Cayman Athletic Sporting Club have made a remarkable improvement since getting smashed 10-1 by Elite only three months ago. Athletic are one of the youngest Premier League teams. They were promoted to the top flight this season and initially found the transition tough, hence the disastrous result in October.
But their significant improvement was evident at the Ed Bush stadium in West Bay on Sunday with a 0-0 draw against Elite who are league leaders and reigning Premier League champs. Elite probably thought they were going to smash in another cricket score but it was Athletic who might have won.
The first match between these teams saw Cayman Athletic playing an excellent first half only losing 1-0 at the half-time break. They came out in the second half still playing well until conceding the second and third goal then fell apart through lack of concentration, character and not sticking to the game plan. Athletic were thrashed with the consolation goal coming from a beautiful free-kick taken by Athletic’s 17-year-old captain Santangelo Bush. Athletic technical director Ernie ‘Gillie’ Seymour was beside himself with disappointment but rallied his youngsters back and they haven’t taken a beating since.
“That result left Elite saying that they were 10 goals better than Cayman Athletic’s young team but in Sunday’s game we were almost one goal better than Elite when after a stalwart performance by the whole team in about the 80th minute or so an ambitious effort off the left foot of Matthew Suberan, who is only 16 from about 35 yards out beat Elite’s keeper and crashed off the cross bar,” said coach Seymour. “We also had a magnificent performance by our keeper Jamie Johnson and the dynamic performance of striker Christopher Ebanks, who is only 19, deserves worthy praise. Cayman Athletic showed character against Elite and I can only hope and pray that this performance inspires them to do the same in the future.
“With all that praise for Cayman Athletic, I must give praise where it is due to Elite for a good performance also. They played well and created chances that could have been converted too, but that is what makes a game exciting to watch. One fan said it was worth the $10 they spent.”
The starting team against Elite included seven teenagers. Gillie said: “We started with Jamie Johnson in goal, Santangelo Bush (17), Patrico Warren (17), Kodel Thompson (17), Samuel Williams (18), Matthew Suberan (16), Kevin Foster (15), Christopher Ebanks (19), Kyle Santamaria, Juan Mutillo, Shennon Hanna and our subs were David Bodden Jr, Shano Evans and Nigel Solomon.”
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