A good weekend saw the Dragons undefeated!

The Firsts drew 2-2 to Slough Town at home. The Dragons did well to score from a penalty in the last few minutes to draw with only 9 players left on the pitch. Dragon fans resist casting aspersions on refereeing decisions as they know it is a difficult job. On this occasion however requesting that the Dragon goalkeeper take early retirement was really rather inexplicable.

The Blues had no game.

The Old Dragonians had no game.

The U14 Boys beat Inv3ntive 2-1 away in the League Trophy. The match was switched at the last moment because the grass was too long on Inv3ntive’s pitch.  The Dragons had a tough time defending but managed to hang on to their slender lead – despite Inv3ntive’s parents proving to be over-excitable at times; they would be advised to read calming books over the summer. The Dragons will not know for a week or so whether they will make it through to the next round of the Cup.

The U17s Boys beat Old Actonians Red 6-3 in the League Trophy at home. With almost a full squad the Dragons looked like their usual indomitable, gifted selves to lead 4-1 before the beginnings of a wobble led to the OA’s pulling back to 4-3 behind. The Dragons then thrust all hints of a wobble aside to score twice and win convincingly  – despite one of their number being forced to take early retirement.  

All other Youth Boys either had no scheduled games or were awarded automatic wins due to forfeits. 

The U10 Boys trained.

The new U11 Girls beat St Joseph’s 4-2 at home. Great play from all Dragons involved with a new signing scoring a hattrick on their debut. A sign of things to come?

The U13 Girls beat Ruislip Rangers 6-0, then drew 1-1, in a League double header. The Dragons couldn’t have performed any better in a stellar first-leg display that shut out RR completely, racking up a large win. They understandably had a tougher challenge in the second leg, where RR had a point to prove.

The U14 Girls beat Actonians 2-0 at home. A comfortable win by the Dragons against local rivals Actonians. The Dragons didn’t look stretched at any point.

The U16 Girls beat Barnet Nightingales 3-2 away. The Dragons had a slow start and struggled in the first half. After a couple of tactical changes, and an inspired team talk by the Coaches, the Dragons showed strength of character and resilience flipping the result from being 0-2 down to a 3-2 win.

Thank you all those who have made voluntary donations to help pay our way. A mixed weekend saw:

The Firsts just lost 1-2 to League leaders Shepherds Bush at home.
The Dragons took this game right to the wire and put in an almighty performance that jeopardised Shepherd’s Bush’s title challenge. On home turf, it shows what the Dragons are capable off and the heights they can achieve. A victory of sorts can be taken from this defeat.

The Blues had no game.

The Old Dragonians had no game and instead played a friendly against the U18 Boys.

The new U11 Boys had no game.

The U12 Boys Red beat Northfields United 3-2 away in the League Trophy. After going 0-2 down in the first half, the Dragons put on a display of real grit to come back to win. They showed what determination and teamwork can do.

The U12 Boys White were awarded an automatic home win to LJJ Frontiers in the League Trophy.

The U13 Boys had no game.

The U14 Boys drew 2-2 at home to Kodak in the League Trophy. Kodak are in a higher division than the Dragons and so assumed they would coast to an easy win. They were disabused in this highly charged competitive match. With the score at 2-1 to the Dragons, Kodak were lucky to equalise minutes from the end.

The U15 Boys beat the Eight FC 7-4 at home in a convincing win. This was the sixth win in six matches for the Dragons who have turned around their season from a mid season wobble. A fantastic performance to end the league games.

The U16 Boys were awarded an automatic home win against Old Actonians.

The U17s lost 2-5 away to Hillingdon Abbots in a match that was much closer than the scoreline suggests. The Abbots scored two fine goals but were gifted another 3 by Dragons’ mistakes. A 2-2 score would have been a better reflection on the match.

The U18 Boys had no game.

The U10 Boys trained.

The new U11 Girls beat Whetstone Wanderers 5-1 at home. The Dragons displayed fantastic patterns of play, with precise passing, solid teamwork and high fitness levels from the start to the final whistle. Whetstone simply could not compete.

The U13 Girls just lost 3-4 to Denham United away. A nail biting and tense game where the Dragons played incredibly well and were unlucky not to celebrate a win by the end.

