Iguanas
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Sun 06 Feb 2022
Sporting 77
Iguanas
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Broomfield Vikings
A tale of two keepers

A tale of two keepers

Andy Murphy8 Feb 2022 - 00:24
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A great game of football, and marvellous play throughout the game from a much improved Iguanas. Ultimately both keepers stole the show.

Team Sheet : Coby, EthanR, EthanT, Isaac, James, Mason, Oliver, Rui, Stanley, Thomas

So windy today we lost an Iguanas supporter for a while as he chased his cap across the field, but despite that, the weather held at home to Broomfield Vikings. We were also a couple of players down due to Covid, but Mason came into the breach for his first Iguanas’ cap.

Oliver, EthanR, James, Isaac, EthanT, Rui and Thomas got the game under way, and the Iguanas showed intent early on with some nice passing and decent pressure from the back, EthanR threading the ball to EthanT who knocked it through to Rui, but the Vikings’ keeper was alert to the danger and first to the ball. This would prove a regular occurrence through the match – the wind made it incredibly difficult for the boys to judge the pace of the ball, it often going far faster than anyone expected. And the Vikings’ keeper was on great form today.

A similar break from the back, with James and EthanR both playing the ball out calmly, saw EthanT thump the bar with a lovely shot. Rui also had a shot saved, and EthanT had the rebound parried after Isaac had threaded the ball through midfield with some fabulous dribbling. A similar move involving Thomas this time also brought out a decent save from the Vikings’ keeper.

The Vikings were also able to push into the Iguanas’ half. A couple of corners were dealt with well, with great organisation by Oliver and the rest of the team listening well and taking up their places. The Iguanas broke out following this spell, but the Vikings managed a quick counter, managing to get through our generally solid defensive line. Oliver came out to meet the attack one on one, but the Vikings’ player managed to slide the ball past Oliver’s left and inside the post.

The Iguanas continued to push though. Mason, Coby and Stanley relieved EthanT, Rui and Thomas.

The wind was proving pretty troublesome, making the pace of the ball very difficult to judge. Corners from both teams were difficult to latch onto. Coby was strong down the left wing, with good pace and able to take on his opposing numbers. Stanley was positioning himself well to help move the ball into the Vikings’ half. Mason was also making good runs into space and was unlucky not to get onto a fast-moving ball for a shot on goal a couple of times.

Rui and EthanT came back into the fray in place of James and EthanR.

The Iguanas continued to push and were looking very dangerous on the break. They weren’t getting it all their own way, but the Vikings breaks were rare during this spell. One break brought out a brilliant double save from Oliver, the first seeing him on the ground but quickly recovering to make the second.

And then, just before half time, the break through the team deserved. Coby latched onto the ball in the Iguanas’ half, making ground and then placing a well-timed pass through to Rui. Rui gained more ground and slotted the ball through to EthanT. Some lovely control saw him tee up a shot which, this time, the Vikings’ keeper couldn’t stop. A fabulous move, immediately before the half time whistle blew.

Half time.

Oliver, Coby, Isaac, Rui, Stanley, EthanT and Thomas started the second half. This time it was the Vikings with a quick start, forcing another good save from Oliver, and also hitting the bar and post in the first 5 minutes. The game then settled into a period of end-to-end play, but with neither team quite getting into the danger zones.

James gave Stanley a breather, and the Iguanas began to push. On one break, Thomas was brought down in the area, winning the Iguanas their second penalty of the season. James struck the shot well, but the Vikings’ keeper managed to tip it onto and over the bar. The Vikings repaid the favour with a fast break, forcing a 1:1 effort on the Iguanas’ goal which was well saved.

Mason came on for Coby, and was shortly involved in the Iguanas’ second. A very incisive pass through the middle from deep in the Iguanas’ half saw Thomas through on goal. The pace was again very quick, and the Vikings’ keeper broke for the ball. Both players got there almost at the same time, the ball deflecting to the side, but right into the path of EthanT who had been tracking the run. EthanT took the ball calmly and slotted it home!

This shook the Vikings a little, which resulted in them pushing harder into the Iguanas’ half and bringing more saves out of the keeper. Corners and free kicks were all being well marshalled, and the team defended really well, but the pressure continued.

A little respite was provided with a break from EthanT and Thomas, with a final ball to Rui whose terrific shot brought out a great save from the Vikings’ keeper. Mason also struck several powerful shots, very accurately, but somehow the keeper kept the ball out of the net.

Stanley replaced Rui in the last ten minutes to bring fresh legs to the party, badly needed as the Vikings were having one of their strongest spells of the game. They were breaking quickly and threatening the goal often. Both the Iguanas’ keeper and the woodwork kept them out for what seemed like an age. Then they managed to break in a two on one situation with the Iguanas’ keeper and the ball couldn’t be kept out.

The last 5 minutes were frantic. The Iguanas managed a couple more final breaks, EthanT having shots saved. The Vikings also broke quickly, and with the last move of the game brought out the best save of the game. A Vikings’ attacker was clear on goal and unleashed a nice shot. But Oliver was alert to it, and diving to his left pushed the ball out of play at full stretch.

Honours even, the full-time whistle finally blew.

These games seem to bring out the best in both of these teams. They are certainly exciting games of football to watch! This one was largely a tale of two keepers, both of them frustrating the attacking players massively. The Iguanas were stringing great passes together and playing the ball around really well. When the wind didn’t get hold of the ball too badly, the shots were also flying in from all players. End to end play, and absolute determination. A draw was probably a fair result, but on any other day the Iguanas would have seen two, three or four times the number of goals (and, to be fair, the same could be said of the Vikings). A fantastic display by the Iguanas and a real demonstration of what they’re capable of.

Iguana of the Match : Oliver – a very busy day for the Iguanas’ keeper. Some spectacular saves, including the diving left at the death of the game to keep the scores level.

Match details

Match date

Sun 06 Feb 2022

Kickoff

13:00
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