Digicel Cup Final Elite 2 Bodden Town 0
Elite ensured that history did not repeat itself by beating Bodden Town in the Digicel Cup final and now have the Premier League and FA Cup firmly in their sights.
The game at the TE McField Annex on Ash Wednesday pitched the two young sides in the first showpiece domestic clash of the season and it lived up to expectations in front of a sizeable and vocal crowd.
Elite unexpectedly lost to Bodden Town in the FA Cup final three years ago, partly because of complacency, but this time they were totally prepared.
Elite effectively killed off the match early in the game with superb goals by Alex Belcher in the 11th minute and Jose Luis Bush in the 36th. But Bodden Town typically maintained pressure until the last whistle and had they been more deadly in front of goal having created a host of chances, could have gone home victors themselves.
An added significance to the game was that the referee, David Betancourt, is a Cuban and his presence was the start of an exchange created by Alfredo Whittaker, head of the Cayman Islands Football Association referees’ department. (See page 24). Whittaker is also a former FIFA ref.
Belcher has been superb in midfield for Elite this season, scoring vital goals with his surging runs. He did so again, latching on to Jose Luis Bush’s header that rebounded off a post to head in from close range. Bush tormented the Bodden Town defence all night and was rewarded with his tenacity with a beautifully taken run and shot to put the West Bay side two up soon after.
A number of Bodden Town players went close and kept Elite keeper Derek Rivers busy all night, particularly Theron Wood who must have thought he had scored in the dying minutes when a dipping shot looked destined for the net until Rivers produced an agile save to tip over.
Unfortunately, the beautiful game turned ugly towards the end as tempers frayed. Elite’s Calvin Jefford got a second yellow card and then BT’s Yefrey Calderon received a straight red for elbowing Dwayne ‘Gaza’ Wright. Betancourt and the officials did well to prevent tempers spilling over. Elite’s Chris Welcome was red carded too during that unsavoury incident.
Elite, sponsored by Burger King, were set to for their celebratory feast after that. They are Premier League leaders, albeit on goal difference ahead of Scholars International and are confident of retaining the league title and must be relishing their FA Cup run.
Credit should go to both coaches, Elite’s Greg Ebanks and BT’s Elbert McLean, for moulding two technically excellent sides who generally play the game in the right spirit.
The only Premier League action this weekend is the rearranged game between George Town and Future. It’s at the Ed Bush stadium in West Bay, kick off 7pm.
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