Bodden Town remains atop the Premier League as action ignited over the weekend with goals galore.
Bodden Town is anxious to win the league in honour of Gerome “Bird” Graham, who died tragically last June from complications arising from an enlarged heart that had gone undetected during training.
They went ahead of Elite in the standings two weeks ago, and on Sunday left it late to seal another three points against Cayman Athletic, winning 3-2 at the TE McField Annex.
It was an exciting game which started with a Charlo McLean goal for BT as early as the third minute.
Denver Barnes equalised for Athletic four minutes later with a brilliant free kick that went through the wall.
Kyle Santamaria put Athletic ahead in the 14th minute before Theron Wood levelled things with a superb individual effort in the 35th minute.
Soon after Santamaria’s goal, Bird’s brother, Kareem James was curiously substituted by BT although not apparently injured. Apparently, he was not playing in position and covering the players he should have been, which led to Athletic’s second goal.
It was cut and thrust in the second half with both sides spurning chances before BT defender Yefry Calderon popped up in his usual fashion to snatch the winner.
Two weeks ago, Calderon hit a late equaliser in a tense 1-1 game against Scholars to ensure they shared the points.
Bodden Town’s technical director Elbert McLean said: “I always say to my team to play hard through for the full 90 minutes and it paid off. The wind played a factor, but we adjusted accordingly. Athletic really pressured us at the end.
“Kareem was substituted because he has been making some serious mistakes in games,” McLean added. “He did the same thing the previous week. I sat down with him and told him how I wanted him to play, but he wasn’t doing it against Cayman Athletic. If we’re going to win the championship, I’ve got to be firm. Kareem has been playing right midfield all his life and knows what is expected of him. That’s why he was subbed.
“We’ve got George Town this Sunday and it’s all about preparation,” McLean said. “I think we will get the three points.
“This is the first time since we’ve been in the Premier League that we’ve had a run on the championship for so long and we really want to win it.”
In the earlier game at the TE McField Annex, reigning champions Scholars trounced Academy, 5-0, with goals from Carson Fagan (17th minute), Oneil Taylor (22nd), a brace by Ziecko Herrera (41st and 62nd) and Nahun Rodriguez (74th).
Scholars won the Digicel Cup on Ash Wednesday and are determined to retain the title, in addition to securing the FA Cup.
Scholars seem to have solved their scoring problem from last season, having fired in 43 compared to Bodden Town’s 46 and if it comes down to goal difference that, too, will be tight. Both have a goal difference of 33.
At the North Side field, George Town beat Tigers, 2-0, through goals by Justin Pierre (15th) and Fabian Malcolm (17th).
In a nine-goal thriller, Elite beat North Side, 5-4. Hank Parchment hit four for Elite, including in the second, 11th, 15th and 74th minutes. Carlos Andrade added the other score for Elite in the 53rd.
North Side goals came from Derron Goulab (29th), Gary McIntosh (31st), Floyd McKenzie (39th) and Horace Howell (55th).
With six matches to play there is only four points between the top three teams. Bodden Town has 38 and Elite remains second with 34 – ahead on goal difference on Scholars.
George Town remains fourth with 24 points, followed by Academy (18), Cayman Athletic (12) and North Side (7). Tigers remain in the cellar with two points.
Dwayne “Gaza” Wright (Bodden Town) and Mark Ebanks (Elite) remain leading scorers with 13 goals apiece. Nahun Rodriguez and Hank Parkment are tied for second in scoring with 12. Other leading scorers include Academy’s Emmanuel Ricoh Brown with nine, and Jonah Ebanks (Academy) and Alex Belcher (BT) with eight apiece.
Action is set for Ed Bush Stadium in West Bay and George Town’s TE McField Annex this Sunday. Scholars International plays North Side at Ed Bush at 5pm and Elite face Tigers in the 7pm game.
At the Annex, George Town takes on Bodden Town in the early game and Cayman Athletic are up against Academy in the later game.
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