CRU 3 – Teenagers 5
The Summer Season. A glorious mixed bag of games versus just about anybody of any age. This week’s edition featured a matchup against Galaxia FC, who took pieces from their D1 team and mixed them with about 10 talented kids in the 17 year old range. It was a little strange.
They Honey Badgers fielded a much stronger lineup this week with Andy and Steve returning from long-standing injuries, Chappy returned after soiling himself for a week, and “Henny” rounded out the squad with the requisite Punter influence. Four subs and two tents indicated the Honey Badgers were here to mix it up.
Like the USA vs. Ghana, Cameron Road killed the first five minutes of the game. Steve burst down the left side and whipped in a zinger of a cross to Ryan at the back post. Ryan controlled the cross and directed the shot past the goalie for a 1-0 lead after only a few minutes. This game was gonna be a walk in the park, right?
Not so fast. Like a typical bunch of teenagers, these kids woke up late but then proceeded to throw down a few long-range goals in a matter of minutes. Before too long, the one goal lead had turned into a 2 goal deficit.
But after being hammered for 20 minutes or so, the Honey Badgers finally got into a rhythm and actually played quite well. Ciro and BT both had good looks at the goal. Cuyler sent in free kick after free kick to the box. And Chappy pushed a header just wide inside the box after Ciro spotted him with a great cross.
Unfortunately, a third goal bungled in and Cameron Road were down 3-1 at the half.
The Honey Badgers picked up the second half where they left off, with some good play. Even though they couldn’t keep the ball for very long, the older and wiser men on the pitch were throwing their battered bodies around trying to slow the kids down. Dermot was especially having a good game at employing this physical tactic.
On the attacking end, Steve almost had a spectacular moment when his left-footed first time volley from a deep cross just went wide. And Dermot tried his best to pull the team back into the game with a Wondolowski.
Continuing his good play, the Honey Badgers finally managed to reap some rewards from their good play as Dermot cut a swath of pointy elbowed space for himself down the center of the park. His through ball to Chappy put the Captain one-on-one with the keeper, who was obviously smitten by Chappy’s new, neon Nikes and failed to cover the far post as a sliding shot went past him. CRU 2 – Galaxia 3.
Unfortunately, the momentum of the comeback was quickly quelled as those damn kids put another one past the Honey Badgers to go up 4-2.
Time for some life lessons for the teenagers as Cameron Road again roared back and got within a goal after Henny clogged up the box off a corner kick which caused Galaxia to put in an own goal. Cameron Road were pressing and could have completed the comeback with a few additional opportunities including Ryan’s booming shot from outside the box.
But as time was running out, another Galaxia kid sent in another long range bomb from the right to go up by two goals and kill the game off for good. Credit to Jay though, he did make a couple of Tim Howardesque saves during the second half.
So it was another summer loss, but a good run out for the Honey Badgers and a much improved performance.
Man-of-the-Match: He created a goal, he almost scored a goal, and he didn’t get a yellow card!!! All hail Dermot.
Post-Match-Report: Apparently Ciro picked the wrong game not to get an ice bath as he was suffering from the heat… hopefully he’s doing better.