The U14 Girls were beaten 1-5 by Barnet Nightingales at home in the Semi Final of the League Cup. The Dragons knew how big an opportunity this was to reach their first final. Despite the scoreline, it was incredibly evenly matched in the first half which ended 1-1. The Dragons battled valiantly but eventually slid to defeat, with the match clashing with Easter and a full squad not available.

The U16 Girls had no game.

The U10s Trained

A mixed week after the Easter break we hopeful drift into better weather and longer days:

The Firsts drew 1-1 to Jolof Sports away. The First were left to rue missed chances as they came away with a draw, knowing they could have gained all three against a Jolof side they have beaten emphatically before. Jolof had made it a tricky day for the Dragons. Looking ahead to the final string of fixtures, and despite a game against title rivals Shepherd’s Bush, there are points on the table the Dragons will fancy.

The Blues lost away at Portobello. A tough day for the Blue who were shut out of Portobello’s final third and didn’t manage to test their keeper enough. The Dragons have a fortnight break now from League fixtures to regroup.

The Old Dragonians beat Inter Manor 4-1 at home. Whilst not being at their best, the Old Ds fine end of season run extended to 6 unbeaten with 5 wins and a draw. On a blustery day at the Linford Christie Stadium the Dragons, playing with the wind at their back, were clinical and cruised to a 4-1 halftime lead. They continued to control the second half and Inter Manor had not a sniff of getting back into the game.

The new U11 Boys had no scheduled game.

The U12 Boys Red lost 1-3 to Spartan in the League Trophy. The Dragons traveled to the Spartan backyard with hopes of an upset against a team that is in the league above. Despite their confidence, and passages of good play, the Spartans overcame the Dragon’s defence three times to win.

The U12 Boys White were awarded an automatic away win in the League Trophy as Hanwell Town could n’t raise a side.

The U13 Boys lost at home to Pinnstars. This was always going to be a difficult match with the Dragons missing so many players. Many teams might have been tempted to call the match off but the Dragons bravely walked out onto the pitch and did their best in the difficult circumstances.

The U14 Boys were awarded an automatic away win as Hanwell Town couldn’t raise a side. The Dragons are now equal top of the Division and there will have to be a Play-Off to decide who is the Champion.

The U15 Boys were awarded an automatic home win in the League Trophy as Parkfield couldn’t raise a side.

The U16 Boys were awarded an automatic home win as London Athletic couldn’t raise a side.

The U17 Boys had no scheduled game.

The U18 Boys lost 0-2 at home to Ickenham in the League Trophy. The Dragons played an opponent they are very familiar with, having matched up several times in the League. Unfortunately, it was one of those days where nothing the Dragons tried worked. As spring gets underway and the pitches improve, the increased game time will be very much welcomed.

The U10 Boys trained.

There were no Youth Girls games who still enjoyed their Easter break.

It was only the First Team who played over the Easter break leaving Dragons everywhere to put their footballing feet up:

The Firsts drew 2-2 with Indian Gymkhana away. The Dragons went 2-1 up before Gymkhana came back to leave it  2-2 at half time. The good news was that, try as they might, Gymkhana could not break down the Dragons defence to score the winner. The bad news was that neither could the Dragons at the other end. It was to remain a draw.

There were no other matches.

Happy Easter

We wish Dragons everywhere a happy break over the Easter Weekend and trust everybody will come back refreshed for the final part of the season when the weather – we hope – will be better.

Thank you to all the Dragons who have donated. This allows players, whatever their circumstances, to join in. In particular,  thanks must go to our Patrons and, this season, to Druce, the Grove Trust and the Grenfell Projects Fund who have supported the Club.

It cost the club around £300/player per season so with nearly 20 teams we must raise a lot of money each season to keep to our policy of not charging. We spend virtually nothing on management and administration – the costs are incurred on hiring training and match pitches, equipment, referees’ fees, coaches’ expenses etc. All the Trustees and Managers give their time for free.  If you would like to donate please click the DONATE button.

The reward for donating will not just be in heaven. Supporters who donate the cost of a player or more will be invited to the Supporters Reception at the end of the season. If you would like to donate substantially more please consider becoming a Patron and join the other Patrons at our Dinner to be held towards the end of April. Please get in touch with Chris Shirley if you are interested and he will organise a “coffee” with Michael the Chair of our Patrons.

