A fair if disappointing result

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

Well, my prediction of the good weather deserting us was unfounded as we gathered for another nice day of watching the Iguanas play, this time away at Allstar Community in Chelmsford.

Oliver, EthanR, Isaac, Rokas, Travis, Thomas and Lewis started us off on a bobbly pitch, and as with last week our opponents started off strongly with immediate attacks on goal. All of these initial attacks were dealt with tidily, Travis showing strength and skill on the left wing to relieve pressure. The Allstar’s no17 was particularly quick and agile, but Rokas managed some good tackles on him before needing to come off, to be replaced by EthanT.

An Iguanas’ corner was collected by the Allstars who broke quickly into the Iguanas’ half. Oliver came out rapidly and bravely to snuff out the attack, the Allstars latching onto the return ball but putting it clear over the bar.

The Allstars were by no means having all of the play, and a couple of Iguanas’ breaks lead to corners, but each time they were quicker than the Iguanas to the ball and turned danger into a break of their own. Iguanas’ tackling on these breaks was too hit and miss putting pressure on our back line. EthanR was ready on the next break and blocked a very strong cross, the hit winding our stalwart defender to the extent James needed to come on to let him catch his breath.

Thomas showed his customary speed running at the Allstar’s defence. One break resulted in a corner that Travis took well, but the ball could not be put in the back of the net despite it bouncing around wanting to be struck.

More pressure from the Allstars was handled well by Isaac and James, but we were starting to play too deep into our own half.
Rui gave Travis a break. This gave us width on the opposite side of the pitch and spread the field a little more, which gave EthanT a run on goal. His shot was well struck but saved by the Allstar’s keeper.

Stanley then came on to give Thomas a well-earned sit down and got stuck in on the right.

A sustained spell of pressure by the Iguanas saw a couple of corners in our favour, again cleared but Rui managed a strong shot from the left from one clearance. The keeper saved it once more, and despite the Iguanas continuing to push, the Allstars got the ball to safety and pushed forwards once more themselves. A strong shot from just outside the box was tipped over the bar with strong hands by Oliver. The corner was handled nicely, the Iguanas looking after their front post well and marking up accurately. EthanT took the ball and pressed up the pitch but was brought down for a free kick, which would prove to be the last of this half, and was dealt with well by the Allstars.

Honours even as the whistle went, but the Allstars were proving to be very tough opponents.

Half time.

Oliver, Isaac, EthanR, Rokas, Lewis, Travis and Thomas started the second half for the Iguanas, which started much the same as the game had begun, the Allstars attacking from the outset.

The Iguanas did manage a couple of quick breaks, but the ball ended up out of play for corners which the Allstars covered well. From one corner the Allstar’s no17 again caused our outfield some nightmares, dribbling the ball past most of the team. EthanR stood strong, however, and was wise to the footwork of his opponent as he made a last-ditch tackle and stopped the immediate danger. The two players would continue to battle through the game.

The Allstars were quick to dead ball restarts, much quicker than the Iguanas which led to a few decent shots on target, but Oliver managed to cover these well, including a great reaction save from a corner. The pressure didn’t ease up one bit though, Isaac having to show his usual strength in the tackle and some good footwork to clear the ball. Rokas was also going into tackles.

Quick passing and footwork from the Allstars was resulting in missed tackles and dangerous breaks across the pitch, however, and the pressure continued.

EthanT came on in place of Rokas and was very quickly in the thick of the action once again. A quick throw in saw him collect the ball wide on the right. Two quick touches saw him duck and dive between the Allstar’s defence, and from just inside their box EthanT took his shot which went between the opposition’s keeper’s legs. Against the overall run of play, but this quick thinking from EthanT deserved the goal it netted.

The Iguanas were quick onto the ball from the restart this time and EthanT featured again, running quickly down the left wing and sliding the ball to Lewis. Lewis crossed the ball into the opponents’ area but the Iguanas unfortunately had nobody there to meet it, leaving an easy collect for the Allstar’s keeper.

The Iguanas continued to push, but slow passing resulted in the ball being lost in the Allstar’s half, and they showed their usual speed on the break. A long shot from the left was well struck and bobbled on the pitch, beating our keeper and levelling the scores quickly.

The Iguanas continued to fight and trying to break, but were being cut short by passing that was too slow and tackles simply not coming off.
James and Rui came on to give Lewis and Travis a break, but the Allstars continued to apply a lot of pressure. Rui showed good strength on the left, trying to keep the Allstars contained. But the relentless pressure led to a shot from the right from the Allstars and the ball just nicked into the net against the right post.

The play was all the Allstar’s now, pushing the Iguanas deep into their own half, and being slow to push out once danger had been dealt with. The size and speed of some of their opponents was clearly concerning some of the team and leading to a cautious approach, but it wasn’t relieving the pressure. A cleared attack went out for a corner which the Allstars were quickest to meet. Oliver managed to save the first shot, but the Allstars had a player on hand to take the rebound which was slotted home.

The pattern of the game was pretty much set now, with the Allstars pushing hard at every opportunity. Stanley was doing good work on the right to clear danger with some neat flicks against loose balls, and James doing similar down the centre. But the pressure continued with the ball rarely seeing the Allstar’s half.

Isaac came on for Rokas, but the Allstars continued to push. EthanR again showed great tackling and quick reactions to clear a ball that bounced off the Iguanas’ post. This resulted in another small spell of Iguanas’ pressure, EthanT picking up the baton and running at the opposition. A pass to Lewis met a nice touch and a decent shot, but the Allstar’s keeper had watched the build up carefully and made a clean save to keep the score line the same just as the full-time whistle blew.

Another tough game for the Iguanas against a team with some skilful and big (!) players. Energy levels were better than last week, and the tackling from some of the team was stronger. But we were still a way off our best shown in the first two games of the season and the score line was fair on balance. Onwards and upwards to next week (and hopefully if I predict rain, we’ll get sunshine!).

Iguana of the Match : EthanT – battling performance all over the pitch. Tireless energy, fearless tackling against bigger players and a goal for the icing on the cake. Well deserved.