Category: Senior First Team

Firsts lose at home to Hillingdon

Kensington Dragons 1 v 2 Hillingdon

A game that should have been out of sight at half time saw the Dragons somehow losing 0-1 at half time when a set piece was not cleared after 3 attempts and the Hillingdon striker proded home. The second half continued in the same fashion and a slow tempo from the home side and a lack of quality all over the park dragged a second half on until Ricardo Ramos finally found his shooting boots to lob the keeper and equalise. More pressure, more shots and still Dragons couldn’t take the lead leaving the final twist in the sword to Hilligdon to head a long free kick across the box for an empty net and tap in to take all 3 points. Dragons now need the chasing pack to drop points and to win all our of remaining  7 games to stand any chance of clinching the title.

Firsts win away at Broadfields

Broadfields 0 v 1 Kensington Dragons Firsts

A visit to Harefield Utd where Broadfields ground share gave Dragons the opportunity to express themselves on a quality playing surface and a taste of the sort of facilities they hope to become accustomed to over the coming years. A full squad available but a slight reshuffle from the Manager with captain Luke O’Donoghue coming back into the midfield after an injury lay off and Dean Humphrey being moved back to central defence saw Hamilton Bowler, Madalitso Mkoloma and Tom Madden make up a very strong bench.

Dragons started the brighter, exploiting the space with wingers Ricardo Ramos and Zaine Gungadeen testing the Broadfields keeper early on. It was Gungadeen who brought the first golden chance for Dragons to open the scoring, beating two before crossing to the back post for striker George Mariner to have a free header from 3 yards which he somehow put wide.

Ramos then forced the smartest save with a thunderous free kick from 25 yards which was tipped onto the bar for a corner. He took the resulting corner which fell to the imposing Humphrey to smash home from close range.

Broadfields began to fight their way back into the game with some physical challenges, one which would see Geoff Nalu Mosa have to retire early on 20 mins with a swollen ankle and be replaced with Madden. Dragons responded in kind and the ref was forced to lay down his marker with two first half bookings for Broadfields and one for Dragons’ CM Pav Bhangoo. The space however was in the wide areas and Dragons were making the most of it when right back Sam Cole stormed forward on a mazy run beating four players, cutting into the 6 yard box with only the keeper to beat. The team held their breath waiting for Cole to finally break his 3 year duck only for him to fluff his lines completely and chip the ball straight into the keeper’s arms.

0-1 at half time and Manager De Souza had little to complain about other than the lack of a clinical edge. The game was there for the taking but that all import second goal had eluded them so far. Dragons retook to the field and began as they left off, exploiting the space out wide and in behind the Broadfields defence.  A sweeping move from left to right saw Ramos clear on goal only for him to shoot wide from 12 yards. Dragons frustrations were growing and despite calls to stay on his feet, Bhangoo went in late on a Broadfields midfielder near the touch line and the ref pulled the yellow card out again and then the red. With 35 mins still to go, it would take an almighty effort from the 10 men to claim the 3 points required. De Souza acted accordingly, Gungadeen and the unlucky Madden came off and Mkoloma and Bowler came on. Bowler back into his CB berth pushing Humphrey in to bolster a 3 man midfield with O’Donoghue and Mkoloma. Ramos was left in the hole and Mariner up top.

Dragons worked tirelessly to a man, closing the space from the half way line and hitting Broadfields on the break. Ramos was put through 3 more times 1v1 with the keeper but failed again to break the deadlock. His last attempt did see him round the keeper, put the ball in the net only for the linesman to somehow call a handball and the goal was disallowed. Debutant keeper Daniel Byers showed why he’d been given the nod when a 20 yard free kick fizzed in during the 5 mins of injury time but it stuck to his safe hands and as he cleared up the pitch the ref blew and Dragons had secured their second clean sheet in a row.

The full squad was put to the test but they came through as a group and with Cricklewood and Hackney winning again, all 3 refuse to release their grip in the chase for the title.

Firsts battle for clean sheet and home win

Kensington Dragons FC 1 v 0 West Essex FC

A disappointing defeat the previous week and the apparent glee tweeted by Sporting Hackney meant no additional motivation was required from the Manager in his pre match team talk. A strong squad took to another bobbly field at Osterley with the first 15minutes dominated by the home side, with high pressing and good interplay. Several chances came and went before Essex almost snatched an unlikely lead through an error of judgment from Ryan Moore in goal. Calling for a long Essex ball forward, the keeper outside his box tried to shepherd the ball out for a GK only to allow the Essex striker to sneak around and pull a square pass back across the box to his partner. With Moore scampering back into position he could do little about the first time shot from 8 yards which flew onto the post and straight back into the relieved keeper’s arms.

