Going into the second game of the season the prevailing mood in the Badgers camp was high following the conclusion of Government badger culls finally allowing the team to come out of hiding and play without fear. Reports pre-match that the injuries to Dan Roberts and Jack Lloyd were caused by problems with the type of grass at the Badgers training pitch were quickly scoffed by manager George Tomlin who replied that no meaningful training had taken place.
After two games played in glorious sunshine, the British weather came back to bite for the visit of FC Copenbadly to the Set. The rain was torrential and the temperature cold but this only served to level the playing field for the Badgers, facing opponents who seemed pre-match to be taking the game particularly seriously with their warm-up even including proper stretches. While the Badgers engaged in their usual pre-match ritual of blazing the ball in the vague direction of the goal.
The Badgers responded to the defensive debacle of last week by playing a more defensive minded formation, with Salim joining Tomlin in the backline, Cameron in a roaming deep midfield role with Ben and Carl Atkins engaged with pushing back the defence of Copenbadly.
The game started quietly with both sides cagily attempting to attack, but then in the seventh minute out of nowhere Cameron twisted and turned and twisted and turned some more until he worked himself into a shooting position before firing confidently past the goalkeeper for his fourth goal of the season.Expecting an onslaught the Badgers sat back, confidently repelling all that came their way. Then on the break Salim fed first-half substitute Waugh who gave the Badgers a two-goal cushion and send the Set into delirium.
With the Badgers 2-0 up at half time and last weeks calamitous second half collapse very much still in their minds, the half time message was clear ‘this does not f****** slip.’
And while the second half provided more nervy moments than the first for the Badgers defence with Torrance finally being called into some meaningful action, with a series of important stops, it was the Badgers who could and should have extended their lead with Atkins comprehensively beating the lumbering Copenbadly centre-half before firing straight at the keeper.
Then as a clean sheet was glistening on the horizon, the final minute of the game saw the Badgers defence switch off and allow the FC Copenbadly forward to break away and finish in to the corner. But aside from a tense last 30 seconds, the Badgers held out confidently for a crucial 2-1 victory.
While the whole team was outstanding, and it was very much a collective performance, Salim deserves special credit for his incessant interceptions, which laid the foundations for a solid defensive performance. A 2-1 score line did not do justice to the control exerted by the Badgers against their more naturally “skillful” and talented opponents.
Manager George Tomlin was full of praise for his players post match stating this was almost certainly the best performance by the Badgers in his tenure, particularly when out of possession. With the Badgers high pressing game working well, the result and the performance hopefully are a sign of good things to come.
