LOSS: 2-1 vs Takoba – Badgers Come Close, But The Winning Streak Comes To An End

The Honey Badgers lost a close one yesterday to 2nd place Takoba. Good team, crappy restaurant. It marked the Badgers 5th straight 2-1 game, but this time they were on the wrong side of the score.

For the second game in a row, the Badgers were missing two important ingredients: Jefe and the Tent. But they made due, and with some late arriving sub additions there were 4 available for an injection of fresh legs. However Miguel pulled an “Andy” and showed up without his jersey and had to jet back home to grab it for the second half.

Takoba had some big baldies in the back, and some aggravating play-acting players in the front, which made for a difficult afternoon. Early on though, CRU was doing well and a great chance fell to Pete on the right side of the 18 yard box as he checked to his left foot and curled in a shot that was just wide of the mark.

Once he got into the game, Gianluca let loose a practice shot from 40 yards. He was also trying to play in Derek with several long balls for the tiny legs to run onto.

At the back, Chris G had his hands full with the Takoba #7, who was slightly fitter than the CRU #7 (but bunion-less, so yeah, boring), but he was up to the task.

Takoba did nab an early 5-hole goal to go up 1-0, but the Badgers remained in the fight.

Halftime oranges were back, and so was Miguel draped in a beautiful yellow jersey.

The Badgers were in it to win it, but it was tough sledding against Takoba. They were tough in the midfield, and the big bodies at the back were making life difficult.

Takoba won a dodgy free kick as one of their peskier players hit the deck after a love tap, and the ensuing free kick to the back post saw them grab a second goal as Jeff Z and Chappy shared the man-marking-misforture.

But not to fear! The Badgers surged forward, trying to get back into the game, and with a flick of the bunion, Chappy’s cross from the left across the back line splatted into the keeper who spilled the ball back into play. And with a Paul Scholes-like late run into the box, Pete was there to basically knock the ball in off his chest from point blank range to give the Badgers a life line.

From there, it was back and forth. Some crazy “Over 40 stuff” happened on one break away inside the Badgers goal as Jay finger tip saved a shot from close range that also came off the bar and rolled to safety.

At the business end, Peterson was putting in some delicious crosses to the back post, but no-one was there to great them.

Billy was surging forward into the mix, and he ran back 60 yards like a wee-lad to recover one another Takoba breakaway. Going the other direction, Jeff Z ran forward 60 yards like a bearded teenager to try and make something happen with Derek. Speaking of Derek, he nearly tied it up near the end of the game with a shot from the box.

But 2nd place Takoba was too much to handle on the day as they escaped with a 2-1 victory…. the 5th 2-1 game in a row for Cameron Road. Next up, a date with first place AAC.

Man-of-the-Match: Billy quietly crushed it on both ends of the pitch.

Man-AT-the-Match: Congrats to Parks, who was there

Post-Game-Report: With no tent, and no Jefe, the Badgers had to make it work, but there was plenty of beer to go around