Winning ways

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

A Valley Green side we hadn’t faced before on a hot, sunny day. Oliver, Sam, Mason, Coby, EthanR, Jasper, Rui, James and Thomas took to the field first.

From the kick-off it looked like the Dragons wanted a contest, pushing up quickly and forcing an early corner. But the Iguanas were calm and cool despite the conditions. After repelling the first Dragons move, the Iguanas built steadily and forced play into the middle of the park with some neat, considered passing.

This continued for 10 minutes, both sides probing and seeing where they could make moves, but the Iguanas were showing the most control and positive play.

Some nice play between EthanR and Thomas saw opportunities open up. A decent dribbling run by Rui through the middle then led to a free kick for the Iguanas. It was some way out, but Mason lined up for the dead ball. And what a take! The ball rocketed high, leaving the Dragons’ defence and keeper no chance. A great start.

The midfield battle continued, both sides getting caught off-side on a few occasions, but again the Iguanas creating the most chances and threat.

Sam and Rui were substituted for Isaac and EthanT, the hot weather meaning wise use of subs was needed.

Within 5 minutes EthanT was into the thick of things, linking up with Jasper to move the ball quickly up the field and into the danger zone. A lovely pass saw the Dragons’ defence split, and Thomas had timed his run to perfection. One on one with the keeper, Thomas wasn’t going to miss. A deserved extension of the lead.

James, Coby and Jasper were then rested with Stanley, Travis and Lewis coming on with fresh legs.

The Iguanas started to back off the ball a little too much, waiting for it to arrive rather than running for it. This gave the Dragons more time on the ball than they had been getting, especially their no11 who was showing similar menace to Thomas for the Iguanas.

A break through for them beat our defence and the no11 was through on goal. Oliver came out to meet the player as he just hit the ball too far in front of him. The keeper looked to have hit the ball, but also collected the player who went down and was awarded a penalty. The Iguanas’ keeper read the penalty correctly, but despite getting fingers to the ball, couldn’t avoid it going in.

The Iguanas picked up the tempo a little once more now but despite a lot of pressure and good quality passing, both Ethans, Thomas, Lewis and Travis couldn’t convert the breaks into another goal.

Oliver still needed to be alert, and was meeting longer balls well and able to release his forward players with accurate drop kicks. Travis just placed one of these over the Dragons’ goal.

Stanley was showing good skill and strength up the left, helping out with attacks, but try as they might the Iguanas could not extend their advantage. The quality of their play deserved a bigger lead, but the half-time whistle went to give the Dragons some respite.

Half time.

Oliver, Coby, Mason, Isaac, EthanR, Rui, Jasper, Travis and James came onto the pitch for the second half having had a bit of a break and a drink.

This time the first half was reversed. The Iguanas started off the more lively, Rui having a good effort seen just wide, and James making a good move and also placing the ball just wide. A couple of Iguanas’ corners looked like they might come to something, but were cleared by the Dragons to create their own break. On one of these, a speculative shot-cum-cross looked like it was going over, but somehow managed to find the very top corner of the Iguanas’ net, with nothing Oliver could do.

The Iguanas stepped up the pressure, forcing a couple of corners that could not be converted, but the play was much more even now, and the Dragons’ no11 was constantly looking for a way through.

EthanT and Thomas were brought on to replace Rui and Jasper, Coby, Travis and James for Sam, Lewis and Stanley.

The Dragons pressed forward and won a couple of corners, but these were well handled by the Iguanas. Unfortunately, these opportunities were being gifted by passing that was going off-key in the heat.

This didn’t stop the Iguanas making some ground, however, Lewis forcing a corner which Thomas took. The ball was cleared well by the Dragons, but the Iguanas were getting wise to the ball rarely being cleared that far. EthanT latched onto the clearance and made a snaking run on goal. Just as he was about to shoot, a Dragons’ defender clipped his foot and brought him down. Penalty to the Iguanas!

Lewis took the kick following instruction from this week’s captain. He stepped calmly up to the spot and slotted the ball to the left of the keeper.

The game settled back into another midfield duel for the final 10 minutes of the game. Neither side presented much additional threat on their opponents’ goal, the Dragons winning a final free kick that was defended nicely by the Iguanas, and the Iguanas getting caught by the offside trap on a couple of occasions.

The full-time whistle came with no change in the scoreline.

On balance, a deserved win for the Iguanas. They were much the stronger side in the first half, and if they’d been a lot further ahead at half-time, nobody could have complained. The second half was more evenly balanced, with the Dragons perhaps looking the stronger, in part because they were being given more space than was necessary. But it was fantastic to see the team back to winning ways, and put in another good team performance in hotter conditions than we’ve seen thus far this year.

Iguana of the Match : Thomas – tireless running in hot conditions, created danger throughout the match and bagged a goal as the icing on the cake.