First Cup Game for the Iguanas

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

The Iguanas’ first cup game!

A lovely, sunny spring day. The Iguanas a couple of players down, but Oliver, Mason, James, EthanR, Sam, Travis, Jasper, EthanT and Lewis were raring to get the cup campaign under way.

The Iguanas started off strongly, putting plenty of pressure on the Vikings. A shot on goal resulted in the Vikings giving away a corner early in the game. Travis took this beautifully, and the Vikings struggled to deal with the lofted ball. It bobbled around in the Vikings’ area for what seemed like a few minutes, but with great tenacity Thomas was strongest on the ball and made sure to convert.

The Iguanas were straight onto the ball at the restart, EthanT, Thomas and Lewis moving well through the field and laying the ball off to Jasper, whose shot was deflected wide for another corner. Travis again did the honours, the Vikings trying to clear the ball, but only managing to pass the ball back to Travis. Seeing Jasper clear, Travis played a well-weighted pass and Jasper slipped the ball under the Vikings’ keeper.

The Iguanas were in fine attacking mood today, pressing once more immediately from the whistle. Thomas and EthanT hooked up well to get the ball into the danger area, prompting the Vikings to clear their lines, but only out of play. Ethan and Thomas then joined forces to force the Vikings’ keeper into a save.

Another corner looked dangerous once again from Travis, but this time the Vikings’ keeper managed to save the ensuing shot. The Vikings then managed a strong break, only to find that the Iguanas were on form at the other end of the pitch too. Oliver performed a fine save from the breaking Vikings, and Sam covered well when needed.

Thomas and EthanT put pressure on the Vikings again, the ball only managing to find the side netting. But there were plenty more chances being created with really strong Iguanas passing and no fear to have a go at goal.

Whilst the Iguanas started to become a bit less vocal, it didn’t interfere with the pattern of play. A break was nicely saved by Oliver, who then released the ball up field. Thomas collected, fed the ball to Lewis who then found Jasper unmarked. The ball was passed through nicely and Jasper made sure of his effort. And the Iguanas looking stronger and stronger.

The Vikings break again, but Oliver was wise to the move and intercepted before anything could come of the move.

Mason, Ethan, Jasper, Sam and Lewis made way for Isaac, George, Stanley, James and Rui, half way through the half. Seeing what their team mates had been doing, the subs also put the Vikings under immediate pressure.

Lovely play resulted in another corner that Rui took really well. The Vikings again failed to clear their lines, and were fortunate that their keeper was in the right place to stop Rui’s powerful shot on goal.

The Iguanas’ defence were seeing a little more action in this spell, but at no point seemed like they were going to concede. Isaac was covering well, George was solid and commanding the centre, and when needed Thomas, Rui and Stanley were all tracking back, collecting the ball and creating breaks of their own.

The Iguanas finished the half as they’d started, on the attack. EthanT and George seeing the ball through to Rui. Rui had another decent shot saved, and James also tested the keeper ahead of the half-time whistle.

Half time.

Oliver, Mason, Sam, EthanR, EthanT, Jasper, Travis, Thomas and Lewis took the restart, hoping to consolidate the lead.

We were greeted with an almost carbon copy of the first half start. The Iguanas pushed forwards, forced a corner and Travis lined up to take the ball. The Vikings only managed to clear the ball back to Travis, who saw another opportunity and looped the ball with a sublime effort with his left foot that the Vikings’ keeper could do nothing about.

The Vikings were a little taken aback, but tried their hardest to push on. The Iguanas’ defence were strong again (though not talking to each other!), and Oliver was alert to a pass back that was handled well.

An Iguanas’ throw-in from EthanR went neatly to Thomas. Thomas rounded the keeper and laid the ball off to Lewis who had an open goal.

The Vikings moved swiftly from the restart, a fast break only being stopped by an errant outfield hand. The free kick was nicely taken, but saved by Oliver. The Iguanas’ keeper was also quick onto another break, intercepting the ball before the Vikings could get close.

EthanT, Mason, Sam, Travis and Thomas took a well-earned break with Rui, Stanley, Isaac, James and George coming into the fray once again.

The Vikings were starting to push harder now, and the Iguanas were easing up a little. Oliver was bravely out for a 2 on 1 play by the Vikings, putting the ball wide in what looked like the Vikings’ first goal. George and Rui were strong and accurate in their defensive play.

Then another quick break by the Vikings saw a strong rising shot at the Iguanas’ goal. Oliver got hands to it, but the ball spun up and over the Iguanas’ keeper, and when he tried to track back his footing slipped just preventing him recovering the ball.

In the Iguanas’ final attack, Rui forced yet another good save from his opponents’ keeper. And the resulting corner from James wasn’t met by an Iguanas’ boot.

The Vikings’ keeper hit the ball down-field. George attacked the ball well, seeing the ball out for a corner. But this wasn’t cleared well by the Iguanas’ defence and a goal mouth scramble saw the ball just over the line. The lead cut slightly immediately before the full-time whistle blew.

This was one of the Iguanas’ strongest performances of the season, and a complete performance in every single position. The team switched off a little towards the end, with communication and concentration falling away, but with a very strong lead and in little danger this was understandable (if something to be mindful of for the future). A great way to start their cup journey.

Iguana of the Match : The whole team. A stunning scoreline that in many ways flattered their opponents.