The weather was against us and most Dragons stayed tucked up in bed praying for warmer weather:

The Firsts drew 2-2 to Jolof Sports away. The journey was a shocker for players and management alike and added an unnecessary challenge before playing Jolof who are second in the League. The Dragons rose to the chilly challenge and, despite going behind twice, dominated the game and with better finishing should have comfortably won. The Dragons scored what was thought to be a winner only to have it eventually ruled offside. This was a very positive result showing that the Firsts are moving in the right direction.

The Blues had no game.

The Old Dragonians away game against Pro FA Hammersmith was postponed.

All the other Youth Girls and Youth Boys teams were raring to go across League and Cup competitions, but sadly did not play due to frozen, unplayable pitches across the capital. 

We wish you a happy, if a cold, New Year. We started 2025 with most players still tucked up in bed waiting for the fixtures to re-start and/or the weather to improve. The indominable Firsts however did play and secured a great win to start 2025 in style:

Results W/E 5^th January 2025

The Firsts beat Eagles Land Cricklewood 3-2, theoretically, at home. As the only senior side to play, all eyes were on the Dragons as they rose from their Christmas/NY slumbers to brave the elements. With 5 minutes to go before the break the  result hung in the balance at 1-1 with both sides desperately trying to pull ahead. It was not to be for either side and the second half started still at 1-1. The Dragons stuck to their game plan to play fast, passing football against the physical ELC and took the initiative with a clinical individual goal and could have scored another soon after. Alas, ECL then beat the Dragons press with a long ball hoofed upfront that their striker finished off to equalise. With the game getting scrappy, the Dragons found a third and managed to hang on until the final whistle, despite hot ELC tempers. A great start to 2025.

The Blues and the Old Dragonians had no games.

The U12 Girls were beaten away by Vicky Park Rangers. The brave Dragons travelled across London for a very cold encounter – in more ways than one. Unfortunately the Dragons never quite warmed up enough to thwart the home side and were soundly beaten. However, the good news is it can only get better.

All other Youth Girls and Youth Boys did not play as they had no games scheduled or the pitches were frozen and/or waterlogged so unplayable.

We have battled through varied vicissitudes to arrive at the Christmas break in fine fettle, eager to move forward in the New Year. Thanks must go to all our officers, coaches, managers, trustees, parents, players, supporters and partners who have worked together so well to provide training and football matches for local young people out in the healthy, fresh, if somewhat bracing, air  to the benefit of all.  Indeed, there is a certain foolhardy charm in being on Wormwood Scrubs on a freezing December morning in the relentless rain with the wind howling, and the referee refusing to acknowledge a clear offside – if that does not breed resilience then little would! All in all, It has been a great deal of fun whilst we all look forward to the sunlight uplands of spring.  The losses have been “character building” whilst the wins satisfying – as in life.

We wish you all a Happy Christmas

Thank you all those who so kindly donated  to the club via the Big Give campaign  last week. We did well on the wet winter pitches over the weekend:

The U18 Boys away game against North London Stars was postponed – at the very last minute to the consternation of the eager Dragons. NLS told the Dragons at 9am on the Sunday morning that their pitch was unplayable. Sceptics could be forgiven for being sceptical.

The U16 Boys beat Blue Moon 10-1 away. The Dragons planned to finish 2024 with a bang and they certainly did. They dominated from start to finish making the battle for Player of the Match extremely tough. Bring on 2025!

The U15 Boys drew 4-4 at home to Inv3ntive. The Dragons went 0-2 down before the average fan could say “the pitch is a bit muddy” and it looked as if they might wobble.  That was not to be the case however as they dominated to pull ahead to 4-3 and almost win but for a last-minute goal from Inv3tive which some thought was offside.

The U14 Boys away game at Pinnstars was postponed.

The U13 Boys Red beat London Eagles 4-1 at home. To end the year on  a high the Dragons put on a great display at home. Spectacular goals and quick passing made for an honest day’s work, as the Dragons earned all three points.

