As the temperature dropped, the Dragons were undeterred as they braved gale force wind:
The Firsts beat Wilberforce Wanderers 4-1 away. The Dragons controlled possession and the tempo to create chances in abundance. Crucially, a natural Dragons goalie was back in action to bolster the defence which allowed the Dragons to play out with confidence and earn a huge 3 points in the Middlesex Premiership.
The Blues drew 2-2 at home against London Titans in an even, bitterly cold contest. In conditions not made for the faint-hearted, the kick-off was delayed as the ref battled his way through traffic. When the Titans took to the pitch it was clear that their size reflected their name and the Dragons prepared for an aerial bombardment. Yet, it was the Blues who took the lead from a 39-yard screamer that deserves a MOTD goal of the month. The two teams then battled the conditions, as much as each other, until the final whistle.
The Old Dragonians narrowly lost 0-1 to Hounslow Wolves at home. The Dragons desperately wanted to win this match after the controversy of their last meeting. The game hung in the balance, with only one goal to separating the sides, but try as they might, the Dragons just could not equalise.
The U16 Girls beat Hampstead 3-0 away. The Dragons started slowly – it took a great save from their keeper to realise they were in a game. They then stepped up the pace and a shot from outside the box looped over the Hampstead’s keeper to make it 1-0 to the Dragons. Two more Dragons goals came in the second half. Hampstead kept going but could not break through a resilient defence.
The U14 Girls drew 0-0 at home to Vicky Park Rangers. This was a great performance from the Dragons who looked disciplined and well-trained. Their defence stayed tight, attacking moves were well drilled and the passing effective. The Dragons created opportunities to score but were unfortunate not to find the back of the net.
The U13 Girls just lost to Most Wanted Elite at home. Out on the open fields of Wormwood Scrubs, the Dragons girls showed great mental fortitude to climb out of their trackies and into match shorts in the icy winds. On two previous occasions the Dragons had beaten Most Wanted but this time they fell short. The post-match hot chocolate was never more well deserved.
The U12 Girls trained.
The U11 Girls were beaten by Ruislip Rangers at home. The opposition proved to be too well-drilled, but the Dragons showed immense fight, putting in some serious challenges until the very end: ‘the muddier the kit, the mightier the Dragon’ so might become their motto. The Dragons also showed they have goals in them as they put two past Ruislip – blocks to build on for the rematch.
The new U11 Boys beat Parkfield 5-2 away. A magnificent, massive first win for the new Dragons squad! Despite a long drive out to face their opponents, the Dragons arrived focused, but only just in time, to put in the most sensational display so far this season. A testament to their coaches’ and management’s effort.
The U12 Boys were beaten by local rivals Old Actonians away. The first half saw the OAs take the lead thanks to questionable penalty decisions, but the Dragons kept their composure and tried to play their own football. Although kept on their toes from the first to last whistle, the Dragons never lost their determination to turn the match around. The Manager is proud of his team, who “carried themselves with grace in the face of defeat.”
The U13 Boys came back from 0-2 down to draw 2-2 at home to Hanwell Town. Playing against a very physical team gave the Dragons a challenge they accepted, but defensive errors meant Hanwell went into half time 2 up, with a huge penalty shout for the Dragons ignored. The second half saw some of the best football the Dragons have produced as they battled to score and then, moments later, to grab the equaliser.
The U14 Boys lost at home to Ickenham. A gutsy defensive performance in the first half, highlighted by their goalie saving a penalty, saw the Dragons hold Ickenham 0:0 at half time. Unfortunately, the teamwork in the first half was undone with two quick Ickenham goals at the start of the second. The score line did not reflect the good progress being made by the Dragons . On to the next match!
The U15 Boys just lost 3-4 at home to unbeaten league leaders, Headstone Manor. The Dragons played with skill and passion, forcing Headstone to near breaking point right up to the final whistle. There was some controversy as to whether a crucial Headstone goal had gone into the net, rather than through as was generally believed by the Dragons. Playing in a league is a marathon, not a sprint, so there will be many twists and turns to come as the table tightens.
The U16 Boys just fell short to Elite London away. This was a cold contest in Division One of the HYL where the Dragons found the back of the net twice – which would usually earn at least a point – but this time round the Dragons fell short. It is away this weekend to Hanwell Town with a point to prove.
The U18 Boys did not play.
The U10 Boys trained.