Category: Under 18s

Super Sunday for U18s

Kensington Dragons U18s 7 vs 1 Hillingdon Abbots FC

The first Super Sunday of the season ended in dramatic and tense style for Kensington Dragons, who cemented their credentials as championship favourites. Hillingdon Abbots were the only other team in the league who had maximum points and entered the game full of confidence. This confidence had the Dragons weary.

The game was a tennis match in the first half and not because it was end to end attacking. The ball went from keeper to keeper, with both teams anxious on the ball and both defences anxious to put the opposite under pressure. This meant that the midfield for both teams was non- existent. However, it was a long ball which broke the deadlock. It was more of a heat seeking pass from Albie to Rinor, who played Moh in and he had the defender isolated. Feinting to shoot, he cut inside and placed a shot in the bottom corner. It was the only real moment of quality in the first half. Moh himself was outstanding working tremulously hard to drag the game out of the squalor of ineptitude that it had been sinking in.

After the team talk, the Dragons started with a drive and determination that had been lacking in the first half. Micah, who had been trying too hard, started to influence the game. However it was the Abbots who came out flying. Their midfield started to find space and a through ball saw Ben Cann make an excellent save. The Abbots came forward again and just as a player thought he might be in Albie made a timely interception then found Iara, he found Joel who fed Micah. With plenty to do he beat three players and centred for Moh to tap in. The whole team’s confidence levels seemed to rise with Micah’s and the Dragons went for the jugular.

All of a sudden, the Dragons were dominant. The Dragons repelled everything the Abotts had and Iara and Joel started to have a major influence on the game . They played a 1-2 and Joel centred for Rinor who found Moh in the wide left position. This time he came back inside beating two men before beating the keeper. The Dragons smelt blood.

Then Abbots found a way back in, a deep cross from a free kick was missed by the keeper and the Abbots had a tap in. Usually the Dragons’ heads would drop, however Micah’s didn’t. Joel found him in space again. He was giving the left back a torrid time and after beating him again he was brought down, and the ref gave a penalty. Joel calmly slotted it away in the bottom corner. The Abbot’s heads were drooping but hadn’t quite dropped. They thought they would get some joy from another deep free kick, only this time Ben came and got a strong punch on the ball, which fell to Iara who fed Joel. He found Kaies who found Moh who found Micah who scored the decisive goal, which killed any hopes the Abbots had for a come back.

Turning on the style the Dragons were ruthless. Alex a second half subbed combined well with Spencer who found Micah then Rinor who managed to slot through Aj, calmly and ruthlessly Aj slotted home. The Abbots became overly aggressive which resulted in Alex having to leave the field with a sore ankle. Dj was upended, which caused a huge row and a 22 man melee. It took 10 minutes to calm things down and the game was in danger of being abandoned. However the ref got it back under control and there was enough time for one more. Joel played a glorious cross-field pass, which found Moh who centred for Spencer for another tap in. It was a well made goal that Spencer deserved as himself and Kaise added a level of industry and energy to the game, when they were introduced, which helped the Dragons continue their onslaught.

It became a one sided game with the Dragons showing the quality and ruthlessness of champions. Nothing is won in October, which Arsenal fans will be aware of but this certainly seemed like the start of something special. Despite the goals, a special mention goes to the back 5 who were imperious. Since conceding 6 in the opening game of the season they are now a tight unit, who have created a platform of which the rest of the team can rely on and gain confidence from. A brilliant team display, the rest of the league have been warned.

MOM: Mohammed Hassan

KDFC – An FA Charter Standard Development Club

FA Charter Standard Development Club Application – Kensington Dragons F.C

We are delighted to announce that after a concerted effort from all the Club officers, managers and coaches KDFC has been awarded FA Charter Standard Development Club status. There are currently 600 Clubs affiliated to Middlesex County FA of which 120 are Charter Standard Clubs and only 8 are Development Clubs. We hope this award will not only raise our profile within the county but help us develop even more partnerships with groups within the London area, support our applications for funding, attract potential sponsors and secure training and development opportunities for our coaches, managers and players.

More details on the FA Charter Standard Scheme can be found at the link below.

https://www.middlesexfa.com/clubs-and-leagues/charter-standard

Luke O’Donoghue

Charter Standard Coordinator

Kensington Dragons FC

Thank you for your recent FA Charter Standard application which we have received at the Association office. I am delighted to inform you that after meeting the necessary criteria your application has been approved by our Raising Standards Working Group for the FA Charter Standard Development Club Award.

Middlesex County FA believe that it is a fantastic achievement and honour to achieve the FA Charter Standard Development Award and therefore I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate your club on behalf of us all. By achieving the award your club has demonstrated an excellent level of discipline, administration and operating standards with a commitment to developing new activity within the club over the next three seasons.”

Peter Clayton

Chief Executive

Middlesex County Football Association

U17s win at home to Pinnstars

Kensington Dragons U17s 7 vs 0 Pinnstars

After weeks of small squads and miserable results, the Dragons finally got their act together in emphatic style. Buoyed by a return of the energetic Ishmael, a returning fit goalkeeper, a new look strike force and new signings the Dragons settled into the game very quickly. Slick passing and a level of energetic pressing, which had been absent in the last few weeks, saw the Dragons win a penalty in the first 7 minutes. However, it was missed! This highlighted the lack of confidence coursing through the home side.

