12th December

The First Team lost 1-3 C.B. Hounslow away in the League Cup. Hounslow
scored twice to lead before the Dragons fought back to 1-2 but Hounslow
quickly restored their two goal advantage. The Dragons were on the whole
a superior side but they was unable to turn the result around. All
attentions now are back on the league.

The Reserves lost 1 - 4 to Hayes Gate Reserves. This fixture was a
rematch of the cup encounter of the previous week. The much depleted
Dragons could not recover from missing 75% of their defence and despite
a committed performance were eventually beaten by Hayes Gate. Some
neutral observers might say the score line was not a true reflection of
the Dragons performance but the bottom line was that Hayes took their
chances whereas the Dragons were guilty of missing some very good
opportunities. On the positive side there was a good debut performance
and a return to form of a striker. The negatives were once again the
Dragons inability to deal with set pieces which the Coaches will be
working on in the coming weeks.

28th November

The Firsts drew 2-2 with Hanworth Villa. Although not a title decider
this was definitely the fixture of the week. With the Dragons suffering
an unexpected defeat last week and Hanworth increasing their lead at the
top by three points, the Dragons were given the chance for an instant
reprieve. The Dragons started strongly and on the fifteen minute mark
were rewarded with a goal from an expert chip over Hanworth's grounded
goalie. The Dragons once again went close from a set piece but it was
Hanworth who scored to draw level after taking advantage of the Dragons
habit of persistently giving the ball away in dangerous areas. The
second half became more open and stretched as both sides tried to draw
ahead. A clearance from the Dragons goalie created the opportunity for
the Dragons to lob the keeper again and draw ahead to 2-1. A Dragons win
was insight if they could withstand Hanworth's onslaught for at least
ten minutes. A questionable free kick however lead to Hanworth drawing
level and, despite pressure from both sides, the points were shared in a
very entertaining match.

The Reserves lost 2-4 to Kodak Reserves. The Dragons started brightly on
a heavy pitch against a physical Kodak side assisted by the referee
allowing a number of bad challenges to go unpunished. Unable to play
their natural game the Dragons retreated into their own half and it came
as no surprise when Kodak took the lead on 20 minutes from a goalmouth
scramble following a corner. The Dragons responded with a goal and
started to play lovely free flowing football. Unfortunately however a
Dragons attack broke down and Kodak counter attacked to score assisted
by the Dragons following an onrushing Kodak player's instruction to
'leave it'. The referee failed to control the game leaving both sides
perplexed by his non decision making. The second half was an even affair
but the Dragons were undone by another goal from a set piece. The
Dragons continued to press but, like Arsenal, were guilty of trying to
walk the ball into the back of the net. The visitors went further in
front following another counter attack. The Dragons moved in to a more
offensive mode but could not score enough goals to level. It was the
Kodak players who were relieved when the referee called a halt to
proceedings exactly on 90 minutes.

21st November

The Firsts lost 3-4 away to Junior All Stars. With the Dragons being the
only team not to have played a fixture last week whilst their closest
rivals both won making them level on points this fixture became all the
more important. The Dragons started well and it was not long before a
slick interchange lead to an early Dragon's goal. All Stars used the
wind to apply pressure and within minutes a lofted ball created an error
in the Dragons box and a goal. With the wind literally blowing them up
the pitch the All Stars came knocking again and an unchallenged run from
right to left eventually dropped to an All Stars player who instantly
smashed the ball home. The Dragons looked vulnerable and the All Stars
attacked down the right and the right back tried an instinctive lobbed
shot which left the goalkeeper stranded as it drop in over his head to
make the Dragons 1-3 down at half time. An immediate response was needed
after the break but it was All Stars who were able to get the next goal
as a ball from midfield split the defence and allowed the left winger to
skip past the goalkeeper and slot home for 4-1. Dragons were able to
show some spirit in the last 20 minutes but two great goal scoring
strikes was not enough to salvage the game. Now the important game
against Hanworth Villas next week becomes a 6 pointer and a great chance
to bounce back for the Dragons

The Reserves lost 3-4 against North Kensington First Team who took
advantage of their fixture being postponed to play their First Team
instead of their Reserves. On a rare foray into the North Kensington
penalty area, a Dragons attack broke down and the visitors, realising
they could not pass their way through the Dragons, hit a 40 yard
diagonal ball splitting the Dragons to score. Undeterred the Dragons
became more adventurous and carved out some decent half chances but were
again undone by a scoring counter attack. The Dragons responded
magnificently with 2 quick fire goals. It is said that a team is at its
most vulnerable having just scored and this seemed to be the case. The
Dragons trying to play the off side trap got it horribly wrong and left
a North Kensington player in acres of space to calmly slotted the ball
home and make the Dragons 2-3 down at half time. A good positive start
was needed in the second half but it was North Kensington who provided
it to score. The Dragons dug very deep and remained competitive
throughout and scored with 5 minutes to go to set up a grandstand
finish. The Dragons huffed and puffed but could not find that elusive
4th goal. As darkness drew in the referee called a halt to proceedings
and the Dragons were left to think of what might have been.

