2026 Summer Game #3
No rain. The tent. Johnny Football. World Cup Final day. Donuts. Just a few headlines from yesterday’s pre-match between the Honey Badgers and Chopped Liverpool. Cameron Road assembled 4 subs in a dual-tent Badgertown for an early morning showdown.
Sir Brian of Parkstown strapped on his new keeper gloves to take his spot between the pipes with Danny out nursing a sick cub. Conor and Nick L were the only two non-badgers to make the game day squad, and Cameron Road still kept hoping for their “young gun” to show up since Chopped Liverpool had 3-4 kids ready to do their running.
If the first five minutes of the game were any indication of what was in store, Cameron Road was feeling good as they kept the ball moving around the pitch without any Liverpool interference. Unfortunately, that opening sharpness quickly dulled as the Livers poured on the heat and the goals. Johnny Football was back, flown in especially for the game from his new home in Taos. Apparently he still plays a lot of soccer up there because he was back to his best. Scoring a goal and setting up another. They also got a bit of luck with their first goal as it took a big deflection before finding the back of the net.
Things might have started differently if Gigi’s early shot hadn’t gone off the bar, but before you knew it CRU was down 0-4 in the first half. Guess they were hoping to ” do a France” and storm back with a bucket load of goals. Ciro played a nice ball into Chappy on the right inside the box, but his first time shot was aimed closer to field 6 than the goal.
CRU did get one back with some crafty play as Conor stuck out a long leg to deflect the Chopped Liverpool keeper’s low punt right back into his path for a sliding shot to nab a goal.
Oranges and donuts were on the menu at the half as Yunir showed up for some reinforcements.
The second half was much better for the Honey Badgers, but they still had to deal with some bad luck giving up two more goals. But the comeback was definitely on. Conor got another one with a beautiful glancing header. Derek also nailed one from close range after Yunir and Ciro did lots of good work inside the box.
Yunir could have scored on his own as he took another couple shots on target, and narrowly missed tapping in a cross from point blank range.
Chappy had a trio of headers, one of which came from a low cross from Conor that the Bald Dome of Power annihilated with a diving header, but it went just wide.
The score ended up 6-3, but sure could have gone the other way.
Man-of-the-Match: Conor did the business with two goals and a tent.
Post-Match-Report: The end of season awards finally were finally handed out with Derek taking his Golden Boot and Chris G wining Player of the Year for the 2nd time! Highlight of the post-game was the team doing the Viking Row in the tent as their adopted Onion Creek Haaland scored on field 4. Brilliant.
