One that got away

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

Foggy/misty in Braintree this morning, against a team we haven’t played before. But at least there was no rain. After the full squad last week, we were two down again this week with Coby and Sam having to miss out.

The minute’s silence for Remembrance Sunday was nicely observed. Could the Iguanas halt their losing run?

Oliver, Mason, EthanR, Rui, Jasper, Travis, EthanT, Thomas and Lewis took to the field first, a strong attacking line up to show intent.

The Iguanas started well with some nice passing. The team were slowly building pressure as they got themselves into the game. An early break by Thomas was ruled off-side. This was followed shortly after by a more measured attack, Thomas and EthanR linking nicely on the right, then a crossed ball being struck well by Lewis, to be tipped onto the bar and out.

EthanT showed great tenacity and his dribbling skills, pushing hard into the Irons’ area, their keeper collecting the ball in the end.

When the Irons did press, the defensive line up was handling the pressure neatly, Mason and Rui preventing the ball making its way back too far.

The Iguanas built plenty of pressure, but final touches and urgency on the ball were lacking. Plenty of attacks showed great promise, but the final touches just made life a little too easy for the Irons’ keeper. A nice strike by Thomas was saved and held. EthanT was dribbling extremely well, dancing into good positions in the box and Lewis had a shot blocked by an Irons’ defender.

This was by far the Iguanas’ best spell of the game, lasting a good 15 minutes. Move after move saw the Irons pushed backwards, Lewis, Thomas and Jasper unlucky not to open the scoring on a number of occasions. Multiple corners were whipped well into the danger area, but the Iguanas were missing that final sharpness to punish their opponents.

Rui, Travis and Jasper were given a breather by Isaac, James and Stanley. Stanley taking a new position on the left side of defence.

The Iguanas continued to push, but were starting to be a little hesitant attacking the ball, and giving the Irons a little too much space. Irons’ attacks didn’t look too threatening, despite the space they were now getting. A harmless looking attack was eventually put out for a corner. The Irons crossed the corner well, and a couple of Irons’ players found themselves not that tightly marked. The crossed ball was flicked on by one and into the net, totally against the run of play. Having had enough opportunity to be three or four goals up, the Iguanas were now behind.

As we have become used to, the team did not let their heads drop. They continued to push. Several more attacks lacked that final finish, and the biggest threat coming the other way was the ball being too hurriedly cleared when stopping attacks, gifting the ball to Irons’ players.

As the half drew to a close, Thomas also demonstrated that he could use his speed to give strong defensive cover, blocking out a couple of potential attacks.

Half time.

Oliver, Mason, Rui, EthanR, Jasper, Travis, Thomas, EthanT and Lewis again got proceedings under way in the second half.

The first 5 minutes of the half were very even, but then the Irons seemed to start to get the better of the Iguanas, passing out of defence again going to Irons’ players more than was ideal.

Then an attack out on the left-wing. EthanR passed the ball onto Travis, who showed some great footwork towards the corner, digging the ball out away from Iron’s defenders and then dribbling past another. A good cross was met with a great finish by Thomas to get the Iguanas back into the game.

The Iguanas now got the bit between their teeth again and started to cause the Irons more issues. Crosses and corners were flying towards the Irons’ goal. EthanT and EthanR were pressing hard down the centre of the pitch, causing danger through that channel. But each time the danger was applied, the Iguanas were again a little too slow onto the final ball, ball-watching too much and giving their defensive counterparts too much respect.

Finally, a superb lofted cross by Travis was spotted by Thomas toward the far post. The only watching Thomas was doing was the ball onto his foot. He struck nicely into the back of the net. The Iguanas were making the pressure count.

More back and forth between the two teams followed, neither making attacks fully count. The Iguanas were caught off-side a couple more times, and a couple of free kicks were given away to the Irons, though mostly in safe positions.

The Iguanas then suffered again from what looked like a harmless build up of play. The ball was moving down the right side. The Iguanas failed to make their tackles, but even when the shot was struck it didn’t look to be particularly dangerous. Unfortunately, Oliver was late getting down to the ball, and it slipped under him and into the net.

The Irons attacked from the restart, forcing a lovely save from Oliver. An accurate, quick drop-kick up the field saw a break form. It was put out for a corner which was dealt with safely by the Irons. However, when they cleared the ball, EthanT attacked it with menace. Dribbling the ball from his own half, jinking past oncoming defenders, EthanT made it into the penalty box and struck a great shot into the net.

Isaac, Stanley and James came on for Jasper, EthanR and Mason.

With his name on the scoresheet, EthanT wanted another and very nearly got it quickly, putting a shot just wide after a strong move defying defenders. And then yet another harmless looking break saw the Irons able to get into the box, Iguanas’ earlier tackles not being decisive enough, and from close quarters the Irons managed to squeeze the ball between Oliver and his near post. The Iguanas again ruing not being able to extend their lead and letting the Irons back into the game.

Still the Iguanas pressed. EthanT hit the crossbar, Lewis struck a nicely taken freekick from just outside the box, only to have it saved by the Irons’ keeper. A fantastic ball by Stanley looked to see Lewis through on goal, the final shot going just wide. Stanley’s defensive performance today was one of the calmest on the pitch, and he managed to time his passes really well to avoid the off-side trap.

From a goal-kick restart, Lewis attacked the ball quickly. The Irons had been very cautious restarting from goal kicks, but thus far the Iguanas were too slow to capitalise. Not this time. Lewis was on the ball quickly, and got his reward with a very nice finish.

Rui and EthanT went just wide with good breaks into the Irons’ half. The extra bit of breathing space an extra goal would have given the team eluding them.

The Iguanas’ fans were willing the final whistle to go, but it didn’t come in time. The Iguanas were scruffy in the middle of the pitch, not connecting with the ball well, and leaving the Irons to break on goal. Another missed defensive play gave them an opportunity to shoot. Oliver made a good save, but the ball landed into the path of an unmarked Irons’ player who was free to even the scores up once more.

This pattern of play could probably have gone on all day! Unfortunately, the final whistle did now blow, leaving the Iguanas no chance to further their goal tally (nor the Irons the chance to even it up!).

A frustrating game today. The losing streak has been stopped, which is great. There was some good passing, some nice goals and a lot of opportunity. But the Iguanas were left to regret not finishing the many chances they created.

Going the other way, giving their opponents too much time on the ball, and giving the ball back to them after some solid tackling, plus some costly errors saw the Irons able to get back into a game that should really have been beyond them.

Still, our first draw of the season. And some encouraging signs of the sort of play we had at the beginning of the season. So on to the match!

Iguana of the Match : Stanley – a new position for Stanley, but handled it extremely well. Calm on the ball, watching the game carefully and some lovely, well-timed passing.