CRU 2 – Verity 3

Thanks to Luke for this Game Report!

WIth our captain, or should I say “The Chaptain”, being out for a few weeks due to a mecca to Mississippi and Mexico, I have been honored with the task of keeping this well-oiled blog flowing with the sweat, blood and ink of our team. The proverbial torch our history will continue to burn. So, without further ado, please turn to the Cameron Road United Book Two, Chapter 8, verses 24-37.

It was one the first triple-digit games of the summer, and the Cameron Road brought the heat with an eclectic assortment of socks, buckets and beer brands. Verity is always a tough game and it would come down to who made the least amount of mistakes… and  who had the most beer in their coolers.

Cameron Road United started off strong by controlling the flow of the game. Billy put in an early set  piece from 40 yards out that skipped past the outstretched leg o’ Luke and subsequently bounced over Willis’ menacing forehead. Verity struck back with youth and the ability to move the ball in the middle of the field. They got a lucky goal early when our Laryngitis-stricken referee was too parched to blow the whistle after a Verity player ran through Jay’s collection of a corner kick and knocked the first goal into the reluctantly blue net.

With the temporary lead and a hankering for being green, Verity began to get lazy in back as their D3 roots shone through with sloppy ball movement. That kind of defense gets a man castrated in some countries. I was able to close in on the sweeper and with cat-like speed and reflexes I challenged his clear, knocking the rebound directly into the path of Stephen, whose stealth footwork and touch put the equalizer to bed in the soft, blue confines of the lower left net. 1-1.

There is nothing like the smell of failure in our opponents that gets the blood boiling in the veins of our tenacious sweeper, Bob. Yet another Verity defender half-assed a track down one of our fifty through-ball attempts to Stephen. To our advantage, there was a sub-situation in the back for CRU that lead to Bob pushing up at this very moment. His impeccable sense of hustle made their right marking-back the chump as he streaked past the facially-haired and took the ball to the end line. I was making a back post run and Bob sent in a scorcher, but the sweeper knocked the cross back to the top of the six yard box… right back to Bob’s feet. With two defenders at his back, he dribbled a few steps to his right foot, sending the goalie to the back post, where I could shake his hand for doing so. Bob stopped, pivoted and sent in a bullet to the near post. Cameron Road United took the lead, 2-1, as Bob gets his first finish of summer league.

The half wound down and CRU was holding strong to take the lead into half. But Verity’s persistence with the through-ball sent a high bouncer over Billy’s outstretched body and Verity walked an uncontested fast break in to equalize at the whistle, 2-2.

The second half continued as Billy got his shove-per-game in for the summer league official statistics on a cheeky defender who had his mother on the sideline to suck his thumb. Cameron Road had solid ball movement and one-touch passing as both Stephen and BT had give-and-go opportunities past the defense to narrowly miss taking the lead for good. Stephen’s shot missed the far post by less than a bucket and BT’s finesse didn’t impress their second keeper of the game. The game was still even.

 The deciding moment of the match came when CRU was unable to successfully clear out a goal kick. Verity got off a hard shot from 30 yards out and Cuyler, like a man possessed by the FBI, jumped into the line of fire. Unfortunately, the deflection went to their unmarked forward sitting at the top of the 18. He walked the game winner in, uncontested again. Another season, another Verity result we left on the table. Overall, great ball movement, team work, communication and opportunities. We just gave up too many silly goals and didn’t get ours.

 Post-game festivities were able to happen, thanks the tents of Ciro, Vestre and an voluptuously lush tree line. While Verity may have taken home the summer win, the remaining members of Cameron Road United took home the moral victory. No one outdrinks our midfield. No one.

Man of the Match: His tenacity and hustle seemed to be all over the field, like Michael Jackson’s hands at a cub scout cuddle party. Bob was able to help anchor the defense and the offense for the majority of the game and get what was the go-ahead goal at the time.

Man of the Post-Match: Often under-appreciated for his smart ass and ability to make a dive into a set piece, BT’s composure under the tent and amongst the enemies and their parents, should be given a nod this week. His consistency with post-game alcohol consumption should be a model for everyone.