The Crystal Palace National Sports Centre Dome was the venue as the Crystal Palace Down Syndrome Eagles faced the Millwall Lions in a series of small-sided matches.

Palace for Life Foundation’s Down’s Syndrome team – the DS Eagles – kicked off 2018 with their first match of the year against Millwall DS Lions on Saturday January 20.

The first of three matches was an end-to-end contest, in which the Eagles took the lead with a strike into the bottom corner from outside the penalty area.

Millwall reacted quickly with a goal of their own, but it was Palace who came out on top in an eight-goal thriller.

The two DS Eagles teams played against each other in the second game, and the third and final match saw Millwall take the victory, despite a competitive game.

Louis, one of the DS Eagles, said: “I had an amazing time playing for Crystal Palace at the Dome. It was great fun to meet new friends who love football as much as I do!”

Another of the Eagles players, Aziel, agreed: “I enjoyed meeting the players from Millwall. I loved the moment when I scored, and everybody was cheering!”

Keon Richardson, Palace for Life Foundation disability officer, who arranged the friendly, felt that it was a positive experience for the players of both teams.

He said: “All the players from both teams had a smile at the end of the day, which was the biggest win for me. I encouraged the players from Millwall as much I encouraged my players because it was most important that everyone had fun playing the game and meeting new peers.”