Summer Season Ends with 5-2 Thrashing of Austin Athletic Club

Cameron Road United closed out the 2012 Summer Season in style on Sunday with an emphatic 5-2 win over rivals Austin Athletic Club. The Honey Badgers took D2 by storm, and after a rocky start, finished in the top 3 with a gritty summer performance – fueled by their new “duck bill” hats.

With the usual number of players unavailable for summer duty, CRU welcomed back to the sidelines one of their colossuses of defense: Danimal. After many many moons of deep exploration into the Ukranian wilderness, with only his soccer shorts, a rusty shank,  and his Honey Badger t-shirt, Danny returned and pledged his future Sundays to the club. That and the addition of Peyton, El Jefe’s right hand man, were big boosts for the back line.

Austin Athletic Club sported a team made up of any and all of their divisional clubs, including many of their top D1 performers. Knowing that they were on the wrong end of a 5-1 shellacking last Spring, Cameron Road prepared for a tough afternoon.

But as things turned out, it was to be CRU’s day, and the Honey Badgers started out on fire, peppering the goal from near and far. Working the ball inside the middle of the box, Andy (all decked out and giddy as a 6 year old on Christmas morning with his new Xara blue and yellow shorts) played a nice pass to Chappy. With only the keeper to beat, Chappy’s far post effort was saved by the onrushing keeper. Minutes later, Luke again showed why he is such a weapon in attack as well as defense. His long range throw in found the golden dome of Chappy who took a near post header just over the bar. Another opportunity fell for the Captain as he took a turn with a left footed shot that sizzled just outside the near post, and just like that he had a hat trick of woe inside the first 10 minutes.

But for all that early attack, it was Austin Athletic Club who put the first points on the board as they nodded in from a corner kick. Feeling comfortable playing from behind, Cameron Road picked up the pace and picked themselves up off the floor. An ensuing corner of their own saw Chris Peterson whip in a delicious ball the whizzed by Jeff like a cruise missile and found Luke at the back post. There are two things that Luke really knows how to do: Sop up some of his Grandma’s gravy with a crusty biscuit and smash in a header. And as it turned out, he didn’t have no biscuits. 1-1 Cameron Road.

Off another cross, Chappy got his head on the ball that lifted over the keeper but only found the crossbar. Fortunately the rebound fell to Adam who was lurking around the net like a shadowcat deep north of The Wall. Adam’s close range goal gave Cameron Road it’s first lead of the game at 2-1.

Think that’s enough excitement for one half? Not even close. Ryan came close with a right-footer that crashed off the bottom corner of the post, Chappy had a diving header attempt as Z made a deep run into the box and crossed it from the right hand side, and Chappy was denied with yet another header attempt to round out his half of utter futility. Danny stood over the ball 40 yards out and unleashed a Krakenesque free kick that Chappy met at the far post. As the keeper rushed out to meet the ball, Chappy got there first and sent the header gliding towards the back post. But to his horror, it was saved off the line by a blondish AAC defender, thwarting his 5th attempt at goal for the half.

With things coming fast and furious, Luke sent in a slicing pass to Ryan who danced down the left side of the box. There were shouts of offside, but it was Z who was ahead of the play. Ryan slid past Z and the last defender with ease and uncorked the victory champagne as his volley found the far corner of the net. His ensuing “extended airplane” celebration paid tribute to Vernon Maxwell running through the Houston Rocket stands after sinking a game-winning 3 pointer.

And so a fast and furious first half ended with Cameron Road up 3-1. At the half, the young Way Shong (who was late to the game… of course) dropped a bombshell. He had accepted an offer from Cameron Road’s West Coast sister team, the San Francisco Ice Spiders. So in a cruel twist of fate, this was to be his last game for CRU, a fate he shared with Steve McKenna, Cameron Road’s goal-scoring young gun who will be sent out on loan for a year until he comes of age like the rest of us numptys. Getting Way a goal in the 2nd half would be icing on the cake.

Speaking of Steve, he started the 2nd half brightly, unleashing his inner Louis Suarez making a darting run down the center of the pitch. Unfortunately for Steve, he ended this run with CRU on the shelf with a foot injury, but everyone hopes to see him soon at the Fall Cup and back full time next summer.

And then, as if right on cue, Way cut inside from the left and unleashed a shot, powered from the tips of his spiky Mission Impossible haircut. The shot blasted off his foot with such velocity that the tree line actually shuttered as if to say “well done son, well done.” His shot nicked a defender on its way into goal and everyone celebrated the parting strike. CRU 4 – AAC 1.

Throughout the game, one of AAC’s chief threats was the Russian, Big Tim. A constant threat on the wing, he was able to unleash both unstoppable shots and verbal barrages in old European tongue. And the dude was literally laid out by Crosley on the sidelines with a bone-crunching tackle. Moments later, Tim retaliated with the precision of a KGB operative, nailing Crosley late. But to his credit, The Croz just got up without a word and got back to work. Straight up Frank Sobatka style. And while we’re talking defense, Danimal was on fire at the back, barking out orders and literally heading away every dangerous ball. He also unleashed a new and powerful weapon: the goal-kick to corner-kick. A rapid fire change of field position that CRU will surely implement in the coming months.

As the game wound down to a nub, AAC actually pulled back a goal as one of their midfielders let loose a 4o yard cross/shot that found its way to the back of the net. The momentary lift in their spirits gave them license to attack the Cameron Road end, winning bushels of free kicks from close range which were feverishly repelled by the heroic Spartans of CRU. But it was Cameron Road who stuck final blood as Adam poked home another goal from inside the box past the keeper for a 5-2 victory.

It was a brilliant end to the summer season, beating a pesky rival and finishing off on a high. We’ll surely miss Way and Steve, but look forward to similar results in the Over 30 leagues.

Man-of-the-Match: Tough one. 2 goals from Adam, a goal and an assist from Luke, a game winner from Willis, an assist from Peterson, a five pack of first half opportunities from Chapola… but it was the return of Danimal and his desire at the back that takes the prize.