DRAW: 1-1 vs Old Boys – Short-Handed Badgers Grab a Draw and Ryan Willis is Alive and Well!

This was gonna be a tough one. The Honey Badgers were in desperate need of 11 players not injured, out of town, or missing in action. Luckily, no small thanks to Chris Peterson’s social media blitz, 11 players showed up and took the pitch to face the Old Boys on a beautiful Sunday morning.

The Honey Badgers were looking for 3 points to wrap up the league, but it didn’t have to all come from this game. Any points would do, so not losing was the goal – especially with no subs in the cupboards to rely on.

The Badgers sent out Big Dave, Guillermo, Jefe and Chappy in defense. Adam, Ciro, Peterson and Brian Parks patrolled the midfield. And the dynamic duo of Gianluca and Derek set up shop up top.

Cameron Road passed the ball around pretty well to open up the game, and were looking to get Gigi and Derek into scoring positions.

But a few minutes into the game, the action paused as the one and only Ryan Willis came walking…. yes walking…. over the hill, fresh from almost getting killed by a giant fucking tree back in February. He was greeted with cheers from the team and took up his coaching/comedic relief position on the sidelines. Sure was great to have him back in the mix.

The first good chance fell to Cameron Road as Chris Peterson sent Ciro in with a great pass. Ciro motored his way down the left side of the box and flashed a left footer wide of goal.

Gianluca took a chance with a long-range bomb as Brian Parks streaked down the middle of the field for a possible pass. “Strikers gotta shoot” was his response to not getting the ball, approving of Gigi’s early testing of the keeper.

At the other end, Ciro was using his quantum state to “neutralize” the Old Boy #10, who was a key part to their every attack. Big Dave and Guillermo were solid on the left, and Jefe made several important charging interceptions in the center. Chappy was on the right side trying to make life for Brian Parks interesting with his passing selection.

Overall, the defense was solid and Jay was not too busy.

The breakthrough came as Gianluca’s shot/pass was deflected and found Adam at the back post by himself. Using and unorthodox method, Adam kicked the ball with his foot into the back of the goal for the 1-0 lead.

With an already thin margin of error on the physical front, Cameron Road was dealt a blow as Derek went down with a wonky hammy and had to leave the game for the rest of the half.

Even with 10 men for the remainder of the game, the Badgers never played like they were down a man.

Oranges.

Things picked up where they left off in the second half with the Honey Badgers controlling the pitch with the wind at their backs. There was some joy going down the right flank as Brian Parks was driving deep, and then he came up with the half’s best duo of chances for another goal as he charged down a pass with the keeper to beat. Brian managed to keep his low shot on frame, but the keeper pushed it back out into play, and seconds later he found himself in the same spot with another crack at goal, but his left-footer sailed just of the far post. Close X2!

Guillermo was his usual fiery self as he pushed forward with the ball at his feet, but the Old Boys were looking threatening trying to get a comeback goal.

The Badgers took another blow as Jefe went down with another wonky hammy. Not even Chappy’s concerning on-field tea bagging could bring him back to life, and so he exited the pitch for the rest of the afternoon. (later, x-rays revealed his hamstring to be made up of 67% mushroom fibers and sausage wrap skins). Unlucky for the already thin Badgers who would now be down to 9 players. But wait, Derek was able to re-enter the game to get them back to 10 for the rest of the game.

Unfortunately, directly after Jefe left the game the Old Boys pulled one back with a shot inside the box with bodies flying.

At 1-1, it was time to secure the point, but Peterson had other ideas as he dreamed of wrapping up the title with a win. And so the Honey Badgers tightened up at the back with some physical play, but pushed forward looking for the winner.

But the Soccer Gods had decided that this game was over, and both teams left with a point. Good work from a shorthanded Cameron Road.

Next week is for all the marbles as they face the second place Jugglers with only two games to go.

Man-of-the-Match: Adam was Johnny on the Spot with the only goal of the game. His 90 minutes and halftime refreshments earned him the honors this week.

Post-Game-Report: In a sad commentary on physical fitness, Ryan was somehow able to move faster than Chappy to deliver a crotch-soaking ice bath as retribution for his weekly drenching of Ciro.