After months of hibernation, the Badgers emerged with blurry eyes on to a pitch dusted with snow.
Groggy from their much needed sleep, it took a few minutes for the players to truly welcome their new teammates, Charlie Dutton and Ben Brazier.
There was of course a degree of romance in the air, being only three days before Valentines Day, and it took a gargantuan effort from Manager Ben Wheatland to prize Will Downs and George Tomlin apart, such was the force of their loving embrace. Downs was quick to point out that the number of Bens currently in the Badgers' squad has increased, leading to increased speculation as to the preferred procreation method employed by those called Ben. These troubling rumours were quickly dispelled by Wheatland, who was getting rather bored of all the pre-match tomfoolery, and rather wanted to get the game started. He did later point out that Bens do not come together to create more Bens, and that the arrival of Ben Brazier was merely a coincidence, but Downs remains unconvinced.
The match began quickly, with much industry from the Badgers. Good passing moves were crafted, with little end result to show. Indeed Pete (for twas their name) seemed able to comfortably soak up the Badgers' pressure. New signing Charlie Dutton linked up well in midfield with Ben Himpe, and the game was seemingly locked in an even contest. However, all this changed when in the 7th minute, a prolonged period of Pete pressure allowed their striker through on goal, and he finished powerfully past the despairing dive of Pedro.
This spurred the Badgers on, and soon chances were being crafted. Pete's defence was shaky, and it was only a matter of time before an explosive Badgers counter would bring a goal. So it transpired, as Wheatland forced a throw-in for the Badgers near Pete's box. As Marshall stepped up to take the throw, a maddened flame sparked to life in Himpe's eye. Charging from his own half, Himpe screamed for the ball. Marshall was only too happy to oblige, and considering the murderous glint in Himpe's eye it is not surprising that his delivery was sublime. The ball, seemingly carried by angels, floated to the back post where Himpe met it sweetly with a first time volley. All his pent up frustration of playing for the Badgers let itself loose in one perfect connection. The ball exploded in to the net, leaving Pete's goalie in tears, the Badgers in extasy, and Himpe himself in a curled up mush on the floor, seemingly deflated after releasing all of his pent up rage.
Pete was stunned, and equally the Badgers were inspired. Himpe, having recovered from his wonderstrike, was everywhere. Tomlin and Marshall were marshalling (HA) the defence like a pair of seasoned pros. Rampant Badgers. Fully capitalising on this momentum, the Badgers took the lead only 3 minutes later. Good work from Dutton to hold the ball up allowed Marshall to overlap him and receive the ball. After taking on a Pete defender, Marshall looked up and hit the ball back across Pete's box, where Wheatland was waiting to apply the finish.
This drew a response from Pete, who immediately tested Pedro in the Badgers' goal. However, Pedro was more than equal to this onslaught, and he made a string of excellent saves.
Half time came, with the Badgers in full control of the match. With a second game scheduled, the Badgers were wary of tiring themselves. Ben Brazier came on, along with Dan Roberts, and the team took to the field.
The second half yielded many chances for the Badgers. Wheatland had three opportunities, but the slide-tackle happy keeper from Pete meant that he was not able to add to his tally. Himpe, Macca and Roberts all had chances to add to the Badgers' lead, but they were also thwarted by the possibly insane Pete goalie. Roberts and Brazier gave the Badgers some much needed depth, and also slowed the game down, beginning to dictate the play more and more. Pete was seeing less and less of the ball, but the Badgers were becoming more and more wasteful with their chances, with Wheatland chipping just over the bar and Himpe shooting narrowly wide.
Then, just as victory seemed assured, disaster! A Pete striker broke free and hit an unstopable shot in to the bottom corner of the Badgers' net.
Despite more chances, the Badgers could not take the full 3 points, and the game ended in a 2-2 draw. This was a very positive game, and the draw cannot be too disappointing. Pete's players were competent and, on balance, deserved a point.
All the players today wrote their names in to the history books, with the club earning only its second ever draw. The game also marked the first time that the Badgers have come from behind to claim a point of any kind from the game.
