DRAW: 1-1 vs ATX United – Badgers Pass Their Toughest Test of the Season with a Late Bald Goal!

Four days until Halloween and it was about 95 degrees at Onion Creek on Sunday for this top end of the table matchup between Cameron Road United and ATX United. Must be the 5G networks heating up the atmosphere. With the Honey Badgers off to a hot start, and ATX scoring goals for fun, it was primed to be a banger of a matchup.

Damimal was on hand with a tent to earn himself some Man-of-the-Pre-Match accolades, and when it was all said and done, there were five subs in Badgertown ready to do battle.

Even with both Jeffs missing in action, the back line was stocked with options as Chappy accepted Brian Park’s formal resignation from midfield as he announced himself “a defender” for the time being. The team was also bolstered with plenty of central midfield options as Schwarzy and Peterson started the game with Ciro and Yuni ready to add their tiny attack to the mix.

Warming up, ATX looked pretty stocked and more like a Premier team, and they started the game that way with some serious physical play and ball control. The opening 15 minutes sounded a warning to the Honey Badgers. Daminal was instantly involved in a hard-fought 50/50 aerial dual. Chris G was scrapping and fighting with ATX’s powerful winger. Chappy took the full force of Danny’s thunderous goal kick and flicked it back to Gianluca, and was seeing stars for his efforts and had to take a break for a spell. And as ATX controlled the early moments, they nicked an early goal.

But from there going forward, the game started to slowly turn in the Honey Badgers favor. With no panic after the opening goal, the Cameron Road passing game started to open up. Ciro and Yuni had a really great 15-20 minutes of weaving through the ATX midfield with good passing. Yuni got the ball over to Pete on the left side and the Irish Pirate (new nickname?) had a pop at goal that flashed just wide. There was a lot of space on the right as Ciro and Chappy worked to get the ball to Derek and Gianluca up top, and somehow Chappy managed to slide tackle himself as his head was still full of Danny’s cobwebs. Like the powerful Scorpion’s ballad, The Winds of Change were blowing as the Honey Badgers started to get a grip on the game.

Danimal was in full beast mode, smashing headers away with abandon. Guillermo was pushing forward. Billy and Brian Parks were locking down the right side of the defense as Big Dave and Chris G patrolled the left. Peterson sent in several long-range free kicks.

Adam had new “icy white” boots on display to deliver his dark arts, most likely conjured up in a boiling cauldron of old Honda Accord parts and orange peels.

Without a goal on the books at the half, the Honey Badgers were feeling confident that the game had turned and they were in control as Beercalona cheered them on from the sidelines. Yuni and Pete “discussed” the intricacies of the one-two, with Guillermo translating.

The second half was more of the same as the physical play continued. Danny had a double slide tackle in the span of seconds. Big Dave took a blow to the short ribs and was forced to the sidelines to monitor its temps to make sure it wasn’t overcooked. Derek pulled up his sock to reveal a bloody thump in his tiny shin. Peterson pulled up lame after his “hamstring exploded.” It was subsequently pointed out that that’s not where his hamstring was located and it was in fact his quad that had exploded. Bummer since it looks like he’ll be spending some time in the Honey Badger long-term infirmary with the Jeffs and Nasty Nate. Speedy recovery to all!

But through all of that, the Honey Badgers continued to shine and take the game to ATX. Jaybone was rarely bothered with any difficult shots to save, and he soaked up anything that came his way like he was eating one of Luke’s Grandmother’s biscuits with a full compliment of gravy.

As time on the clock was winding down with the setting sun, the Badgers were in need of the goal they deserved. Working the ball down left hand side, Cameron Road was looking spicy and dangerous. Brian Parks got hold of it and spotted a gleam in Chappy’s eye across the pitch. With a perfectly delivered left-footed cross, Parks sent the ball to the back post where the Bald Dome of Power was lurking. Chappy’s headed the ball down to the ground where it bounced past the keeper (a little too slowly for comfort) and into the far corner of the net for the tying goal. It was nothing less than the Honey Badgers deserved.

Great game by the entire team as they withstood the opening barrage from ATX and slowly turned the tide to nab a much-deserved point. Next up is a date with destiny as CRU and The Punters face off to renew their rivalry after a two year hiatus. Get your popcorn ready!

Man-of-the-Match: Sure Chappy got the goal, but Parks had the assist, the defense shut things down after the opening goal, the midfield passing game was on, and the strikers never stopped working. THE SPIRIT OF THE HONEY BADGER is the big winner as Cameron Road faced their toughest test of the season and came out of the game feeling great.

Post-Match-Report: Good post game with the setting sun at their backs, and icy water running down Chappy’s (thanks Danimal). Good times and good vibes.