CRU 0 – Austin Athletic Club 3
On a balmy fall day where you could reach out and touch the tree line, Cameron Road United again found itself trying to desperately claw it’s way back from an early deficit to rescue a point – but like OU QB Sam Bradford’s mercurial throwing shoulder, we again fell on hard times.
Yet again we were hamstrung by a light bench, having only 2 subs at the opening whistle thanks to Bob’s temporary ‘warm body’ friend and a late arriving Steve ‘2-goals’ McKenna. Looking to shake things up a bit, Cameron Road switched back to a 4-4-2 formation with Dermot as the designated “disruptive force” along side midfield point guard BT. Another boost was the addition of Pat to the back line, after just embarking on a 3 hour Cadillac fueled journey from the mean streets of H-Town. Early results suggested that the new formation was paying dividends. Cameron Road enjoyed some time on the ball, and the stouter midfield formation was frustrating Austin Athletic Club and not allowing them to simply stroll down the middle of the park.
Unfortunately, Cameron Road played what is becoming our signature calling card by giving up an early goal on an attack down the right flank by a familiar curly-headed ex-Struggle FC midfielder. The rest of the first half went back and forth and when Steve McKenna finally got into the game, he dropped back into the center of midfield to support the attack.
Cameron Road was not without our chances and our best came when Big Man Cuyler teed up a free kick that went agonizingly wide while the keeper was rooted in cement shoes. Luke also directed a powerful ‘two-fists of fury’ header at the keeper from close range off a corner kick, but the man between the pipes did well in saving that shot. BT also blasted a half volley high.
Continuing to hold our own against an athletic (and increasingly whinny) Austin Athletic side, tragedy struck at the back when Bob’s friend failed to clear a ball and Austin Athletic was able to fire at Jay from inside the box. At the stroke of half time, we were down by 2 goals.
The second half got underway without many changes, although we did receive a boost when Big John showed up after several minutes, fresh from watching his beloved Cleveland Browns go down in flames yet again. (the guy must be a proper masochist to show up to our game after that)
Cameron Road was a bit more in the game to start off the second half, with several chances coming our way. After receiving a ball close to the 18 yard box, I played it out wide to an unusual site – Crosley was waltzing down the flank on his own and, with visions of the Celtic Cowboys game winner in his eyes, served up a looping shot that just clipped the crossbar. Close. So close.
Perhaps the best play of the game happened when we had some nice movement out of the back to the right of midfield. Dermot played it towards the center of the pitch where BT latched onto it running towards goal. He had a nice one-on-one look with the keeper but pushed his shot high. Again, so close to getting on the scoreboard.
Cameron Road continued to graft and fight to keep a clean sheet in the second half, and had several nice advances down both flanks for scoring opportunities. Unfortunately, we gave away a penalty late in the half which allowed a now unsufferably bitchy and moany Austin Athletic Club to pull away for good.
Although the score doesn’t reflect it, and our status in the D2 table surely won’t, I’m a firm believer that a narrow 1-0 loss or a 1-1 draw would have been a more fair result.
So what do we do? We keep fighting and look to land a Black Eye to Black Star Austin’s farm club early next Sunday morning up north in Pflugerville. Maybe the change of scenery will do us some good.
Man of the Match:
Doing what he does best, Dermot was a disruptive force in the center of midfield on Sunday. Scoring a 100% of his pre-game checklist which read: 1) Fight for every ball, 2) Annoy the crap out of the other team, 3) Hurl myself like a human tornado at our opponents 4) Deny all wrong doing.
Man of the Post-Match:
Well, I wasn’t very excited about sticking around after the loss and my family was hungry, so I give the Man-of-the-Post-Match award to Trudy’s, who provided me with several $3.95 margaritas and queso to ease the sting of another loss.
Man of Match for last week’s Rainout: So I heard that Pat drove all the way from Houston last week, only to be greeted by an empty field…. Well done Pat, you’ve got moxy.
