Fellow Cup Winners
The Firsts WON the Middlesex County Cup on Wednesday night under floodlights by beating NPL 2-1. A fantastic achievement. The first half was tentative and tough with the Dragons giving away an own goal before the break. The second half was a different affair with the Dragons playing good controlled competitive football in the rain to go one up via a penalty and then 15 minutes from the end a tremendous shot from the right 25 yards out sealed the win. We are simply the best.
At the weekend the sun finally shone to cheer up the irrepressible Dragons:
The Reserves drew 0-0 with table toppers Stedfast before going on to win 3-2 on penalties to reach the MCFL Junior Open Cup Final on April 27th. With a solid spine through the centre the Dragons started superbly and created opportunities but at half time it was still 0-0. The second half was an even affair and often end to end. As the clock ticked it seemed inevitable that it would be Extra Time and indeed it was. It was clear that Stedfast were physically spent and the Dragons dominated the extra 30 minutes but again could not score and it was onto penalties. As events unfolded it dawned on the Dragons that the result was down to the Dragons keeper being left to face 2 pens and take his own! With the Dragons nerves shredded the goalie put his gloves back on, returned to the goal and leaped majestically left to palm away the last penalty and the celebrations began. The Dragons had won and were through to the Final on 27 April having already reached another Cup Final on 17 April!
The Firsts drew 2-2 with Hillingdon away and then generously lost in extra time against Hillingdon as they prepared for the Cup Final on Wednesday
The U17’s had no game
The U15’s beat Brunswick away 2-0 in the first leg of a double header and then drew 1-1 in the second leg. With a reduced squad the Dragons played their customary game of good passing football without actually slamming the ball in the opposition’s net quite as much as they deserved. Calm ruthlessness in front of goal is all that is needed to turn the side into League and Cup winners.
The U14 Eagles beat St Joseph’s 5-2 at St Marks. Only as the Premier League entered its post-Easter climax were the Eagles finally able to re-start their own campaign after poor weather and the Easter break. St Joseph’s were not going to let the Dragons ease back into their stride – they were well-organised and proved even stronger than the last time the sides met. This was just the kind of challenge the Dragons needed. It was a performance from the top-drawer, with every Eagle pulling together to provide the platform for another man-of-the-match hat-trick from their tireless striker, not to mention two eye-catching strikes from their jinking midfield maestro whose dazzling footwork kept the crowd heartily entertained. To quote the Manager “our appetite is back!” The Dragons are hungry for more but will the weather, and all the other vagaries of this frustrating season, let us satisfy it?”
The U14 Nighthawks had no game
The U13’s at St Marks lost 1 to “quite a lot” against the run away league leaders Pinner United. It all started so well with the Dragons looking like they were the ones who should have been top of the table. They took the lead with the Dragons left midfielder weaving passed three defenders, passing to his midfield chum who had made the right run to calmly control the ball before smashing it into the net. Pinner then made the Dragons pay and with some defensive and keeper errors they clinically punished the home side. Pinner simply proved to be too good on the day.
The U11’s were awarded 6 points as Brentham Colts defaulted in the scheduled double header
The U10’s started training again after the Easter break and look forward to their match against the Spanish School
The Girls started training again after the Easter break looking forward to more tournament success