The U13 Boys White lost 1-3 away at Acton Ealing Whistlers. With several players missing, it was an opportunity for the Dragons’ ‘game changers’ to start. The Dragons dominated from start to finish but just could not capitalise on the chances they created. AEW absorbed a lot of pressure but were clinical with their few chances and the Dragons were left to rue missed opportunities. Still, this was a really good performance against a side whom they lost 7-2 to a few weeks ago.

The U12 Boys drew 0-0 to Hanwell Town away. The Dragons no longer control their League destiny as they failed to beat title contenders. However, with half a season ahead who knows what is in store. A goal line clearance ensured the Dragons got at least a point.

The new U11 Boys narrowly lost 1-2 to London Athletic away. LA scheduled the match for a very early 9am KO, contrary to  league rules. Such is the spirit of this Dragons side however that they accepted the challenge and trekked out in the early dawn  to the wilds of  North London. LS scored right at the start, before the Dragons had woken up, but from then on it was a close match with the second half scoreless.

The U10 Boys trained in preparation for the League.

The U12 Girls drew 0-0 in a friendly at Vicky Park Rangers away. A good, end of the year friendly game played in festive spirits. Despite the absence of goals there was action from end to end, and the Dragons kept a clean sheet for their stockings.

The U17 Girls, U15 Girls and U14 Girls had no matches.

The Firsts home game to Larkspur Rovers was postponed.

The Blues home game to Eastcote British Legion was postponed.

The Old Dragonians lost to Princes Park away. We have all heard the terrace chant of ‘football in a library’ – well this was ‘football in a farmyard’. Despite the pitch conditions both teams played well and the result was on a knife edge early in the second half at 2-2. The turning point happened at 60 mins when the Dragons’ GK was injured attempting to save PPs 3rd goal and was forced off. Down to 10 men and striving for the equaliser, the Dragons left gaps at the back and were punished.

Results w/e 8^th December 2024

Not the most exciting of weekends with Storm Darragh winning:

The Firsts, the Blues and the Old Dragonians had no games.

All the scheduled Youth Boys and Youth Girls games were postponed due to waterlogged pitches and foul weather conditions.

With the weather being as unpredictable as our results we held our first international fixtures this season:

The U11 Boys and the U13 Boys both won matches against a touring side from Chicago, USA. The U11 Boys won 4-0 to extend their winning run in all competitions to five matches and the U13 Boys won 6-2 in a dominant display after a quick turnaround from their weekend fixture. Both games were entertaining and played in good spirit. It is the first time that any of the Dragons’ Boys teams have beaten travelling American counterparts so celebrations all round.

The Firsts just lost 1-2 away to Kodak. Football is a labour of love. To play on a muddy pitch, in driving winds and frozen rain, players must love football! As a result of the conditions the game was ugly and random. Kodak, a team lower in table, were able to get a result against the 10 Dragons who for long periods outplayed them.

The Blues had no game.

The Old Dragonians narrowly lost 2-3 at home to Newton City. Both teams served up a great match considering the conditions. The Dragons opened the scoring as their Midfielder rifled a shot past Newton’s GK and increased their lead just before half time. With Newton City playing with the wind in the second half, they piled on the pressure to grab three goals and snatch the points away from the Dragons.

The U17 Girls drew 3-3 to Bloomsbury at home. The Dragons took to the field with 9 players and finished the match with 8 players due to injuries against Bloomsbury who had a full squad. Undeterred, the Dragons played on the front foot and were 3-0 up by the break. The second half saw Bloomsbury make some heavy handed challenges and were overly physical which resulted in the heroic Dragons’ keeper having to leave the field injured. The wind picked up and the Dragons were pegged back and conceded 3 poor goals but know they could – and almost did – win the game.

The U15 Girls and the U14 Girls had no games.

