Derek’s Hat Trick Keeps CRU Undefeated in 2020!
A new year, a new decade, and the Match Report is back baby! And what a way to start of 2020 as Cameron Road United unleash their counter attack to perfection with a 3-1 victory against the Madrigal Dragons. Been a long time coming, yes indeed, but the Honey Badgers are off and running on the front foot in the new year.
The mood was mixed in pre-game Badgertown as several injured Badgers gathered to show their support. Ryan limped to the sidelines with his gimpy knee, and Jefe frustratingly removed the socks and shin guards as his shin bone gave him a “that’s a no for me dawg” signal. A skinny guy showed up who sure looked like Danimal, and just before kickoff our long, lost striker Steve McKenna graced us with his presence. Side note: Schwarzy wasn’t there on time because he got stuck in 17 hours of traffic and he weaved his way back and forth through East Austin. Marathon son, marathon!!!
With a toss of the coin, the season was on!
The Badgers spend the majority of the first half soaking up pressure from the Dragons. No worries, as the defense was up to the challenge. With Billy on an African safari (“Look at that wee numpty of a Lion fer fooks sake!”) Big Dave slotted in at right back, with Danimal, BT and Andy completing the back line. Danimal went ahead and made the defense play of the season in February as he cleared a ball of the line with a diving high kick challenge.
The Dragons were enjoying the run of play at one end, but they had no idea that CRU would unleash their patented counter attack and take the lead just like that. With some route 1 football, Danimal’s booming free kick found the Bald Dome of Power at the half line. Chappy’s flick found Gianluca (although Ciro might have touched it first). Gigi’s clever through-ball found Derek just inside the box on the right side and with the tightest of angles to clear, Derek fired a brilliant strike to the far post for Cameron Road’s first lead of 2020!
To their credit, Madrigal got back into the game with a tying goal, even though it was a bit of a cheap one at the back. Not to worry though as the Honey Badgers were feeling it.
Cameron Road created a second great chance last Gigi got the ball down the left hand side and got the “whazzup” signal from Chappy. He floated in a perfect cross for Chappy to leap and head from the top of the box, but his rising header sailed just over the bar.
Jaybone unleashed his new gloves as he made a customary wonder save, keeping the score at bay.
As Steve McKenna entered the game, he showed just what he had to offer the attacking line as he provided great hold up play, and strong time on the ball. Great to have Macca back!
1-1 at halftime and the first oranges of the decade were dispersed.
With the second half underway, Cameron Road enjoyed more time on the ball in the attacking third. This was in no small thanks to the Brians as BT embarrassed many a Dragon with his silky footwork, and Schwarzy controlled the game at the front with his passing. Peterson was sending it, once to Chappy at the back post, Jake and Adam were winning the ball back in the midfield for the team to push forward, and Danimal was heading away anything in sight to keep Jaybone comfortable.
Another attack deep into Dragon territory saw McKenna provide Derek with a great assist at the far right side of the box. Derek rode off hit would-be challenge, regained his footing, and drove home his second goal of the day. If you thought the first goal was from a tight angle, this one will forever take some engineering and physics text books to decode as he somehow guided it home from the tightest of angles. Stunning.
Up 2-1 is a tricky spot for the Badgers, and with 25 minutes to go it was a tense affair. Madrigal kept attacking, but most of their efforts were turned back as…… SNIPER….. SNIPER…. JAKE IS DOWN!!!!! Watch that tree line next week for scope mirror reflections and muzzle flashes……stay frosty.
Touchy stuff, but the defense wasn’t having any tying goals. Dave seemed to be in a competition with himself to clear away ball after ball into the stratosphere, one of which was a cheeky scorpion kick as he paid homage to his tree.
And with the game almost seen through, the Honey Badgers served up the icing on the cake with yet another brilliant counter attack. In what was becoming a bread and butter move, Danimal served up a goal kick to Chappy at the half line. The Bald Dome of Power took a mighty flick to the ball and found Derek 25 yards down the left hand side with the keeper charging out of the box for some reason. Sweet D rounded him with ease and fired home his hat trick into an empty net to seal the deal as the Honey Badgers started out the season with a fantastic 3-1 victory.
The post game mood was mellow and confident and Ciro summed it up as he sat back with a smug grin on his face, not unlike a house cat in a sunny window.
Been a long time coming, but the Honey Badgers are coming to play in 2020.
Man-of-the-Match: Well, everyone played exceptionally well, but with the first hat trick in like forever, Derek takes center stage with a trio of tremendous goals!!