Results W/E 24^th March 2024

Finally, some good weather at a weekend:

The Firsts beat Camden Utd 2-1 at home. This was a great result for the Dragons who were reduced to 10 men for most of the match –  their striker having been retired to the side lines for being naughtier than absolutely necessary. The Dragons led 2-0 before Camden scored to leave the 10 doughty Dragons defending a slender one goal lead. A casual observer however would have assumed that the Dragons had their full complement because they continued to attack Camden’s end as they saw the match out to a triumphant conclusion.

The Blues just lost 4-5 away to Bessingby Park.  The Dragons went 1-0 up at the start but over confidence lead to their being 1-4 down before a stern talking to at half time lead to a resurgence. It was 4-4  when, five minutes from the end, Bessingbly scored the controversial winning goal with the referee ignoring the offside flag. Still, it was an entertaining match.  

The ODs beat Harrow Hive 3-1  away extending their unbeaten run to 5, with 4 wins and a draw. The Dragons opened the scoring, with a deft flick from OD’s forward on his debut. Harrow then equalised and it was all square at half time. In the second half the Dragons regained the lead from a corner with their centre-half rising above all to head in from close range. The win was sealed with a shot from the edge of the box by a marauding Dragons midfielder hunting down a loose pass.

The U14 Girls beat Barnet Nightingales 1-0 away in a tense league match. The two teams are due to meet in the Semi Finals of the Cup so that will no doubt be similarly tense affair.

There were no other Girls’ matches.

The U11 Boys were awarded their match as London Eagles could not raise a team

The U12 Boys Reds beat London Athletic 4-1 in the League Trophy at home.  This was a dominant display from a confident Dragons team that took their chances in front of goal and a showed intelligence in defence.

The U12 Boys Whites drew 3-3 with Brook House away. It is better to win but in reality this new Dragons team has had an excellent first season and a draw away from home is a victory of sorts.  

The U13 Boys beat Pro FA 2-0 at home. The Dragons have also had an excellent season and this win will surely secure them  promotion as their league matches near the end. The Dragons was especially pleased to have their former goalie to cheer them on on his visit from Madrid.  

The U14 Boys had no match.

The U15 Boys beat Southall Athletic 6-2 away in the League Trophy. The Dragons were on a 3-match winning streak as they went into this cup tie full of confidence. They put on yet another fantastic performance to secure the resounding win. They have now scored 19 goals in the last 4 matches.

The U16 Boys just lost 2-3 to Hendon at home. This was a generally competitive, close fought match. Probably the best football was the superb scoring free kick taken by the Dragons captain.  As the match neared the end, with the score 2-2, Hendon scrambled the winning goal to their obvious delight.  Hendon were probably a little over excited and the Dragons a little under excited –  not a great combination. The Dragons have the makings of a great team but they are not there yet.   

The U17 Boys drew 2-2 with Harrow Utd at home. The Dragons were still recovering from their string of postponed matches in the first half and, before one could think of encouraging exhortations, they were 0-2 down. The second half was altogether a different affair. The Dragons dominated to score via a deserved penalty before disaster struck – their defender was slight naughty and retired from the match. With only minutes to go, and with only 10 players, the Dragons stepped up a footballing gear to score the vital goal. Harrow will now finish below the Dragons in the Division.  

The U18 Boys drew 1-1 away at full time but then lost on penalties against Ickenham in a dramatic Play Off for the second place in the League. There is a history of high tension between the clubs and the Dragons coach did an excellent job in setting a disciplined tone ahead of the match. Whilst the Dragons dominated possession in the first half, and had many more chances than Ickenham, they left it too late to score and then lost on penalties.

The U10 Boys trained.

Results W/E 17th March 2024

Yet again the “Wet from the West” frustrated many Dragons:

The Firsts drew 1-1 at home to PFC Victoria. This was a decent result for the Dragons all things considered. PFC Victoria are very much in the title race and the Dragons managed to give them a frustrating afternoon and could have won. They will regret the missed opportunities.

The Blues were awarded an automatic away win as London Europeans have forfeited for the season.

The Old Dragonians were awarded an automatic home win as London Samurai couldn’t raise a team. Much to the annoyance of the Dragons who were chomping at the bit to play after 4 weeks of inactivity due to the wet weather.