The U12 Girls lost 1-2 to St Josephs away. A good first half performance from the Dragons but ultimately they didn’t take their chances in front of goal.

The new U11 Boys game to St Josephs away was postponed.

The U12 Boys beat Brent United 3-1 away. The Dragons came through a frustrating first half playing against strong winds. They then took full advantage when the teams swapped sides as a long-range shot danced through the air to open the scoring.

The U13 Boys Red lost 2-4 at home to St Lawrence. In a mid-table scrap the Dragons knew the three points would lift them more comfortably into the upper half of the division. They played well but despite scoring a brace St Lawrence bagged twice as many this time around.

The U13 Boys White just lost 3-4 at home to Larkspur Rovers. The Dragons can be proud of their performance in difficult stormy conditions against a strong Larkspur team currently sitting third in the League. To take Larkspur all the way to the line and nearly clinch not just a point but a win is testament to the bravery of the squad.

The U14 Boys lost to Southall Athletic away. A third loss in a row against Southall that the Dragons have not yet managed to beat – they eventually will!

The U15 Boys had no game.

The U16 Boys lost 3-5 at home to Challenger Youth. Playing in horrendous conditions, the Dragons made the most of the high winds and were well deserved leaders going into halftime. In the second half the Dragons were against the wind, which had grown in strength, and unfortunately went down 3-5.

The U18 Boys had no game.

The U10 Boys trained in preparation for the League.

A mixed week with some great performances as the winter weather bites:

The U17 Girls had no game.

The U15 Girls beat Alexandra Park 3-0 at home. This was a great win for the Dragons who persevered against the fast-playing Alexandra Park. They held their nerve right to the end which paid dividends as they recorded a decisive win.

The U14 Girls lost to Barnet Nightingales away. The Dragons were three down by half time in a difficult away fixture but carried on fighting with the reward of a goal in the second half.

The U12 Girls had no game.

The new U11 Boys won a fantastic 4-2 victory against Ruislip Town at home. Ruislip are particularly physical and often show signs of disgraceful behaviour. The Dragons however refused to be cowed and pulled out all their footballing stops to give a top rate performance and come out the deserved winners.

The U12 Boys beat Pro FA 2-1 at home. The Dragons played well to get a comfortable 2-0 lead. Missed chances and a second half goal for Pro FA made the Dragons players and fans nervous as the match hurtled towards the end but they held on to win.

The U13 Boys Red lost 2-6 away to Ealing United. Another game this weekend where the scoreline did not reflect the closely contested and hard-fought game.

The U13 Boys White were awarded an automatic away win to Harrow St Marys who could not raise a side.

The U14 Boys beat Singh Sabha 6-0 at home. An emphatic victory – based on the score, the Manager declared, “Game, Set and Match!”

The U15 Boys lost 0-5 to Ealing United away with a scoreline that did not reflect the match. The Dragons were “all over Ealing”, to quote the Dragons Coach,  but they simply could not score. Ealing were the better side in the first half scoring four goals but the Dragons tore into them after the break – hitting the post; having a goal disallowed; being denied a clear penalty etc – the problem was that they just could not score. One of the unsolved mysteries of life.

The U16 Boys had no game.

The U18 Boys drew 4-4 with North London Stars at home. This was mostly a great performance from the Dragons. When NLS drew quickly ahead by two goals the Dragons fans thought “Here we go, another wobble is on the cards” . The players however decided they had had enough of wobbling; gritted their teeth and forced their way back into contention. Despite injuries, absences, and a goalie playing outfield the Dragons pushed, pressed and pulverised and were very unlucky not to score the decisive winner.

The Firsts lost 1-3 to Larkspur away in the Premier Division Cup. A tough Cup loss for the Firsts, to a team that were very happy to win saying “We have better players!” But you win when you get things right. The Dragons on the day got a lot wrong which is disappointing when they know they can do so much right! Focus now returns to the League and accumulating points before Christmas.

