How did that happen?

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

A bright, sunny home game. Could the Iguanas build upon their biggest victory last week? Oliver, Travis, Lewis, EthanT, EthanR, George, Mason and Coby started the game off to see.

The Iguanas started well, with some slick passing and strong movement down the right-hand side. Thomas, EthanT and Lewis linking up particularly nicely, with final shots just wide.

A Lions’ break ended up with a corner, but the Iguanas were well organised and George was strong in the box, collecting the ball and distributing it out of harm’s way.

EthanT showed his usual strength and guile, weaving up the pitch. A very nicely taken corner by Travis was met with an equally nice overhead kick with Lewis, again just going wide.

Another strong break from EthanT saw him clear on goal, but brought down by a Lions’ defender. Penalty! A rare event for the Iguanas, but fully deserved. EthanT lined up for the penalty, but the Lion’s' keeper made an excellent double save to keep the game goalless.
The majority of the game for the first 20 minutes was in the Lions’ half, yet somehow they managed to keep the Iguanas out of goal. Thomas whipped in crosses, Travis whipped in crosses, Coby broke down the left, Lewis and EthanT were on the ball, but still it refused to go into the net.

On the odd occasion the Lions managed to break, George was resolute in his tackles, stopping the break and turning the tables on his opponents by starting another break. EthanR was like lightning on one break where the Lions looked like they were in a three on one situation, but EthanR made it back and broke the attack down. Mason was using his strength to give extra cover, constantly seeing the ball safely out of play, or back up for an attack.

Isaac, Rui, James, Jasper and Sam came on to give Mason, George, Coby, Travis and EthanT a break.

The changes saw the dynamic of the team change quite markedly today, however. The Iguanas started to stand off the ball more, and follow up tackles and press fell away. This gave the Lions room to move and saw the play switch from being decisively in the Lion’s half, to there being more breaks into the Iguanas’ half.

A couple of minutes before half-time, the Lions took the ball down the left wing. The Iguanas’ defence left the Lions too much space and failed to close the ball down. It was crossed in. Oliver saved the incoming ball, but it went straight to another Lions’ player, and against the general run of play for the half, they were ahead.

Half time

Oliver, Jasper, Lewis, Rui, EthanR, Sam, Isaac, James and Thomas came back on to start the second half.

The game resumed from where it had left off in the first half. Indecisive tackling from the Iguanas was seeing Lions’ attackers able to take the ball past a few Iguanas’ players, allowing dangerous breaks to build. A long-range free kick for the Lions was saved by Oliver, and whilst his kicking was on fine form, the Iguanas struggled to get much beyond their own half from this distribution. And a distinct lack of closing the ball down when the Lions then crossed the ball into the Iguanas’ box left the supporters’ hearts in their mouths more than was necessary!

Rui pushed up through the centre of the pitch on a number of occasions, but the Iguanas were more generally on the back foot, Lewis struggling to latch onto the through balls provided.

EthanT came on to give Sam a rest. But still the Lions pushed, forcing a number of saves and interceptions at the back.

Rui and Isaac then made way for Mason and George.

The game started to turn back as it had started. EthanT was battling through the field, and the Iguanas were starting to get the upper hand once more. A corner taken by James was so very nearly converted, but still the Lions managed to keep the ball out of the net.

The final substitutions of the game happened with around ten minutes to go, Jasper and Lewis being replaced by Coby and Travis.

The Iguanas now pushed harder and harder. A quick goal kick from Oliver saw Thomas released and his shot saved. EthanT and Travis were both pushing and creating opportunities. James took on a couple of Lions’ players to get the ball moving forwards. Coby pushed from the left and drew another good save. But despite these reinvigorated efforts from the Iguanas, the ball simply would not fall their way and into the Lions’ net.

The full-time whistle blew with the Iguanas in full attack mode, the team going down fighting. A frustrating game for the Iguanas. A win was well within their grasp, and they had the majority of the ball for the majority of the game. But it simply wasn’t to be today.

Iguana of the Match : George – supremely solid in defence, as he has been for all his matches. Tackles are decisive, calm on the ball and great distribution. A great role model for our back line.