Fortunate but undeterred, Dragons pressed on and a knock down from striker George Mariner found Geoff Nalu Mosa who’s snap shot hit the woodwork, coming back for youth team graduate Billy Maxwell to slot home for what would prove the decisive goal on the day. The pressure was beginning to tell, a through ball from Nalu Mosa released Mariner who clean through was taken down for what should have been a penalty and possibly worse for the clumsy defender only for a assistant to be less than forthcoming and the distant referee ruling a free-kick on the edge of the box which came to nothing.  In truth the margin should have increased before half time with Mariner and Pav Bangoo going close with close range headers but a rare first half clean sheet was taken it at half time.

Dragons have been working on defensive shape and discipline in recent weeks and this proved timely as the second half turned into a tight scrappy affair. Dean Humphrey and Bangoo were matching the strong physical away side and Moore had little else to do for the remainder of the game. Essex came close in the dying moments with a snap shot from a corner clipping the top of the bar but it was Dragons that looked most comfortable and again should have scored when Maxwell was released with a sublime chip pass from Humphrey only to see the young winger take a heavy touch into the keeper when from 8 yards out he should have been more clinical.

A frustrated Essex finished the game with a high challenge on Bangoo which saw an exchange of words from both sets of players but all calmed down and shook hands ending what was a highly competitive game and another priceless 3 points with the chasing pack all getting maximum points in what looks like a championship that will go all the way.

“Don’t forget to keep up with Kensington Dragons as covered by Paul Warburton and the team in the Hammersmith and Fulham, Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea Chronicle, published every Friday!”

Gallery form Saturday’s game curtesy of: SalvioCalabrese www.salviocalabrese.com

 

Emphatic win for the Firsts away in Slough

Singh Sabah Slough 1 v 6 Kensington Dragons

The first meeting had been met with disappointment by Dragons as it was a midweek fixture that due to transport difficulty meant the game was reduced by ten minutes. It is not to say the game that ended in a draw would have been any different but Dragons were in the ascendency and felt a great opportunity to collect three points had been missed on the referee’s judgement. Knowing that SSS had already taken points off KD there was no chance of taking them lightly regardless of their current league position. What would be required is a performance that showed desire and intent.

Both teams started the game with positive aspirations and a clear indication that this game was unlikely to finish nil-nil. The break-through came fifteen minutes in as a flighted corner was met in full flight by Bangoo whose goal-ward bound header could only be re-directed into the net by an SSS player. This settled Dragons down into a more commanding position and it showed as the possession was being dominated by the away side with the home team having to counter when regaining the ball. Another set-piece for KD was not cleared effectively and Maxwell showed great technique to control his shot and double the lead. Dragons really had warmed to the task now and were assured and decisive on and off the ball to the frustrations of the home side. This was opening up space and a incisive pass from Mkoloma found the intelligent run from Maxwell and one on one with the keeper, finished coolly. There was one more moment in the half that SSS could do nothing about and it was a rampaging run from Mkoloma. Skipping past some challenges he was able to lay the ball off to Nalu Moso to slide in his first and Dragons’ fourth.

The second half was about desire, from Dragons to want to extend their lead and from SSS to find a way back into the game. It was clear from Dragons attitude in the second half that they did not want to give any encouragement to the opposition. The defence had been in stubborn mood and the midfield dominant in every aspect. It would be another well weighted pass from midfield this time from Bangoo into the path of Maxwell who once again was bearing down on goal and again finished calmly to get his first ever hat-trick. The pressing continued and the goals had not finished there as in a slick passing move down the left picked out Madden who showed good awareness to pick out the supporting Malone and his squared pass allowed Nalu Moso to get his second and the side’s sixth.

The last part of this complete performance was to keep a clean sheet and the squad had all tried hard shown by Bowler’s goal-line clearance but this was to no avail as an error allowed on the stroke of full time a goal for the Slough team but scant consolation to those who’s pride was hurt by an efficient Dragons performance.

Moore, Malone, Bowler, Humphrey, Scott, Mkoloma, O’Donoghue, Bangoo, Maxwell, Madden, Nalu Moso. Subs; Batousol, Cole, Mariner

Firsts made to earn 3 points against Broadfields

Kensington Dragons 3 v 0 Broadfields United

The chance to continue the Dragons good form would come against a struggling Broadfields side that had nothing to prove and everything to play for. It was on this basis that Dragons needed to be prepared for a difficult game knowing that only a good performance would provide the result. With injuries being suffered the week before there were a few changes to the line up with Humphrey returning to the starting eleven for some months.

The first half proved to be a struggle with a less than desirable surface to get Dragons passing game going and a stubborn Broadfields back-line meant Dragons were going to have to up their game at some point. The front three provided flashes of this but the ability to find the right pass or touch or run was breaking down good goal scoring opportunities. It was one way traffic in regards to possession and territory but frustration was growing as Dragons were not able to turn this into goals. With minutes to go to the half a pass from Scott into the channel for Mariner allowed the forward to drive at the defender and on beating him cut back to the stand-in skipper Mkoloma who emphatically finished from the edge of the box.

KD were asked to improve the quality of the performance at half-time to ensure the result and there seemed an urgency about their play. This speed of movement of the ball and players posed a different type of problem for the visitors and with that a show of panic in the their play. This was exemplified when Bangoo chased down a ball in the opposing box and his industry was rewarded when a failed clearance fell nicely for him and there was no hesitation in the finish.

