Summer Starts with a Header Tribute to RVP

The Honey Badgers started the summer season off with a highly entertaining 7 goal thriller against the Austin Blues. The narrow 4-3 loss was tough to swallow, especially since the referee disallowed Ryan’s would-be winning goal near the end of the game.

It was a good turnout for the first game, and on-loan Punter Travis played his first game in the glorious yellow top and….. black shorts? Oh well, since Andy wasn’t there someone had to stick out.

Cameron Road had a nice start with a good 10 minutes on the ball and struck first blood. Peterson whipped in a nice corner and Chappy flew to the near post to smash in his first header of the day and first goal of the season.

As the Blues started to assert themselves, the Honey Badgers found it a bit tougher going to get on the ball, but they still fought bravely. Especially Adam, who was winning headers and throwing his body around drawing praise from the crowd.

Travis slid into center midfield with ease and was his usual Punter self with some great touches and a nice left footed shot in the first half.

The second goal was also a beauty, with Peterson whipping in another corner which was met by Luke at the back post. Luke does two things very well: he sops up his Grandmother’s biscuits with ample amount of Oklahoma gravy, and he destroys headers. On Sunday morning, he was out of biscuits.

Cameron Road’s third goal had a familiar feel to it. After giving up a ball in the Blue’s box that led to a breakaway goal, Chappy was in need of a redeeming play. So when Peterson rode the left touchline and cranked up the cross machine, Chappy met the ball right at the far goal post to dink it in off his face for his second header of the game and Chris’ third assist.

The Honey Badgers were very unlucky to miss out on header #4 as Luke again powerfly drove in a second header to the goal off a Peterson corner kick, but it was saved at the very last moment by an Austin Blues defender who was in the right place at the right time.

Dermot tried to spoil the all-header affair when he nearly struck gold with a 35 yard shot that smacked the crossbar. A fantastic strike from the Irish enforcer.

And perhaps the cruelest 60 seconds of the match came late in the game when it was tied up at 3 apiece. Ryan made a brilliant far post run as Chris worked the ball down the right flank. His inch perfect diagonal ball found Ryan in stride as he flicked it into the back of the net… yes, off his head! Unfortunately the referee made one of his worst infrequent calls of the day as he ruled Ryan offside. And after that, within 45 seconds the Blues broke to the other end and put in the winning goal to finish the Honey Badgers off 4-3.

So it was a thrilling game, but a bitter-sweet result. Still, the summer is about working out the kinks, getting a runout, and having more fun than usual.

Man-of-the-Match: Peterson provided 3 assists and could have literally blown up the charts with 5 balls for headers, so he wins todays helping foot award.

Also of note, there was a GIGI sighting!!! Yes, Gigi walked out with his two skinny legs to support his club. Looks like he’s on schedule and doing well.