Cinco de Stinko
Unlike the lazy writers over at Game of Thrones, the Honey Badgers refuse to give up and throw their hands up at the end of the season. Sure, it’s easy to just pretend a moving dragon can be shot out of the sky by a bunch of wooden ships with harpoon guns facing directly forward without ever seeing them or, I dunno, flying straight down on them from above and burning the living shit out of them, but try defending in the Premier League. You can’t fake that son.
And so, as the season grinds down to a nub like Willis’ big toenail, the Honey Badgers keep on fighting the good fight, building up an excess of character along the way.
The latest team to pad their table stats was none other than the Celtic Cowboys. You may know them by their highly rated A++ website stats (thanks Adam for the breakdown by the way), but most know them as the infestation of green and white hoops that seem to cover every square inch of Onion Creek on any given Sunday. Anyway, blah blah blah, they’re pretty damn good.
Lot’s of interesting pre-game activity on this humid Cinco de Mayo afternoon. Field 3 was covered with a Shipleys glaze. Ryan entered the woods with a toilet paper sock but returned empty handed. The entire extended Little family joined the Gianlucas to witness the carnage. By God there was a Steve McKenna sighting!
The Honey Badgers were again forced into a makeshift defense with so many defenders out of the mix. Peterson joined Jefe in the center of the back line as Billy anchored the right and Chappy set up shop on the left. Bret and his bad ankles were in and out at various stages of the afternoon.
The midfield and attack were all familiar faces.
Cameron Road was actually playing pretty darn good for a team that spent most of its time in its own half. They continued to hone their short passing game in hopes that it will payoff next season against inferior opponents. At one stage, Ciro, Gigi and Chappy engaged in a magical triangle close to their own byline which resulted in upwards of 8 passes. A possible Over 30 Premier record.
The Honey Badgers impressed with their efforts and Jaybone’s bevy of out-of-this-world saves, but lady luck has not been kind to them this year and she again turned her back on Cameron Road as a Celtic shot deflected of the handsome shin of Chris Peterson to rocket into the goal. Throw in another Celtic strike and the Honey Badgers had jack shit to show for all their efforts.
That was until Gigi and Ryan will stole the show at the other end of the pitch! Gigi won the ball back for Ryan and Willis managed to round the keeper and slot home his first Over 30 Premier goal with his left foot! 2-1 with a shout at the half.
Sweet Mamma the oranges were on point.
With a spec of hope to start the second half, the Badgers continued with their short passing game, Jay’s timely saves, and the occasional probe into the Celtic part of the pitch. But that hope was quickly dashed as Celtic wore down Cameron Road with a few goals, got a lame p/k as a shot slammed into Chappy’s arm, and Ryan turned one back into his own net as he was all the way back defending on the goal line. Pretty much par for the course in this season to forget. But the effort was there no doubt. Honey Badgers may not give shit, but they also don’t stop fighting.
Man-of-the-Match: When you are 48 years old and you score in Over 30 Premier, you name will ring out like Omar in the streets of West Baltimore. So we mos def gotta give props to Ryan Willis.