The new U11 Boys lost 1-3 to Wealdstone away. The Dragons lost despite taking the initiative first to lead 1-0. Muddy conditions made a messy affair.

The U12 Boys Red home game to London Athletic was postponed.

The U12 Boys White won 1-0 at home to Pro FA in the League Trophy. A great win for the Dragons to the elation of home fans. They scored the only goal and defended well to keep Pro FA out.

The U13 Boys had no scheduled game.

The U14 Boys lost 2-6 at home to London Athletic in the Group Stage of the Trophy Cup. The Dragons assumed they would win but were rudely awakened by LA. The Dragons were lucky that this was not a League Match where they are title contenders. If excuses were needed one could say that the recent string of cancelled matches, due to waterlogged pitches, was not the best preparation for the Dragons

The U15 Boys won 8-3 at Hanwell Town away in the Trophy Cup. The Dragons, after taking an early lead, conceded soon after and the game looked like it would continue in such fashion: the Dragons went 2-1 up, then Hanwell equalised again to 2-2. The Dragons reassessed and then took complete control and put in a world class, team performance to soundly regain the lead and extend it.

The U16 Boys had no scheduled game.

The U17 Boys lost to Wealdstone away in the Group Stage of the U17 Trophy Cup. Wealdstone were a good side and the combination of having not played for weeks, their goalie being ill, and some finding the location a geographical challenge, all contributed to the Dragons being outplayed – they were lucky this was not a vital League match and they could still progress beyond the Group Stage in the Cup.

The U18 Boys had no scheduled game.

The U10 Boys trained.

The new U11 Girls were awarded an automatic home win over Enfield Town.

The U13 Girls won 5-1 away at Ealing Trailfinders. The Dragons put in a huge performance and, perfectionists that they are, will be frustrated to have conceded. A stellar win on the road and a good win before the Easter break.

The U14 Girls home game to Barnet Nightingales in the Semi Final of the Cup was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

The U15 Girls had no scheduled game.

The U16 Girls home game to Islington Borough was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

Weather watchers will remember the Dragons battling through the “Beast from the East“ to emerge the other side in fine fettle. Our challenge is now is the “Wet from the West”:

The Firsts drew 1-1 to London Tigers away. The Dragons knew this was a game they should win but also could not lose. With such a tight pack in the mid-table, meaning a mere few points would take them higher, the Dragons hope they will not be left to rue the missed opportunities.

The Blues away tie to Kodak in the Semi Final of the Divisional Cup was postponed and the Old Dragonians home game to Inter Manor was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

The U16 Boys beat Trailfinders 6-3 in a friendly played away on astroturf. This was a fast and furious match where the Dragons only pulled decisively ahead in the last 15 minutes. There was much rejoicing as the Dragons sometime goalie, who was put up top to keep him out of harms ways, scored the vital winner and then put another away for good measure.

The U14 Boys beat Pro FA 9-1 at home. The Dragons were expecting tougher opposition and were consequently somewhat perturbed when their goalie cried off at the last moment. In the event all was well and the Dragons controlled the match with their reserve goalie saving a penalty along the way – helped by the penalty taker kicking straight at him.  

The U13 Boys lost 5-8 to Princes Park away. Not a good game for the Dragons who lost their focus after working hard to recover from being behind 1-3. The Dragons did magnificently however to get themselves back in the game and deserve to be applauded nonetheless.

The U12 Boys Red lost 1-2 to Titans at home. The Dragons dominated for most of the match and had plenty of chances in front of goal. After taking the lead in the second half from a wonder goal, the opposition put in a late effort and pulled back not one but two. A game the Dragons deserved to win but instead were given a lesson in the importance of taking their chances in front of goal.

The U18 Boys home tie to Ickenham in the League Trophy, as well as the U15 Boys, the U12 Boys White and the U11 boys’ games, were called off due to waterlogged pitches. The U17 Boys had no scheduled game. The U10 Boys trained.

The U14 Girls drew 1-1 with Broomwood away. The Dragons played an exemplary first half and went into the break one nil up. The teams were very even and as the second half progressed the Dragons tired, and under immense pressure, relinquished an equaliser.

The U16 Girls, the U13 Girls and the U11 Girls all had their games called off due to waterlogged pitches. The U15 Girls had no scheduled game.