Kensington Dragons U14 Eagles 7 2 Pitshanger FC
Back home at St Mark’s for the first time in weeks, there were those who supposed this might be a stroll in the park. And when we practically walked in two goals in the opening ten minutes we might have supposed they were right.
But this, of course, is football the truths of the universe prevail. So however much talent you’ve got on the pitch it’s worthless without that magic ingredient. Hard work. And as if to admire our early rewards, we sat back and watched Pitshanger respond in kind. Two swift hits, the first a text-book example of the striker’s predatory art, saw the Eagles knocked unceremoniously off their high perch, hard-earned pride momentarily scorched.
The response, however, was as magnificent as it was immediate. A quick double substitution, some generalised shouting and the mighty Dragons were roused once again. Within minutes the lead was restored through a strike of rare quality (a high and rising half-volley from 15 yards kept so low and hard the keeper could be grateful he was nowhere near it). From there on in the Eagles applied themselves faultlessly into the break at 4-2 and pressing on right from the restart. It finished 7-2, with Dragons en-masse hungry for the ball, memories of the early wobble fading with the midday light.