Toughest Game of the Season Thus Far

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

A lovely spring day was spoiled slightly by our unbeaten run being undone in a hard-fought match.

Oliver, Zach, Cole, Maddison, Sierra, Freya and Thomas kicked us off.

The Eagles started with some early pressure and nice breaks forcing the Iguanas’ keeper into some early action. The pressure lasted a good 5-10 minutes with the Iguanas looking a little sluggish and off the pace.

The sun obviously started to warm our players through and Freya put in some strong tackles, really pushing the team forwards and nearly releasing us on goal. This led to a nicely taken corner by Zach which Thomas met in the box but just put wide of the Eagles’ goal.
More lovely combination play between Maddison, Sierra and Freya saw us breaking for goal again, this time Thomas making the Eagles’ keeper come into the action to save his shot.

The battles of the game were in-between the two penalty areas, both Maddison and Sierra proving strong in defence and Freya constantly causing the Eagles trouble on the break with both strength and skill.

Cole showed great power and played some nice through balls on to Thomas who attacked the ball forcing more saves from the Eagles. After a slower than normal start this was really good play by the Iguanas.

Cole, Thomas, Sierra and Maddison were given a well-earned rest with Jayden, Fearne, Ethan and Isaac coming into the fray.
The game was still being battled out in the centre of the pitch, then the Eagles broke through quickly to get the ball beyond our defensive line. Oliver spotted the danger and came out quickly off his line to collect the low ball bravely, stopping the danger. Good distribution saw Jayden able to break down the right-hand side with some lovely skill and flair, with the final shot just hitting the side netting.

The Eagles broke once more, but both Ethan and Isaac were wise to the danger and handled it well. Isaac showed some good skills to release Freya from the left who had a nice shot that just crept wide of the Eagles’ net. The Eagles then managed to break again with some speed, this time evading our defence and forcing further saves from the Iguanas’ keeper. There wasn’t a single player in the Iguanas line up who wasn’t getting involved, and the game was now taking in every inch of the pitch.

An Iguanas’ corner was quickly turned around by the Eagles, but Isaac showed nice energy to track back and put the ball out for a corner which ultimately came to nothing.

Madison and Cole replaced Zach and Freya.

One great aspect of today’s game from the Iguanas was the press when the Eagles had a goal kick. Fearne was especially quick onto one goal kick, showing her customary skill around Eagles defenders and forcing a save from the Eagles’ keeper. She then followed Isaac’s lead, tracking back well on the resulting Eagles’ break and ensure the ball was forced out.

The half time whistle blew with the teams very evenly matched, play being marginally more in the Eagles’ half.

Oliver, Sierra, Zach, Maddison, Cole, Fearne and Jayden got the Iguanas under way in the second half.

A strong start saw Maddison break through, but the team just not able to capitalise. The Iguanas continued to pressure the Eagles half and Fearne put a nice cross in that Cole picked up and let rip with a fierce shot, prompting a nice save from the Eagles’ keeper.

But just as in the first half the Iguanas’ defensive line up could not rest for two long either with Sierra, Zach and Oliver all forced into action as the pressure turned round and onto our team.

Thomas came on for Cole. Freya came on for Zach.

Fearne showed more good footwork and applied pressure on the Eagles, as did Freya (who must have had 3 Weetabix this morning with the way she caused real problems for the Eagles. There was nobody stronger or braver on the pitch today).

Then the Eagles managed a clear break on the Iguanas’ goal, evading our defenders and a strong shot just went over a diving Oliver. The tiniest of margins saw the Iguanas down.

The team didn’t get dispirited by this and continued to apply pressure on the Eagles. Oliver had a number of saves to make but this passage of play was again strong by our Iguanas.

Ethan and Isaac came onto the pitch once more for Sierra and Maddison.

More robust defensive tackling from Isaac and Freya saw the Iguanas again breaking for the Eagles’ goal. The ball ran just out. The Iguanas were piling on pressure and at times had decent overlaps but just being unable to make use of these in the same way that the Eagles threatened, missing that final cross in the last quarter of the pitch.

Cole came on for Fearne to renew the energy levels, but still the Iguanas couldn’t find that all important breakthrough.

Then an Eagles corner was whipped in. It came out to the edge of the Iguanas’ box and a strong shot saw Oliver unsighted with a crowded penalty box. Oliver got a touch to the ball but unfortunately it went in off the post. This goal largely against the run of play.

The Iguanas kept on battling and continued to apply as much pressure as possible, but the game remained very even and end to end with all players in the mix. A final push by the Eagles saw Oliver anticipate the danger early and clear his lines, then the final whistle blew.

A tough game today. Much, much more evenly balanced than the score line suggested. Slightly less energy at the start from some of the Iguanas today, and slight lapses in concentration on set pieces plus not quite capitalising on well created overlaps were the difference. Not a performance to be down-hearted about with some real positives, especially in terms of the pressure applied to our opponents.

Onward now to get building another run!

Iguana of the Match : Jayden – tireless running covering every inch of the pitch.