WIN: 4-0 vs ATX – Badgers are Back!

Field 10. The Treeline. A slight dew on the field. Jefe nestled inside Badgertown. Late players. Toddlers. A Jeff Z sighting! Ol’Schwarzy! Sweltering Texas heat. The scene was set for game #2 in this young Fall Season. The Honey Badgers were looking for a more competitive game this week and they got it from a salty ATX United team.

The game started off in typical fashion, with a kick off. From there, the Badgers picked up where they took off last week with some intricate passing, looking to take hold of the game like Luke grabbing that hot plate of his Grandmother’s biscuits right outta the oven – burning his hands, singing his eyebrows and learning a golden lesson. (this is 10 year old Luke we’re talking about here)

When Gigi is in form, you feed him that big’ol plate of Cacio e pepe on the field, so when Chappy saw him on the right side of the box, he served up his assist with cracked pepper. BOOM. 5th goal in 2 matches for the prolific Cameron Road striker.

Unfortunately for the other Cameron Road striker, Derek got hit by a freight train just outside the box and his day was over. Hopefully it’s not too bad, but it’s not looking good for the little man with the big cutback. His shoulder was as messed up as Jefe’s tax return. The resulting free kick from Gigi was actually a tribute to Big Dave’s tree as it soared directly overhead.

ATX did have more in the tank than the Elephants, but they didn’t trouble Jaybone too much. Especially since he had his fortress of defense surrounding him as Danimal, Jeff Z, Chris G and Guillermo patrolled the back line.

It was nice to see Schwarzy back on the pitch as he got his first action of the season. He slotted right back into central midfield, had some nice touches and then scored the goal of the game after Gigi’s scrum inside the box kicked out to him. From 20 yards out, Brian let loose a scorcher to the far post and the Honey Badgers were up 2-0.

Jake is down! Jake is down!!!

Nasty Nate had an interesting slide tackle in the opponent’s box trying to win back the ball, which may have caused his cleat to explode.

Peterson also had a nice run into the box, but like a Punter open mic night at a comedy club, there was no end product.

Halftime and…. WHERE WERE THE ORANGES!!

The second half was more of the same for Cameron Road. Two goals down, ATX were still putting up a fight, but the writing was on the wall. This was the Honey Badger’s game. Danimal was making hard-charging runs down the right side (and also received a pineapple warning from the assistant coach wearing pit vipers), Guillermo and Ciro were tidy in the center of the park and Gigi was smelling cobra blood inside the box as the Honey Badgers pushed for more goals.

After another foray into the ATX box, Ciro got the ball on the right side and heard the call for the Bald Dome of Power. With a flick of his tiny right boot he sent the cross over to Chappy for header number 2 of the season and goal number 3 of the game.

At the other end, Cameron Road escaped some crazy scraps inside their box as ATX continued to push for a consolation goal, but with some defensive magic (and a little luck), the Honey Badgers rode out the storm and preserved the shutout.

The final nail in the coffin saw Andy (in full proper kit) score his first goal of the campaign. Chappy’s crunching tackle (pre-approved by Nasty Nate) in the middle of the park to win back the ball saw him release a pass to Peterson down the left wing. Chris made a darting run down to the box where he crossed the ball over to Andy for the tap in.

The game got a little heated at the end with Gigi getting fouled just outside the box as ATX was getting frustrated at the Honey Badgers domination, but after the final whistle blew all fences were mended, the beers were cracked open, and the icings begun.

4-0 Cameron Road and the league is looking like theirs for the taking.

Man-of-the-Match: Tough one. 4 different goal scorers, shutout, plenty of subs, lots of beer…. but Schwarzy’s return to midfield gave the Honey Badgers another dimension of ball control, and his screamer to the back post was the goal of the game. He must have been showing off to try and find his next co-star.