One for all and all for one

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

A warm and windy day. We now seem to be firmly into the season of enjoyable football playing and spectating.

Oliver, Mason, George, Coby, Travis, Rui, EthanR, Thomas and Lewis started the game.

Some initial good passing for the Iguanas was snuffed out by the Pumas, who applied plenty of their own pressure, a neat break beating the Iguanas with pace and forcing an excellent save from Oliver. The Pumas’ corner was well taken, but Coby was alert, collected the ball well and pushed up the pitch, bringing Rui into the action.

This break led to a corner for the Iguanas which was cleared by the Pumas, but neat passing and first touches from the Iguanas saw another attack develop and the Pumas forced to give away another corner, Rui and Lewis only just failing to connect.

Rui, Thomas and Lewis were all working well together, keeping the ball in the Pumas’ half and not letting up on the pressure being applied. Lewis had a good shot saved, and when the Pumas tried to push out of their area, Mason was on hand to both stop the attack and have a go for goal that very nearly opened the scoring.

Rui and Travis then picked up minor niggles and so were replaced by EthanT and Jasper.

Coby and Jasper worked brilliantly down the left-wing, finding Lewis in a dangerous position. The keeper saved his first effort, but Lewis was straight in for the rebound, and the Iguanas had a well-deserved first goal.

Not giving their opponents any respite, EthanT broke strongly down the right-wing and passed the ball to Lewis, who was bringing some decent saves out of the Pumas’ keeper.

Stanley came on for EthanR.

Jasper and EthanT then linked up, EthanT dribbling the ball into the danger area and slotting the ball past the Pumas’ keeper.

Niggle rested, Travis came back onto the pitch, Coby making way. Isaac also came on to give Mason a break.

Thomas and Jasper were posing a real threat to the Pumas. Caught offside once, they timed their runs better for the next few minutes, Thomas hitting the ball hard to force a good save.

Then a quick break from the Pumas showed that despite all the pressure coming from the Iguanas, care was badly needed. They broke quickly and the Iguanas’ defence couldn’t catch the onrushing players. The shot was well hit, and whilst Oli got hands to the ball, it wasn’t enough to stop the Pumas getting a goal back.

From the restart, Stanley’s passing was spot on, taking the ball forwards nicely. He released Thomas who showed deft footwork to dodge a couple of Pumas’ players and releasing EthanT onto goal. Also showing some great footwork, EthanT made no mistake and restored the Iguanas’ cushion.

Mason came on to give George a breather 5 minutes before the half ended.

Half time.

Oliver, Isaac, Mason, Coby, EthanR, Rui, Jasper, Travis and Lewis started the second half, with the Iguanas feeling confident after a very strong first half.

To show the first half was no fluke, the team pressed from the outset. Jasper and Isaac worked well together through the centre, Rui demonstrated some great play to whip the ball into the Pumas’ box for a sprinting Jasper to connect with, the ball just going wide. Not to be outdone, Travis advanced up the opposite wing, performing his own neat cross, Lewis unlucky not to latch onto the ball.

There was little action in the Iguanas’ half of the pitch, but on one break the Pumas found themselves in clear space, only to be met with a brave intercept by Oliver, showing no fear taking on quickly advancing attackers. But with a strong defensive display, Oliver was to have little more to do for the rest of this half.

After a great run up through the field, Rui won a corner that was nicely delivered, Coby just volleying wide. Shortly after, Coby took a knock and was replaced by Stanley.

The Pumas tried to break clear of their own half, but Isaac was on hand to stop the attack in its tracks and released Rui on goal. The Pumas could do little but bring Rui down for a free kick, just outside their own box. Rui stepped up to take the kick and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top right of the goal!

After further pressing into the Pumas’ half, Rui, Lewis and Mason made way for George, Thomas and EthanT to come and join the attack.

Isaac and Stanley were pushing a high line, ably catching the Pumas offside when they tried to break free. With the defence pushing higher up, it didn’t take long for EthanT to be released up the right-wing. Making it far enough up the pitch, he played a lovely pass to Jasper who hit a great little shot at the Pumas’ net. The keeper just managed to save this, but parried straight into the path of Thomas who was happy to take the opportunity.

EthanT continued to make a nuisance of himself up the right wing, partnering with Jasper to cause the Pumas constant nightmares. One attack saw the ball crossed for Thomas, but was just out of reach. Then, as the game came to a close, the three musketeers joined forces again, and this time the final ball into Thomas was perfect. Thomas wasn’t missing this chance.

Another fantastic performance from the Iguanas. The passing and timing of moves was superb, and they very rarely looked in any danger of conceding. When the Pumas did attack, it was dealt with by the defence well, converting defence into attack. And when they did manage to beat the defence with their speed, Oliver made some great saves. The one goal against, even happening when the scoreline was close, was only ever a consolation, though good warning for the Iguanas not to be complacent with pacey opponents.

Iguana of the Match : Isaac – towering defensive performance showing not only his strength but also a lot of skill