14th November

Both First team and Reserve team games were rained off

7th November

The First Team beat Rebal Alliance 4 -1 away in the second round of the
Junior Cup. The Dragons immediately went on the offensive but could not
score. Rebel then in turn had a good five minute spell which earned them
a worthy goal. Perhaps this was the wake up call that the Dragons needed
and pressure lead to the equaliser. A stern half time talk was needed.
Hard work and endeavour created the second goal from a penalty. The
Dragons started looking rather more self-assured. On the sixtieth minute
a great sweeping move from left to right ended up with a Dragons boot
skilfully guiding the ball into the top corner. Rebal wobbled and the
Dragons went on to dominate and score. A very mediocre first half became
a very convincing, and up-to-standard second half, to take the Dragons
into the third round.

The Reserves lost 2-3 to Feltham Reserves. The Dragons started brightly
with an early beautiful through ball nearly lead to Feltham's goalie
being beaten from a tight angle. The Dragons pressed on and after 15
minutes a goal came. It seemed the Dragons would take control of the
game but alas insecurities with the zonal midfield system, combined with
some loose passes, allowed Feltham to equalise and then pull ahead with
a sublime goal. The Dragons responded immediately and then played the
best move of the game - a break down the right lead to a superb cross
between keeper and defenders but the Dragons only managed to shave the
bar with the unprotected net at their mercy. A crazy end to the half was
completed as the Feltham striker controlled a ball with his chest and
smacked a looping volley under the Dragons bar to give Feltham a half
time lead of 3-2. After heavy discussions between captain, player
manager and players the Dragons came out with a more competitive
mentality and took control of the game. The Dragons pulverised Feltham
but could not quite score the elusive goal and the frustrated Dragons
could only watch as Feltham diddled around with the ball by the corner
flag to waste the final moments.

31st October

The Firsts beat AFC London (AMU)8-0 in the Junior Middlesex Cup. With
the referee stuck in traffic the start was delayed and with it the
Dragons looked as though they were stuck in the starting blocks as they
began sluggishly. A few scares from AMU woke them up and on 18 minutes
the deadlock was broken; a swift Dragon counter attack down the
left-hand side lead to a neat header into the corner. The dam was almost
broken but it was only 2-0 at half time. The Dragons Manager demanded
more organisation and a higher tempo to the game. Clearly the half time
talk worked and the Dragons Manager will soon be publishing his "How to
Invigorate a Football Team" because the dam broke and the Dragons
finished with a resounding 8-0 victory.

The Reserves beat Barnet 4-0 as the Reserves deservedly grabbed their
first victory of the season moving in to round 3 of the MCFA Junior
Trophy. It has been a tough start to the year for the Reserves but of
late there have been real signs of a more consistent squad and this has
been reflected in better performances. It was a quick, bright start for
the Dragons who quickly pulled ahead. This should have built a platform
but the Dragons failed to command the midfield leaving the game in the
balance. The Dragons defence held their line well, keeping their 2 banks
of four and confidence slowly built so that at half time it was 3-0. The
2nd half was a much better half of football but with just the one goal
added as many half chances were missed. This was on the whole a solid
display from all.

26th September

The First Team lost 2-3 to Hilltop in their first defeat of the season
after going down to a well organised, youthful Hilltop side. The Dragons
failed to control the opening period of the game with Hilltop looking
bright on the counter and creating diagonal balls in behind the Dragons
defence which resulted in their first goal. The Dragons responded
quickly and smashed the ball into the roof of Hilltop's net. With the
game in the balance, Dragons centre back pulled his hamstring and, while
asking to be substituted, Hilltop broke through the middle and rounded
the keeper who was judged to have brought down the striker. The
resulting penalty was dispatched and the Dragons were 1-2 down at the
half. The Dragons came back out intending to grab the game by the scruff
of the neck and their pressure lead to a penalty to make it 2-2. This
was now the best time in the game for the Dragons who pushed forward but
were often left open on the counter. The Dragons broke clear and when
clean through rounded the keeper who missed the ball and cleaned out the
striker - astonishingly penalty was not given. It was as if the ref had
decided 2 for the day was enough. The game became too open for the
Dragons with Hilltop looking dangerous on the break. With 15 minutes to
go, they won a corner and their tall striker nipped into the gap and
headed home to make it 2-3. The Dragons battled for the equaliser but
could not manage it and at the whistle probably accepted they had been a
little short all over the pitch to have deserved the points.

The Reserves drew in a 5-5 thriller with Sporting Hackney Reserves