kuljman.

Craig Wisniewski however put Monsters back in the lead on the hour mark with simple tap-in, after Redwood shot was fumbled by LU keeper Simon Herding.

However, United talisman Craig Craico, who had an unusually quiet game, equalised at the death from the penalty spot after ex-Monster Ian Parker was upended by Shane Bentley.

Goals

London United: Defranco 31', Craico 88' pen.

Monsters: Redwood 10', Wisniewski 60'.

Merseyside Mighty Rats 0-0 London Town

London Town and the Mighty Rats played to a nil-nil draw.

Merseyside will be the happier of the two to have claimed that draw as a disappointing Town side had countless chances from John Carey and Quique but the Rats' Denmark keeper Kristian Jenson had a great game.

Town skipper Daniel Perry also had a goal ruled out late in the game.

Leicester Phantoms 1-2 FC London

FC London came back to win 2-1 at Leicester Phantoms.

Goals

Leicester Phantoms: Bellamy 72'.

FC London: Rhodes 84', King 87'.

Saturday's Action from Round 1

FC Nottingham cruised to a 3-0 win at Glasgow, while South Coast Rangers managed a 1-0 win at Dublin.

Manchester Rockers defeated Edinburgh 2-0, Newcastle Geordies easily defeated Sheffield Strikers 3-0, while Dragons and East Anglia were held to a 1-1 draw.

Leeds Lightning 2-1 Bristol Pirates

Leeds Lightning got off to a winning start against Bristol Pirates.

Goals

Leeds Lightning: Stockwell 47', Perry 81'.

Bristol Pirates: Blake 68'.

Kick-Off '11: Real Birmingham 3-1 Ulster FC

Reigning BritLeague champions Real Birmingham got off to a winning start against Ulster FC.

Real captain Mark Strickland headed the home side in front, before James Douglas added two more with a penalty and a shot from outside the area.

Dan Lang scored a consolation for Ulster.

Goals

Real Birmingham: Strickland 20', Douglas 43' pen, 71'.

Ulster FC: Lang 76'.