Return to the league - good performance, wrong result

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

Oliver, Sam, Mason, EthanR, EthanT, Lewis, Thomas, Jasper and Travis took to the pitch for a return to the league against a team we had yet to play.

A strong start saw Jasper force a save from the Tiptree keeper. Tiptree were keen to create their own opportunities in the early stages, however, breaking cleanly from the goal kick and pushing hard at the Iguanas. Their final shot went wide, with Sam forcing them to shoot earlier than they probably wanted.

Thomas and EthanT then put together some slick passing, eventually winning a free-kick from a reasonable position. Mason’s kick was accurate, but put out of play by the Tiptree defence. Travis took the corner, again finding Mason in a dangerous position but the ball just going wide.

This was a strong spell from the Iguanas, both Ethans and Thomas joining up well and forcing another corner, which quickly became a double corner for Travis to cross in.

Tiptree were first to the second of these corners, and managed a quick break which beat the Iguanas’ defensive line. Oliver stood tall and did all he could on a 1-to-1 situation, but the Tiptree attacker managed to get the ball past the Iguanas’ keeper, the Iguanas paying for what had become a high line.

Tiptree continued to apply pressure, EthanR working hard tracking backwards and forwards, disrupting breaks and trying to form attacks. Oliver also had plenty of work to do, using his judgement to intercept the ball on a couple of occasions.

Lewis, Sam, Jasper and Mason made way for Rui, Stanley, George and Isaac.

Tiptree continued to have the upper hand, breaking frequently. The Iguanas’ defensive line were getting wise to these breaks, however, and played the offside trap brilliantly several times. An iffy back-pass by the Iguanas was fortunately spotted by Oliver who had to come out quickly to intercept, but danger averted the Iguanas then started to apply their own brand of pressure.

Rui, Thomas and EthanR all strung passes together, Stanley latching onto the final pass and just missing the target by inches. EthanR then picked up the Tiptree kick, pushed quickly up the wing and found Thomas, who forced a great save from the Tiptree keeper.

Travis took the corner, which was very well struck but equally well defended by Tiptree, just as the half-time whistle blew.

Half time.

Oliver, Travis, EthanR, Thomas, Lewis and EthanT, Jasper, Mason and Sam took to the field for the second half.

Tiptree showed danger from the outset, forcing another neat collect from the Iguanas’ keeper, followed by an excellent save at full stretch when Tiptree broke once more, beating our defence.

Then the Iguanas started to push. A good attack, touching most Iguanas’ players up the field, was defended well by Tiptree. And a secondary push saw Lewis’ shot saved. Thomas created his own opportunity, weaving through the Tiptree defence, but his final toe poke was just saved. Tiptree were starting to look vulnerable when the Iguanas attacked hard, Travis also getting into the action and forcing a decent save that went loose, but with no Iguanas’ attacker to capitalise.

EthanT was also causing Tiptree a lot of trouble with his customary jinking runs, Tiptree only able to foul him to stop one break. Mason took a thunderous free kick that was definitely goal-bound, but bravely (and possibly a little foolishly!) headed away by a Tiptree defender.

Tiptree’s breaks were becoming rarer in this half, but they still showed decent threat, beating the defensive line and forcing more good saves from the Iguanas’ keeper.

Lewis, Sam, Jasper and Mason made way for Rui, Isaac, Stanley and George.

Rui and Travis immediately linked up to create pressure on Tiptree, but their opponents dealt with it well. George was called upon to make a couple of superb tackles to prevent breaks getting dangerous.

The Iguanas finished the game on the attack, as had happened for most of this half. Rui and EthanT linking well but the final shot going wide.

The final move of the game fell to Tiptree, but Oliver covered the attack well and George was back to mop up as full-time was called.

This was an unlucky performance by the Iguanas. Tiptree had the upper hand in the first quarter of the game, but showed they were a dangerous opponent throughout. The Iguanas were left wondering how they didn’t manage to at least equalise having had the lion’s share of both possession and the attacking moves. Brave defensive work and top goalkeeping by the Tiptree keeper being all that kept the Iguanas out.

Iguana of the Match : EthanR – workhorse of a performance and a silent hero for the team