The Miracle of Mill Lane

Team Sheet : EthanR, EthanT, Isaac, James, Lewis, Oliver, Rokas, Rui, Stanley, Thomas, Travis

Another lovely day to watch a game of football and our first away match of the season to a team who beat us in the league in our final game of last season and also in the recent summer tournament. This game might be a tough one.

Oliver, EthanR, Rui, Travis, EthanT, Thomas and Lewis got us under way today. There was nothing major to report in the first few minutes, but then out of nowhere the Vikings had crossed the ball into the area. It didn’t look that dangerous, travelling quite slowly but with a little spin and the ball bobbling on a hard penalty box. Oliver lost his footing slightly and the ball went under him for a goal. Gutting.

As would become the story of the game, though, the Iguanas did not let this get to them. From the kick off the Vikings managed to break into the Iguanas’ half, but Rui was quickly onto the danger and made a fantastic clearance into Lewis’ path – this was no fluke, Rui being observant, taking his time and communicating well throughout the whole match. Lewis calmly watched the ball come to ground and slotted it past the Vikings’ keeper to take the Iguanas level.

The game settled for the next 5-10 minutes, moving quickly from end to end with good passing from both sides and the Iguanas’ defence showing nice strength. Rui, Travis and Thomas were all linking up nicely on the wing, being calm on the ball. EthanT was always alert and using his speed to get to balls. Thomas latched onto a long goal kick from Oliver and played a nice cross into the box that just evaded Lewis.

Isaac came on to give EthanR a break, the heat getting to our super-defender.

Both teams were playing well in midfield, then what looked like a harmless throw was picked up by a Vikings attacker who took a shot to the right of goal. Oliver looked to have caught the ball but it somehow slipped out of his hands for a second uncharacteristic mistake.

Again, this didn’t get the plucky Iguanas down and they continued to press and build from the back.

Rokas, James and Stanley came on to let Thomas, Rui and Travis catch their breath.

Rokas and James linked up in the Iguanas’ half and sent a nice ball through the middle which Stanley collected and broke through on goal with, just putting the ball wide to the left of goal. The substitutes were just as determined as the players who got us under way.
Then the Vikings broke through again. Our defence managed to push them wide, but the Vikings still managed to get a cross in. Oliver saved this effort well but the ball was pushed into the path of another Vikings attacker who slotted the ball home.

A good spell of pressure followed by the Vikings, but the Iguanas continued to battle hard, held their lines and were looking out for each other. As the half drew to a close, Rokas found a way through the middle but his shot just went wide.

Half time.

Oliver, Rui, EthanR, Rokas, Lewis, Travis and Thomas got the second half under way.

The Vikings pushed hard from the kick off, looking to build on their lead. A couple of Vikings corners were dealt with neatly, and a lovely Iguanas’ break resulted in a shot just wide. The Iguanas were starting to get hold of the game.

In the face of a Vikings’ break, EthanR made a magnificent strong clearance (one of a number he was called on to do in the second half – dominating the defence) which set Travis up for a powerful run through the field. A perfectly timed pass left Lewis in on goal and he nicked it past the keeper.

The Iguanas’ spirits were rising and they were proving too strong for the Vikings. Another fantastic move saw Rokas pick the ball up from a goal kick, passing neatly to Thomas who slipped the ball onto Travis, who again saw Lewis free and passed the ball through. For his first hat-trick Lewis was not going to miss this, and put the Iguanas level!

Momentum building, the Iguanas were first to the ball again at the kick off, Rokas being strong through the middle and just putting a shot wide. This spell of the game was nearly all the Iguanas, but the Vikings weren’t giving up and had the occasional strong break, EthanR dealing with them brilliantly.

This allowed Rokas, Thomas, Travis and Lewis to link up and move the ball around quickly into the Vikings’ half, but the end shot just went wide once more.

Stanley, EthanT, James and Isaac came on to relieve Thomas, Rui, Lewis and Rokas.

Again, the fresh players demonstrated the Iguanas don’t have a “weaker/stronger” side as they applied big pressure on the Vikings once more. EthanT broke down the left-hand side, drawing a couple of Vikings’ players to him. A deft pass to Travis left him launching down the left wing and he played a superb cross with his left foot into the box. Stanley had seen this move building and had made his way into the Vikings’ box, perfectly timed to connect with Travis’ cross and put the Iguanas in the lead!! Gary Lineker (Harry Kane for the younger amongst us) couldn’t have scored a nicer goal!

The Vikings could sense the game slipping away from them now, and started to up their efforts, applying plenty of pressure to the Iguanas’ half of the pitch. But Isaac was extremely solid working from our midfield to put in some fabulous tackles, taking his time on the ball and never giving up to make sure the Iguanas could be released into the Vikings’ half.

The Vikings continued to press and were starting to make inroads into the Iguanas’ box, but James was proving too strong for them too, snuffing out attacks and calmly getting the ball into good areas for the Iguanas. The whole defensive unit had worked their socks off today, with good communication and team work to keep tabs on the Vikings’ players.

The Vikings did manage a couple more shots from long range, but Oliver dealt with them nicely. There was no way he was going to be beaten again.

The game was getting close to the end and all of the Iguanas’ supporters were willing the clock to run down.

Thomas came on to give Stanley a rest.

A final break by Travis and EthanT down the left gave some well earned relief for the Iguanas, EthanT just putting the ball wide from a difficult angle, right ahead of the final whistle.

What a battling, brilliant performance!! The whole team never let the early goals get them down and they all, every single one of them, pulled together and showed amazing spirit and team work to get themselves back into the game and then win it. I’m not sure the Vikings knew what had hit them in the second half, but perseverance, super passing and immense determination by every Iguanas’ player ground out a great win.

Iguana of the Match : Lewis – hat-trick hero today. Sharp on the ball, calm in front of goal and ran his socks off.

(For those not familiar with Liverpool's Champion's League victory in 2005, the report title is a reference to that - please feel free to ask the Iguanas' keeper all about it, but make sure you have plenty of time and a chair!).