WIN: 2-1 vs Celtic Cowboys – Defense Wins the Game at Both Ends as Badgers Close out the Season!

Last game of the Fall Season against a Classic old-school CRU opponent, the dreaded Celtic Cowboys! The Honey Badgers Haden’t faced off against the Celts in a few years, but it was nice to see the green and white hoops across the lines like days of old.

With Jayone suffering a shoulder injury while dreaming of a Phil Collins and Peter Bailey remix of the 80’s hit, Easy Lover, Cameron Road would have to find someone else willing to spend the afternoon between the pipes. That someone was the undefeated in goal Jefe.

With a spare keeper and three subs on the bench, the Badgers took to the field, which actually was starting to look like a winter pitch with hardly a green blade of grass in site.

The opening 15 minutes was…. not great for the Badgers as they struggled to keep the ball. Without Schwarzy on the pitch, the midfield was working a little harder to gain some control, but Ciro and Peterson eventually got into a groove as Chappy, Adam, Parks and Jesus took flight down the wings.

One person who didn’t wait to get into proper form was Danny, who saved a ball right off Jefe’s line as it pinged around inside the box early on. The defense came to play, and that showed up again as Big Dave had a brace of classic moves at the back. First he deployed his world famous slide tackle to break up a play, but then he absolutely unloaded on a Celtic attacker with a bombastic shoulder charge just outside the box. The referee was so impressed that he didn’t even call a foul.

To add a little spice to the game, Celtic popped up and dropped in a goal just past Jefe’s outstretched arms at the near post. No worries though, as Cameron Road’s attackers were up for the challenge.

At the pointy end of the spear, Gianluca and Derek were busy trying to get something going. Gigi had his shooting boots on, and Derek was in full cutback mode. Derek almost got the Badgers back on the board as he caught the keeper out but his shot hit the outside of the post. Minutes later he nearly put in another one from close range against the hulking Celtic keeper.

Back at the back, Billy had a nice UFC takedown of a particularly mouthy Celt (is there any other kind?).

But in typical Gigi fashion, if you keep shooting, one of them is going to go in. And that’s what happened as Peterson got him the ball just left of center. As Gianluca headed towards the onrushing keeper, he could have chipped him, but decided to put a little mustard on it and slipped it past him for the tying goal just before halftime!

Oranges. A fine winter harvest.

With the game all tied up at 1-1, it was shaping up to be a good match. It was Danny to the rescue yet again as he was in a helping mood as he saved his second ball off Jefe’s lines. Teamwork!!

With the intensity heating up, Ciro broke the lines and let fly a great left-footed shot from distance that wasn’t too far from finding its mark. Peterson also had a driving shot from midfield as he and his newly sorted out back ghosted to the top of the box.

The Badgers were hard charging as Celtic’s tempers flared. Gianluca won himself a free kick outside the box, but earned himself a yellow for a follow up “discussion” with some testy Celtic defenders.

As the Badgers pressed for the winner, they ended up with a free kick. A mad scramble ensued with Chappy and Gigi almost combining for a tandem goal, swinging at the ball from only a few feet from the goal. But a lucky bounce from the Soccer Gods saw the ball fall to the other side of the goal with only Jeff Z and the net in its way. Jeff tapped it in from point blank for his first goal for Cameron Road!

2-1 Badgers.

The Honey Badgers almost made it three as Danny and Jesus combined for a beautiful “double header” goal, but somehow the referee called one of the Badgers offside.

As time wound down, Jefe and the Badgers soaked up all the Celtic pressure and saw out the victory, keeping him undefeated (with a lot of help) in between the sticks. Great way to close out 2022 with a win!

Man-of-the-Match: He looks like Aquaman. He gives his all at the back at the destruction of his bloody knees. And Sunday he stepped up to score his first goal as a Badger for the winner….. well done Jeff Z!!!!