A tantalisingly close game for CCFC Reserves vs United Dragons in Regent’s Park, with the added jeopardy of playing next to London Zoo’s lion enclosure.

We conceded early on, after a handball from one of our defenders led to a UD penalty. Straight away though, we responded with an equaliser from Santi who sliced it into the bottom left corner.

Soon after, a shot from Lucia crossed the line then bounced up to hit the crossbar and was deflected out. The lion roared. We said goal; ref said no goal… That’s football! Let’s see what the Veo camera says 👀

We then conceded two more in the first half and went into the break 3-1 down.

We looked much hungrier in the second half and Lisa managed to score a banging header from a corner delivered perfectly into the box by Tara.

Vee then chipped it in to the top corner in the final fifteen minutes of the game to make it three all. Game on.

Unfortunately UD scored from a set piece in the 87th minute of the game with a tidy corner which found Iqra in the box, who tapped it into the back of the net. The game finished 4-3 to United Dragons.

There were nine (9!) different nominations for CCFC Reserves’ player of the match, as voted for by the team, showing the strength of the squad across the pitch. One person edged it though, and deservedly earned her flowers…

That player was, of course, our safe pair of hands, Chelsie Sparks. She kept us in the game with crucial saves, excellent distribution, and great communication, constantly championing her teammates in high pressure moments.

This was a dramatic game which could have gone either way. Let’s see how United Dragons fare in the reverse fixture on Hackney Marshes, without the king of the jungle behind them.

Words by Annie McGrath

Photos by Sarah Moore