The Blues lost at home to Townsmead. The Blues had periods of good play leading to two goals, but Townsmead who are vying for the top of the League were too strong. The Dragons are searching for their first three points and will surely make that their target before the break.

The Old Dragonians beat London Tigers 5-4 away. This was a gripping nine-goal thriller that mesmerised the massed fans. The Dragons were elated to come away with a victory against their old foes.

The U10 Boys trained in preparation for the League.

HELP!
We are unusual because we do not charge a membership fee. We rely on our Patrons, Sponsors and Voluntary Donations. Coaches do not know who donates so players are treated the same  – regardless of their financial circumstances. We do not think it fair that some young people cannot afford to play organised sport so we do not charge. We are proud of having the widest socio-economic mix in the country. The harsh reality however is that we must pay for pitches, referees, coaches’ expenses, equipment etc etc. The costs mount each year. It’s tremendous how year after year those who can afford it help out and those who cannot are welcomed equally. If you can help please  the DONATE button.

This was the last weekend of half term so the teams are gradually returning to full strength:

The Firsts drew 3-3 to Hilltop in a home match that had to be  played away. This Local derby was an epic from start to finish. Hilltop took the lead with a wind assisted cross-come-shot which was cancelled out by the Dragons with an outstanding overhead kick. The second half was end to end as Hilltop scored again to make it 2-1. The Dragons quickly equalised from a set piece then scored another to take the lead for the first time. With minutes on the clock, Hilltop scored to tie the game.

The Blues lost 1-5 to FC Sunbury away. The Blues faced FC Sunbury in the League and this time came away with wounds to lick. Luckily, they have an immediate chance at retribution as they prepare themselves to play Sunbury again this weekend in the Cup.

The Old Dragonians lost 3-5 to Karakocan away in the Cup. A shocker of a first half from the Old Ds saw the Dragons five down at the break, with an Everest to climb.  The second half saw them come out fighting and with 10 mins to go had reduced Karakocan’s lead to two but alas time defeated them.

The U11 Boys beat Acton Ealing Whistlers 6-1 at home. This was a top performance from all the Dragons which included their first hattrick. The team has progressed in leaps and bounds since the beginning of the season.

The U12 Boys beat Ealing Trailfinders 4-0 at home. The Dragons dominated to leapfrog their opponents in the League. An excellent defensive performance created endless passing out moves in the Dragons’ favour.

The U13 Boys Red lost away to FC Marylebone. The Dragons travelled to top of the League Marylebone who have not lost a game this season. This was always going to be a tough match but the Dragons took some positives home – scoring twice.

The U13 Boys White lost 3-6 away to Brook House. The Dragons started well but alas tiredness lead to BH to scoring to make it 3-3 at half time. A ready supply of half time sustenance was not enough to top up their energy levels and the game got away from them.

The U14 Boys beat St Joseph’s 5-1 at home. A win so convincing that the Manager needn’t say more than just that, “A strong victory.”

The U15 Boys beat Bessingby Park Rangers 4-3 away.  Away matches in half term are always a challenge but the Dragons parents pulled together to make sure the team arrived at the right place and at the right time! The Dragons opened the scoring and from then on it was a ding dong battle to the final triumphant whistle.

The U16 Boys narrowly lost 2-3 to Pinnstars away. The Dragons’ unbeaten run came to an end this weekend so it is on to the next weekend to start another unbeaten run.

The U18 Boys just lost 3-4 away to Acton Ealing Whistlers in the Premiership. The match started late due to the Dragons Manager being chronologically challenged in one direction which saved those Dragons challenged in the opposite direction embarrassment. Half term, late flights and illness reduced the Dragons to a bare 11, but fine, players. It was then a close fought, competitive match throughout with AEW scoring in the last minute to win from an uncharacteristically scuffed kick.

The U10 Boys trained in preparation for the League.

All Youth Girls teams had no games scheduled over the half term break.