Don't blame Redsy - Macca

England captain John Macdonald has told critics to lay off Edward Redwood's back, following the 26-year-old striker's dismissal in the 2-1 defeat at Wales, branded 'abysmal' by BTN soccer pundit Geoff Howard.

London United defender Macdonald, standing in as skipper for the injured Daniel Perry, said of Monsters hitman Redwood's red card: "It was just one of them things."

"Redsy got frustrated and lashed out and if I were him I would've done the same thing," added Macdonald, 24.

But England coach Marco Garibaldi pulled no punches.

"I've seen the replay and he deserved it," said the Italian.

"In games like this you must learn how to control your temper.

"The bad news for us is that he probably misses the first game of the EuroCup. But I'll try and find a way to cope without him."

BTN co-commentator Geoff Howard condemned the red card saying: "He's (Redwood) caught him (Wales midfielder Jamie Harris) round him the shins, silly boy. Redsy, why? Why would you lash out like that? Absolute abysmal stuff."

England lose in Wales

England experienced defeat for the first time since 2009 when they lost 2-1 against Wales in Cardiff.

Adam Owens put Wales in the lead before Adam Barry equalised, but Karlo Krzystofski's brilliant free-kick was enough to seal an amazing win for the home side, who are edging closer to a play-off place.

To add insult to injury, Edward Redwood was sent off for England after lashing out a kick at Jamie Harris with three minutes left, and the Monsters striker is likely to miss England's opening CSA EuroCup 12 game next year in Russia.

More to follow later.

England qualify for EuroCup 12

England 2-0 Austria


Stratford shook off an ankle injury to score against Austria

Goals from Garry Stratford and Adam Carter proved to be the decisive factor as England booked their place in next year's EuroCup after they beat Austria 2-0 on Tuesday night.

England: Simon Herding; Danny Miller, John Macdonald, Daniel Perry, Ashton Reid; Garry Stratford; James Douglas, Craig CraiCo; Edward Redwood, John Carey, Adam Carter.

Austria: Juergen Pfeiffer; Andreas Andrzejczyk, Ferdinand Hoegl, Otto Griechel, Michael Mayer; Wolfgang Babatz; Klaus Hauger, Peter Pfertzl, Walter Freund; Benni Bauer, Mark Pingel.

Referee: Constantin Doianu (Romania).

Daniel Perry happy that England are almost qualified

Perry celebrates England's victory

England competitive captain Daniel Perry is happy his national side have nearly secured their place in next year's EuroCup 12 finals, after a comfortable 3-1 win in Bosnia-Hercegovina on Friday, after Austria and Wales could only draw 0-0.

England have won all their qualifiers so far, sitting on top of Group A with 28 points, and will secure qualification if they beat Austria on Tuesday, and Perry, 30, believes the defending European and World champions will be difficult to stop.

"Great stuff," said London Town defender Perry. "There's no stopping us. Everyone will find it tough.

"All the lads done well, especially CraiCo, and the manager's got the best out of us and it's just brilliant when you win with ease.

"Now we can look forward to the match against Austria at the Vodafone on Tuesday without any problems."

However, England do have one problem. Perry's team-mate, midfielder Garry Stratford limped off after 23 minutes with a sprained ankle, but England coach Marco Garibaldi said: "It is only a niggle.

"I'll give him a couple of days off, but he will be fit for the game against Austria."

On man-of-the-match Craig CraiCo, Perry said: "CraiCo's such a massive player for us. He's gotten better since he left London United for Spain (at Madrid Magic) and he's the absolute backbone of the England team.

"You saw him set up the goal for Macca (John Macdonald), as well as score the goal in the opening minute. He, for me, is still the greatest footballer in the world."

Striker Edward Redwood was happy to break his England duck - he hadn't scored since the Home Nations Championship against Wales in June, his longest wait without an England goal.

"I'm happy to be back in this sort of form after a torrid past few months," stated the Monsters striker, 25. "It's important we keep this going; we could be unstoppable in Russia next year. "

England win in Bosnia

Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-3 England


Influential midfielder CraiCo was named man-of-the-match

England won with ease against Bosnia and Herzegovina with a 3-1 victory on Friday night in Sarajevo.

Craig CraiCo opened the scoring with after only two minutes, playing a one-two with John Carey and then firing into the back of the net just inside the area.

John Macdonald made it 2-0 with a header from an inswinging CraiCo corner.

Edward Redwood made it 3-0 with a header of his own, from a cross from Danny Defranco, before Bosnia replied straight after the restart, fast breaking and unravelling the England defence before Zlatan Fahidović scored.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Edin Bajramović; Andrej Tosić (Elvir Manić 82'), Marko Mrhadović (Rehadžić 82'), Muhamed Vlahović, Sergei Nikolić; Tamir Salidović (Asmir Hasanović 59'), Samir Muslimović, Bosko Stanković, Hasan Hasanović; Zlatan Fahidović, Ahmet Bosniak

Subs not used: Asmir Ibrahimović, Robert Konjić

England: Simon Herding; Gary Mitchell, John Macdonald, Daniel Perry, Liam Cole; Garry Stratford (Danny Defranco 23'), James Douglas, Craig CraiCo, Kevin Warhurst; Edward Redwood; John Carey

Subs not used: Chris Kolinski, Adam Carter, Steven Tweed, Martin King

Referee: Guus Honkensteen (Netherlands).

England ease past Norway

England defeated Norway 3-1 in a friendly at Barnsworth FC's Barns Park stadium.

James Douglas, Adam Carter and Garry Stratford got the goals for England, while Marcos Mora scored a penalty for the visitors.

Head coach Marco Garibaldi had debuted a new 4-3-3 formation, with John Carey and Carter on the wings and Edward Redwood in the 'false number nine' role.

And already the Norwegian defenders couldn't handle with the pace of the three combined, skipper Bjørn Terke being left for dead by Carey on more than one occasion.

Midfielder James Douglas was left in acres of space and he tried his luck from 30 yards and it zoomed into the top corner after 12 minutes, 1-0 to England.

A brilliant bit of skill from Redwood saw him one-twoing with Craig CraiCo, nutmegging Stig Gunnar Sundevahl and then crossing for Adam Carter who volleyed into the net. 2-0 after less than 30 minutes.

In the second half, the Norwegians at this point decided to stop hoofing long balls out to no-one, and suddenly changed to an attacking, pass-oriented game.

And they created some good chances, striker Erik Lyngstad hitting the bar after good wing play from Christian Eggen.

Marcos Mora also had a free-kick acrobatically saved by Simon Herding.

Eventually, English resistance was finally broken when full-back Danny Miller needless hauled down Dan Gravstad in the area, and Mora slotted the resulting penalty to make it 2-1 with less than an hour gone.

But Norway were denied a comeback when Garry Stratford's free-kick curled into the top corner 14 minutes from time.

England: Simon Herding; Danny Miller, Mark Strickland, Daniel Perry, Ashton Reid; James Douglas, Garry Stratford, Craig CraiCo; Edward Redwood, John Carey, Adam Carter.

Norway: Tore Sigfridsen; Ola André Ibsen, John Andersen, Bjørn Terke, Daniel Gravstad; Christian Eggen, Stig Gunnar Sundevahl, Daniel Olsen, Marcos Mora; Erik Lyngstad, Eirik Lund.

Referee: Simon LeClair (France).

CSA England Cup Final 2011: London United 1-2 Monsters

The 2011 CSA England Cup Final

From the Vodafone Stadium, London

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.