Derek’s Cutbacks Break Twelve Club America Ankles As His Goal Carries Cameron Road to Another Victory

The Honey Badgers are on a heater. This season has seen them take 11 out of 15 points with no losses (and a perfect post-match record), and they don’t look to let up anytime soon. After last week’s mauling of Cosmos up in Manor, Cameron Road was back at their familiar stomping grounds at Onion Creek.

Badgertown was bursting at the seams with 17 players and one baby in the Octagon (that kid has a fantastic head of hair by the way), everyone was eager to get into the action against Club America. Verity was also there on the sidelines en masse for moral support…. the Badgers are really the only ones who can fully appreciate their post-game debauchery. (#service)

Ciro, Miguel and Derek formed the “tiny trident” around Mckenna in attack, and all of their intricate passing was causing problems down in the barrio for Club America. Miguel was especially silky with his ice-cold calmness on the ball.

The Honey Badgers were also keeping things tight at the back, and Jefe had a nice early defensive header to clear a ball from danger.

Back from his umpteenth binge drinking week and fish taco existential experience in Mexico, Chappy almost netted one with the first touch of his vibrant new blue boots. (almost if he wasn’t old and slow and the defender didn’t get there first to put the ball out of play before he could get a toe on it from Derek’s lovely cross)

With a cornucopia of subs on the sidelines, they Honey Badgers were swapping out players whenever and wherever needed and thus inserted Billy into the game at right wing for his first action of the day. Not one to rely on his blazing Scottish cheetah-like speed, Billy beguiled the defense with several silky passes, and as the sidelines screamed out for a “scoop”, he got into position to unleash a corker to the far post that went a bit wide. Nice moves though in an advanced position for the usual right back.

The Honey Badgers were just getting warmed up. Derek nearly scored as he charged hard for a ball inside the box, but the keeper got there just in time to knock him off the ball in a 50-50 situation.

Back at the other end after Club America earned a free kick, Chappy and Brian set up a two man wall. The ensuing shot took Chappy down to the turf like he was hit square in the mug with Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir. Luckily, Dr. Nunn was there on the sidelines to declare him fit to return to midfield duty.

Oranges.

They Honey Badgers were playing well, but looking for that goal to get out in front. With Steve holding the ball up front like his name was Zlatan, and Derek and Ryan running off of him, the Badgers looked to get deep into the Club America backline. With a little elbow grease, Adam dug out a ball down on the line and slung it into Derek’s path right in front of goal. Now if Derek described his goal last game as “his best for Cameron Road United,” this one has gotta be a close second.

In the space about as big as a telephone booth, Sweet D went from Clark Kent to Superman as he rolled the ball over with a silky dribble, quickly cut it back to his other foot, and unleashed a rocket into the top of the net with the entire backline of Club America defenders looking for a doctor to mend their broken ankles.

And with that glorious finish, the Honey Badgers were out in front but with plenty of work yet to do to secure the points.

The Badgers kept attacking, and one of their best weapons was Danimal’s massive goal kicks. Seriously, those things were like lobbing grenades into the Club America defense. The best one traveled 60 yards where McKenna got to it at the same time as the onrushing keeper. The ball bounced up to Chappy with a somewhat open goal, but all he could muster on it was a weak left foot and it was cleared off the line at the last second by a defender.

On another play, Brian was all teed up and ready to pull the trigger on a prancing shot through the middle of the box, but he got caught up in defensive traffic right at the point of cutting it loose.

The Honey Badgers escaped a possible penalty at the other end when New Chris bodied up an attacker, but after a nervous moment when the referee pulled a yellow card from his back pocket, it was rightly awarded to the diving attacker as Chris shouted “DIVE!”

As the game came to a close, everybody was helping to defend the lead, and Ryan even engaged in a “tactical” yellow card offense by giving a clear attacker a little tug of the shirt at midfield. Crafty unselfish play from the midfield maestro.

And so another game, another 3 points for the Honey Badgers as they make their climb into the top 4 of the Over 30 A table. With 4 games to go, a title run may be unrealistic, but you never know.

Man-of-the-Match: Beautiful goal by Derek who makes it 2 in 2 games running.

Post Game Carnage:

There’s a war brewing on the Cameron Road sidelines. Choose your side wisely as Jefe and Chappy wage a soggy campaign of dueling ice baths. On one side, you’ve got the mischievous spiritual shamen, hellbent on dethroning the Captain and protecting the honor of his sensei. On the other side, you’ve got the crafty old veteran with laser-like focus when he gets a target in his sights. Battle lines have been drawn. Defensive perimeters secured. Water bombs deployed. Time to jump in your foxhole.