Summer Game #1 – Badgers Fall To Legion of Sandbaggers FC 6-2
You know it. You love it. You can’t get enough of it. Year after year you wonder why you are still doing it. It’s Summer Soccer!
The Honey Badgers lost their opener to a team full of under 30 year olds and one gray hair who are hanging out in D5 for some reason.
The nooner was a hot one, but the Badger Den was two tents deep. It was looking like the numbers were going to make things even harder, but 14 brave souls showed up in the end to give a fairly healthy rotation, including CRU’s long-lost Scotsman.
Cameron Road started off the game with a mesmerizing display of passing as they worked the ball around the entire pitch. But as soon as Legion got hold of the ball, they were keeping it like stink on a monkey. Their youthful team was solid all around, but their #5 was a baller and he was giving CRU fits trying to keep him at bay.
It was a day where Chappy giveth and taketh…. and first up he welcomed Nolan back between the pipes by raking the shin of a 19 year old kid with braces, giving up an opening p/k only 10 minutes in. Nolan nearly saved the shot that went right down the middle, but it wasn’t the start the Honey Badgers were looking for.
After that, Nolan did warm up and he started making pretty nice saves keeping CRU in the game. Legion’s #5 got himself a goal with a quick turn and powerful shot at the top of the box doubling the score and the lead.
At the other end of the pitch, Cameron Road was making chances. Cameron Road’s own under 30, Andy, was back for more summer action and throw into the deep end, but he was having good luck getting behind the defense and causing them problems. Gianluca was as well, and had several shots on goal and with a better functioning left foot might have grabbed a Honey Badger life line.
Halftime and oranges were a necessity.
With the start of the boiling second half under way, Legion grabbed another goal to go up 3-0, but the Badgers weren’t going to roll over.
Andy continued to get in deep and blasted a long-range shot over the bar. Adam was conjuring up his Dark Arts from the left, while Pete, Ciro and Peterson fought hard to get the ball in the middle.
The Honey Badgers were handed a lifeline as Andy was bundled over in the box and awarded a p/k that he calmly slotted home past the keeper.
As the Honey Badgers gained some momentum they were awarded a free kick just inside the Legion half which allowed the twin Bald Domes of Power to drop some science on the youngins. Danny stepped up to pound a thunderous kick inside the box where Chappy was waiting. With Gigi providing a bit of interference, Chappy’s sunburning bald dome made contact and drove the ball into the far corner for the Badger’s second goal.
For a moment, CRU was back in the game at 3-2. But the moment was brief as Legion ratcheted up the pressure and rallied for several more unanswered goals.
The Badgers kept fighting though, even through a heat-induced pineapple moment. Andy nearly cut the lead in half with a tap in, but in cruel summer fashion, he nicked the post instead.
So the opening summer game was a bit of a bust, but still fun. Not sure how Legion found themselves in D5 though.
Man-of-the-Match: Welcome back Nolan! Rough day at the office, but without him the score could have been a lot worse as he made some clutch saves throughout the day.
Post-Game-Report: A classic CRU post game. Icings. Plenty to hydtrate with. And one pork torta that had been sitting in the heat for 2 hours.