Instead of this being a precursor for doom, it acted as a wake up call, as within 10 minutes the Dragons were off the mark with Mo scoring the first goal. This proceeded in an opening of the flood gates, with Youel, who started slowly, getting his third goal from midfield this season. The scoring continued with Rinor scoring his 4th in three games and Kaise getting off the mark on his return from injury. These goals were built off the back of neat football in midfield with Tom dominant in both the air and the ground, and Ishmael’s unselfish movement and slick skills helping the team to put the ball into dangerous areas. 4-0 was the half time score and the question was would the Dragons be able to keep the clean sheet that had eluded them all season.

Changes were made at half time, which slowed the pace of the game but it didn’t stop Mo scoring his second goal. He will think long and hard about his penalty miss, especially as Rinor went on to notch two more. Rinor went home with the match ball leaving Mo to consider what if. Healthy internal rivalries aside, 7-0 actually flattered the opposition considering the Dragons failed to hit the target, when they managed to work the ball into good situations, and also an inspired goal keeper actually kept the score down.

After some tough results, the Dragons have made a step in the right direction, scoring goals, creating chances, working hard to win the ball, and managing to keep a clean sheet (which Ben contributed to with some fine saves). Altogether a good performance and a great result. However can the team now create some consistency and fulfil their undoubted potential? Time will tell.

Two thunderbolts sink U16s

The U16’s lost 1-2 to LNER away. The Dragons were rusty after their long break and did not quite have the edge when required. The first LNER shot was a cracker which the Dragons goalie just got his hands to as it crept the wrong way off the cross bar. Their second goal was again a cracker but this time the Dragons goalie had no chance as it rocketed in just below the cross bar. The Dragons goal came from a corner but that was that. There were few shots at goal from either side and the game could have gone either way.

U16s just miss out to CB

The U16’s narrowly lost 1-2 to CB Hounslow. The Dragons followed their elders by also allowing a first goal to the opposition. Worst was to come as they went to 0-2 down. From then on in the Dragons dominated to pull back 1-2 at half time. The Dragons hammered away in the second half but good defending and luck kept Hounslow ahead. Finally a superb move down the left resulted in the Dragons superfast midfielder scooting past the last defender to coolly slot the ball past Hounslow’s desperate goalie. The ball hit the inside of the right hand side post then unbelievably the inside of the left hand post before being cleared off the line. Football can be cruel and the Dragons had lost by one miserable little goal.

Ever improving U16s win away

The U16’s beat Parkfield 5-2 away on a diminutive pitch crammed next to other diminutive pitches. In truth the game was fairly scrappy for much of the  time with players having to queue up to stand on the patch of grass. Parkfield had previously beaten the Dragons; coming from 0-2 down to win 4-2 at Linford Christie just before the Dragons came of age. This time there was no doubt – the Dragons have got it together and are not about let games slip away.

The U16’s beat Spartans 6-2 at Linford Christie.

The sides were evenly matched for much of the first half with Spartans scoring first. The Dragon fans are however inured to the trials and tribulations of their team and did not doubt that better was to come which it duly did – tremendous play forced the Dragons 4-1 ahead and seemingly into a commanding lead. Almost alas the Dragons customary worrisome second half wobble broke through, Spartans pounced, and the Dragons were on the back foot to concede making it a less comfortable 4-2. At last the Dragons decided that they had matured beyond their “worrisome wobbles” phase and went on to score two more delicious goals. This team has found its footballing feet.

Would you like to join Kensington Dragons?

Welcome to our website!

Kensington Dragons FC celebrates its 10th anniversary as a club. Entering 2013-14, we have 8 Youth sides and 2 Senior men’s teams. We’ve also recently started our U10s who train on a Saturday morning in St Mark’s Park and also our Girls section.

We are always open to new players and parents who would like to get involved with any age group.

If you would like more information about Kensington Dragons as a whole or any team in particular, please visit our contacts page.

Our Under 18s are currently offering an open trial to Goalkeepers with specialised coaching available from the coaching staff at QPR. Please email the manager at U18s@kensingtondragons.com for more information.

Improving U16s push Hayes to the limit

The U16’s lost 2-4 away to Hayes and Yeading in the League Cup. This was a much better performance from the Dragons against the top of the Premiership side. Yeading pulled 2 goals ahead before the resilient Dragons drew level. Disaster then struck as Yeading were awarded a penalty in the most dubious of circumstances. The Dragons were finally undone when the howling gale swept ball and Yeading the length of the pitch to score against the run of play. This game was probably the tipping point for the Dragons – they will get much better from here on in.

U16s hit 8 in League Cup

The U16’s beat Manor Youth away 8-3 in the League Cup. The omens were not auspicious. With the veteran Manager having to step in to rouse the initial bare 11 with no goal keeper he could have been apprehensive when Manor’s Manager broke the news that the “ref hadn’t turned up” but “luckily” one of their parents “could ref“. The U16’s are not however a normal team, there is within them a grit and steel which refuses to get crushed for long – reverses yes but giving in no. The match started evenly but gradually the Dragons pulled away to dominate and after a couple of hundred missed chances scored enough to win with ease. The improvement continues.