A dominant win for three on the bounce

Team Sheet : Coby, EthanT, Isaac, James, Jasper, Lewis, Mason, Oliver, Rui, Sam, Thomas

A lovely day over at Galleywood, but still the team can’t make full strength – EthanR and Stanley the two missing players today. Still, the team have become accustomed to being down on players, as two consecutive wins shows. Could they make it three?

Oliver, Mason, Isaac, Coby, Jasper, Rui, Lewis EthanT and Thomas took to the slightly bumpy field first.

The first 5 minutes of the game made it look like this was going to be a tough one. The Eagles looked quite threatening on the ball, with quick movement. A couple of initial breaks brought out a good save and collect from Oliver in goal. Neither looked like they were going to open the scoring, but the intent was there.

The Iguanas responded with some very neat and aware passing of the ball, working their way up the field neatly. Thomas seemed to have two or three Eagles’ players on him all the time, but this freed up EthanT and Jasper to use quick footwork to create an opportunity that just went wide.

The resultant goal kick was poorly taken, allowing Thomas to latch onto the ball quickly. He fired off a shot, which was nicely struck and on target. It looked like it was going to be saved, but the wet grass/ball and nerves seemed to get the better of the Eagles’ keeper, and the ball slipped from his grasp and into the net.

The Iguanas were looking good through this phase of the game. A lovely break straight from the restart saw EthanT test the keeper once more, but the shot was saved. Mason showed excellent defensive composure, calmly collecting the ball and looking for, and then delivering, nice passes. A follow up break looked like the score line would be doubled, but somehow the ball refused to cross the line.

The Iguanas were commanding the midfield, which left the Eagles to play long, quick balls. But Oliver was typically alert to these and out off his line quickly to collect or clear.

EthanT, Thomas and Lewis made a strong move for another goal, only for the keeper to get there before the final shot could be made. Thomas then picked the ball up from the goal kick, and making his way into the Eagles’ area was sandwiched by two players and brought down. The referee moved his whistle to his mouth for the penalty we all felt must be given, but then inexplicably changed his mind and allowed play to move forward.

As often seems to happen when decisions/luck goes against a team, the Eagles then broke quickly down the pitch. The Iguanas were a little slow onto attacking the ball, the Eagles managed another slice through the middle and this time just managed to get to the ball before an advancing Oliver, placing the ball to his left and netting the ball.

After getting back on the attack, and forcing a corner which was just put wide, Mason and Rui made way for Sam and James.

Despite the misfortune, the team continued to string together fantastic passing sequences that saw them constantly putting pressure on their opponents’ half. And the Eagles were struggling to clear their lines. Thomas collected an Eagles’ throw in, timing a pass to Lewis beautifully who made no mistakes with a solid shot into the right-hand side of the goal.

Whilst the Iguanas were very much controlling the game, it wasn’t all going their way. A free kick was given in a dangerous position not far outside of the Iguanas’ box. Oliver marshalled his defenders well, getting them set in the wall exactly where he wanted them, taking time to ensure they were listening. The free kick came directly in, but Oliver was perfectly set to catch the ball and help set up an attacking move. Last season, a set-piece like that would almost certainly have resulted in a goal, but the team are really playing as a unit now, and learning every week.

As the half petered out, both teams had a final attack in them. EthanT had a shot blocked by the Eagles’ defence, and Sam was on full alert when the Eagles broke, ensuring the half-time whistle blew with the score steady, and not really showing how strong the Iguanas had been.

Half time.

Oliver, Rui, Mason, Isaac, James, Coby, Lewis, Thomas and Jasper started the Iguanas off after the break.

Despite some continued nice passing from the Iguanas, the Eagles seemed to come out after the break looking a god bit stronger. For the next ten minutes they were on the front foot, forcing some nice collects from the Iguanas’ keeper, and making sure our defence were busy. Mason put in a good shift, standing up Eagles’ attackers. Both Isaac and Coby were very strong on the right and left respectively, making fine tackles and steadily dribbling the ball out of trouble and passing neatly up-field.

A busy Iguanas goal mouth saw the ball pop out to an Eagles’ attacker who struck the ball nicely. Unsighted, Oliver made a very good one handed save to his right, Rui then tidying things up and drilling the ball out of the box and away for a throw in.

EthanT came onto the pitch for James.

Unlike in the first half, the Iguanas were struggling to break out of their final third of the box. Passes forwards through midfield were proving tricky as the Eagles pressured the ball more than they had been. A pass back to Oliver was picked up, but fortunately not picked up on by the referee. To show that they meant business, the Eagles then struck the Iguanas’ post shortly after.

Fortunately for all of us supporters, this slightly scrappy spell in the second half was now to come to an end.

The Iguanas moved forwards with purpose, the ball going out for a corner. The corner was hit wide, but the Iguanas were now remembering to pressure the ball hard from goal kicks. Thomas collected an errant kick once more, drawing a couple of Eagles’ players, Thomas opened the ball out for Lewis who took his chance brilliantly. Moving from the left, he threaded the ball between players, past the keepers’ left and in off the left-hand post.

The Iguanas would now dominate proceedings once more.

Coby had the left side of the pitch fully covered, and was hooking up with Jasper really well to create breaks down that side of the pitch. Jasper was always alert and looking for the pass, EthanT having one such break thwarted by the keeper.

Lewis took another similar break and moved towards the corner. He fired over a dangerous cross that the Eagles struggled to clear. Having continued his run, Jasper was in a great position just outside the box, and instinctively lofted the ball goalward. It initially looked like it might go over the bar, but it dropped nicely, squeezing into the top corner of the net.

The Iguanas were firmly in the ascendency now, pressing hard and passing well between themselves.

Isaac came off for a well-earned rest (his composure and communication on the ball being exemplary this season so far), being replaced by Sam.

And still the Iguanas pushed. A freekick for the Eagles was once again pounced upon by Thomas who crossed the ball into the centre of the pitch. Jasper struck the ball well from distance, and whilst the keeper got a decent touch on the ball, it wasn’t enough to stop it going in.

The game was coming to a close. EthanT had a shot just wide, and a couple of corners from Rui showed menace but were saved by the Eagles’ keeper. At the other end, both Rui and Sam were collecting up loose balls. When space didn’t allow, the team weren’t afraid to use their keeper, who didn’t pick it up but distributed the ball nicely. And the game looked done.

Then, in literally the last move of the game, the Eagles won a free kick a little into the Iguanas’ half. The Iguanas were too slow attacking the kick, a rarity in this game, and it saw the Eagles in space for possibly only the second time in the match. Two on one, the shot was nicely struck and went past Oliver’s left to end up in the back of the net, the whistle blowing immediately after.

For all but 10 minutes of this game, and the two breaks outside of that spell, the Iguanas were dominant. Their passing and movement on the attack was too much for their opponents, defensively they were super-solid and calm, and the score line reflected that. It could have been a more emphatic win, really, but three wins on the trot and still without a full squad – which really shows in terms of energy throughout the game at this level – is a great result and a strong testimony to the way the team continue to improve and the amount of work the coaches and manager are putting in with the boys.

(Just looking back at historic scores, the Eagles look to have been promoted last season, and we didn’t beat them when we were in the same league previously. Another testimony to how far these boys have come).

Iguana of the Match : Lewis. Selfless game up front, with some dangerous crossing and nifty runs. Put in plenty of energy attacking the ball and bagged 2 goals.