How To Train Your (Inner) Dragon

Kensington Dragons 0 GPR 1

After back to back losses, GPR returned to winning ways in a tense, gruelling fixture against Kensington Dragons. After the home side went down to ten men at the interval - with red cards becoming a common occurrence this season - the boys held their nerve to secure their third league win and get November off to the best possible start.

Out of the blocks, we could tell the opposition were used to Astro turf. Having settled for a patchy mismatch of rough and fairway, nestled in the corner of Wormwood Scrubs, they began with a possession heavy game.

With the pitch soaking up all pace on the ball, however, this quickly became undone, and it wasn’t long before Rory picked up a loose ball and fired narrowly past the post.

Five minutes into the game, and we had our first corner. It was cleared down the right hand side where it found Sina, who whipped the ball in. The Dragons were unable to clear it, and Rory found space to settle the ball and nestle it into the corner.

We spoke at length before the game about our resilience in coming back from behind being a positive, but there was a collective sigh of relief from the boys in getting our noses in front.

The game died down a touch after this. The former After Hours contingent, Steeve, Josh, together with Cal, settled into a tough midfield slog, permeated with quick midfielders.

At the back, without either of season mainstays Dan or Alan available to call on, Mike and Jack stepped up to lead from the defence. Adam and Henry had their own battles too, the former making several key blocks and clearances to stymy the ability of the opposition winger.

We were looking to impose ourselves on the counter-attack. Joel got his best opportunity of the game midway through the first half; a mean strike from 20 yards out that smacked the crossbar and kept the game in the balance.

The Dragons had some firepower of their own, however, and when their no. 10 danced into a threatening position, it demanded a fantastic fingertip save from Oli to see it over the bar.

Both sides had a couple of sniffs up to the break, but neither were able to convert what were half-chances at best, despite their pacey striker getting the better of our high line on occasion.

Amidst this, several mouthy exchanges had brought the tension of the game to a steady simmer, and on the stroke of half time, it boiled over. An experienced wind-up merchant himself, Jack got into it with one of the forwards, who grabbed his throat and was promptly dismissed.

The game was there for the taking, but we couldn’t risk complacency. The home side were dangerous and demanded our full respect and concentration.

How the game held at 1-0 in the second half is as much a mystery as it is a credit to both goalkeepers for their amazing work.

Our best early chance came from Cal, who put Rob through to the byline. He crossed, finding Rory, who spun and played it back to Joel who just couldn’t apply the finish.

At the other end, the two men up top were looking dangerous with every counter attack. In those moments when you can only watch and pray, Oli stepped up with a string of great saves when he had no right to keep our clean sheet.

We were delighted to see Jeff return from injury, and his memorable pace provided plenty of threat. Picking up the ball on the halfway line, he burned his man and got to the byline. A frantic cross connected with Marcus’ head, but the keeper made an instinct save.

Shortly after, a whipped cross from the opposition found its way through our back line. Rob had to scramble back, and made a last-ditch goal line clearance that had my teeth on edge. In the chaos, the ball found Jeff, who almost scored at the other end.

Not long after, a diversion from a corner bobbled outside the penalty area. With his weak foot, Sina launched a curling effort, and it took another fantastic save from the keeper to keep it out.

The corner wasn’t dealt with, and Marcus connected with the loose ball. The keeper palmed it off the line, and despite our protests, no goal was given.

It’s hard to compress it here, but believe me when I say that this game wasn’t at all a given. Despite our close shaves, Oli made several more key stops to keep us ahead. Even though The Dragons hit the post late in the game, he performed when we needed it most.

Shortly before the end, Marcus won a penalty after he was brought down by the last man. Forced to step off the pitch, and with our usual taker Rory off the pitch, Steeve stepped up confidently, only to see his spot kick hit the inside of the post and roll across the line.

In the game’s final minutes, Tim, who put in a phenomenal second half shift, hit the post again for the fixture’s fifth goal line clearance.

After some more nervy moments, the final whistle blew. It was easily one of the most stressful games of our history, but that makes the three points even sweeter. Full credit should go to Kensington, who were superb after going a man down and fought right to the end.

For us, it means a return to winning ways and a chance to solidify our position in the top half of the table. See you again next week.

MOTM 💫 = Oli won the game for us this week, no question.

DOTD 👀 = Robin, for being on the receiving end of a salad, claiming it didn’t count because no one yelled ‘Salad!’, and then getting another salad immediately. SALAAAAAD!