With KD smelling blood they continued to force the issue and Mkoloma and his influence in the game had not yet finished, when on the half-way line he played a ball to Madden who was lurking around the last defender and got his slice of luck when the keeper and defender both missed the ball to allowed him to tap the ball into an empty net.

A lot of probing and missed opportunities meant Dragons were unable to break the spirit of Broadfields and had to make do with the three goals and three points.

Moore, Malone, Bowler, Batousol, Scott, Mkoloma(c), Bangoo, Humphrey, Maxwell, Madden, Mariner. Subs; Scheck, O’Donoghue, Cole, Nalu Moso

Firsts do the double away at BA

British Airways 2 v Kensington Dragons 3

After having a deserved week of rest Dragons looked to finish the year in good form and a difficult task against last years champs would be the first of three. Sporting the new away strip the players must not have recognised each other as they started slowly and paid the ultimate penalty when a through ball was poorly defended and allowed the BA forward to slip in untracked to slot in the opening goal. Fighting against the momentum the home side had gained Dragons needed to remain firm to all oncoming attacks whilst trying to find their own game.

Half-way through the first half Dragons started to become more of a threat with Nalu Moso going close with a lob and Mariner being denied by the out-rushing keeper. They would not be denied however as from defending a corner a swift three man counter allowed Madden to cross into the stride of Mariner who was assured with his finish. Possession and territory was being controlled by Dragons at this point and good passing moves on the left and right created opportunities for Maxwell and Mariner but both could not find the finish.

Dragons would not be deterred and continued to play on the excellent BA surface and the quick interplay allowed Nalu Moso to find instinctively the run from Mariner and he showed strength and poise to shrug off the last defender and round the goalkeeper to slot into the empty net and send the away team into the break with the advantage.

The second half and both teams came out with intent and the next goal would be important in the context of the game. It was Dragons who were able to settle better and with that the opportunities to extend their lead with a Madden free-kick going close. It would be a very good move down the left between Scott and Mariner that allowed Nalu Moso to pounce on the rebound and volley home the third.

This followed a couple of substitutions in quick succession for the Dragons and this unbalanced the side offering more possession to BA who were still up for the challenge and continued to play for the result. It meant the Dragons had to stand firm and show their defensive qualities also and ten minutes before the end they were undone through a good BA move and the lead was now in the balance. The group of players worked in tandem and fought for the result to which great relief came along with the final whistle and the win.

Moore, Malone, Bowler, Batousol, Scott; O’Donoghue(c), Bangoo, Maxwell, Mariner; Madden, Nalu Moso Subs: Scheck, Humphrey, Soussi

British Airways vs Kensington Dragons 2013

Firsts get a taste of Step 6

Kensington Dragons 0 v 2 Spelthorne Sports MCFA Intermediate Cup

With two opportunities lost for Dragons to build a cup run, this would be their final chance in the highest standard cup competition a non-turnstile club can enter. With the promotion at this standard coming from last year’s cup win, Dragons were not given a favourable draw. It would be against a team that is currently leading the division above, unbeaten so far this season, and so effectively fifteen places separated the two sides. This would not be a deterrent as the home side had more of an incentive to test themselves against the kind of opposition they would hope to face after a successful league campaign and promotion.

The conditions did not promote a game for the purest and the game did not have any fluency in it until at least half way through the first half. Both teams with differing styles started to develop better attacks and asked the defensive units to remain compact and concentrated. Bowler and Batousol at the heart of the defence were able to deal with the threat of the Spelthorne strikers who were lively in their movement but lacked a supply to match. This was due to the midfield battle that was going on and as the half was progressing it would be Dragons who were moving the ball around more effectively though still not at the standard that they would expect of themselves.

With good counter attack opportunities going array with misplaced passes Dragons with ten minutes remaining in the half were able to fashion a chance down the left. When Scott got to the byline and whipped his cross into the near post Mariner timed his run to get across the defender but was not deft enough with his touch to apply the finish.

As the second half got under way it would become clear that Dragons were dealing with the conditions better than the opposition. Moving the ball around a lot better they would enjoy the lion share of possession though you could see why their opponents had gone undefeated as they remained stubborn defensively. On the hour mark another great chance for Dragons to take the lead fell to Mariner as he found precious space in the box and one on one with the keeper was not able to keep his shot down to trouble the goal or the scoreline.

This was one scare too many for the away side who felt it necessary to bring on last seasons and their current top goal scorer to try and address some balance. Though Dragons retained greater possession and looked the more likely to go in front, with less than ten minutes to play a deep cross into the Dragons box found the centre backs on their heels and the top marks man showed the difference at the level above, one chance one goal. This had a deflating effect on Dragons and the in-form striker was not about to take any prisoners and found space to drive at Muyanja in goal before finishing calmly.

A disappointing result after giving higher level counter parts a real scare and a performance that showed them in good stead for the rest of the season as well as the possibility of competing at a higher level.