KENSINGTON DRAGONS U13s 4 V 2 PRINCE’S PARK.
Goalscorers: Jake, Joseph (2), Joe.
Our first home match in what seems like an age pitted the Under 13s against Prince’s Park. We knew they would provide a tough test after a close fought match at their place at the start of the season.
A few absentees called for a reshuffle in the Dragons defence and it looked, on paper, to be a solid defensive unit. But the Dragons made their customary poor start and were a goal down when a Prince’s Park striker latched on to an under strength throw-out from Enrique and ruthlessly dispatched the ball beyond him. A few minutes later the Dragons found themselves 2 nil down to a great strike by the visitors.
An attempted Rabona by a visiting midfielder provided some light relief and brought chuckles from the Dragons’ substitutes as it had more in common with David Dunn’s comedic effort (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4fsLeCjB4s) than Eric Lamela’s wonder goal.
The Dragons finally started to play like we know they can and Jake, up from the back for a corner, halved the arears with a well-taken goal that he stroked calmly into the net. Sidney, returning to the team after a month out, had a stinging shot saved by the in-form Prince’s Park keeper and as the first period drew to an end Joe won the ball in the congested midfield and played a perfectly weighted through ball for Joseph to run on to. He held off the covering defender and smashed the ball past the keeper to open his account with the Dragons and make it 2 all at the break. As the second half started the Dragons picked up where they had left off and within 4 minutes of the restart Felix picked out Joseph who doubled his tally for the season with another fine finish.
The Dragons pushed on looking for another goal and as Joe chased a through ball he collided with the on-rushing keeper. There was a lengthly delay while the keeper’s head injury was assessed but eventually he decided to bravely continue. However he didn’t last long and was withdrawn from the field of play after complaining of blurred vision. The Dragons, buoyed by their goal advantage, went in search of the killer blow. The stand-in keeper was proving to be an accomplished shot stopper until a move straight from the Dragons’ training ground broke his stubborn resistance. Raaid peeled out wide on the overlap, the ball was played into his path and he delivered an exquisite right foot cross that Joe met with a precise header at the back post. 4-2 and the Dragons were in complete control. It was a convincing display by the home team. Franklin had one of his best performances in defence nullifying everything that came down the right flank. And Joseph’s first goals for the team, one with his left and one with his right, should give him the confidence to add to his tally in the coming weeks.
So the Under 13s continue to improve and look good value for their second place position in the league as they head into December. With many of the top teams already played they look perfectly poised to mount a serious tilt at the title.