Tense nail biter away to Valley Green Panthers

Team Sheet : Cole; Ethan; Fearne; Freya; Jayden; Lewis; Maddison; Oliver; Sierra; Zach

First league game of the season for the Iguanas, away to Valley Green Panthers, and what a cracker!

A really bright start saw Sierra, Freya and Cole linking up nicely and putting a lot of pressure on the Panthers. Sustained pressure from the Iguanas was then capitalised on with a brilliant run down the wing by Cole, who set up Jayden for a beautifully taken, first Iguanas goal of the season.

The Panthers had been awakened and a couple of corners followed for them, but the Iguanas marking was solid and the corners came to nothing.

Iguanas then piled more pressure onto the Panthers, with Jayden’s pace causing their defence real problems, and Sierra’s bravery in the challenge winning a couple of free kicks.

Zach and Ethan held position well, remembering to keep formation and clearing some strong Panthers attacks. A long-range free kick from Cole very nearly went in but somehow the Panthers kept it out.

Maddison, Fearne and Lewis then came into the fray to give Freya, Sierra and Jayden a well-earned rest.

Oliver had had a steady match thus far with some good anticipation on infrequent Panthers breaks, but then came an absolute cruncher of a save. The ball came in forcefully from the Panthers, hitting the Iguanas keeper in the face as he came out to meet the attack. To be immediately followed by a heavy collision with Zach who’d been tracking back to cover. This winded Oliver who needed to sit out for 5 minutes, leaving Cole to watch the net for a spell.

The Panthers had started to pick up the pace now. Oliver came back onto the pitch with some great judgement and calls to his defence. But despite this, and some very solid defensive work from Zach, Valley Green Panthers managed to equalise with a cleanly taken shot.

Iguanas continued to push and came on strong once more, with Lewis very nearly scoring from a lob that clipped the bar just before half time. Honours even at the half time whistle.

The second half started much like the first – strong attacking play by the Iguanas. But they weren’t having it all their own way this time and Oliver was called upon for a few decent saves and using his infamous cat like reflexes to stop the Panthers breaks coming to anything.

Midfield was where most of the play was happening with Fearne demonstrating the ‘Fearne Turn’ on numerous occasions to get us past the Panthers and on the attack.

Maddison then came on to give Fearne a breather and to give the Panthers defenders something else to think about. Cole and Sierra were again proving strong and formidable in midfield too.

Then another lovely break by the Iguanas was seized upon by Lewis who wasn’t hitting the woodwork this time, and converted a lovely chance into a goal. Iguanas were ahead again.

But it was the Panthers’ turn to start to get the upper hand now. Iguanas were showing signs of getting tired, and the Panthers’ no3 scored a well taken goal after slipping his marker. Oliver got his hands to it but couldn’t stop it ending up in the net. All even!

The match was turning into a mighty battle between two very evenly matched sides. Proper end to end stuff with parents on both sides cheering their team on, with few of them having any finger nails left!

Lewis made way for Jayden, and Ethan came off for Zach, both of them picking up on their earlier performances and putting in solid shifts.

A couple of unlucky breaks for Iguanas didn’t get the goal they deserved, and then a Panther’s strong break saw them net a third goal. They were ahead for the first time and the tension rose amongst the Iguanas fans.

Our Iguanas never gave up, however. Despite signs of stitch and more red faces than an M&M’s advert, they stuck in there putting in tackle after tackle. Another break from midfield then put Jayden through who took his chance really well to see us all square once again. All even once again.

Freya made way for Ethan, Fearne for Lewis and Sierra for Maddison. All three of these fresh pairs of legs putting in big tackles and running down players despite energy levels getting very low.

Oliver started to get much busier in goal as the Panthers began to find ways to get past our tiring midfield and defence. But nothing got past him in the last 15 minutes of the game.

A final attack from the Iguanas saw a corner that was well handled by the Panthers, just before the referee blew for the final whistle.

What a game! Absolute end to end play with the Iguanas starting off brilliantly and really digging in at the end to get a massively deserved draw. Every single player ran their socks off and played their hearts out for their team.

Iguana of the Match : Cole – very strong performance with some great breaks from a defensive midfield position, good passing and unlucky not to net a goal from a monster free kick. He even had a stint in goal!