Bodden Town took another step toward the Premier League title and killed off the lingering title hopes of Elite Sports Club at their home ground, aka “The Office”.
Two strikes by Alex Belcher in the 48th and 68th minutes, plus a goal by Tevin Levien in injury time, were enough for the 3-1 victory against the West Bay side, who had been ahead from the 12th minute thanks to a Marvin Booth goal.
Scholars International are the only side capable of spoiling BT’s coronation now. Scholars struggled to find the net earlier in the season, but have found a new rhythm. But it was never easy against a young, fast and free flowing Cayman Athletic side in their 3-2 victory at the TE McField Annex.
Once again, it was sublime midfielder Nahun Rodriguez who contributed most to the Scholars effort. The little Honduran buzzed all over the pitch and hit two in the process, in the 43rd and 89th minutes to take his tally to 15 for the season, two ahead of strikers Mark Ebanks (Elite) and Dwayne “Gaza” Wright (Bodden Town).
Darvin Watson (10th and 29th) put Athletic two up early on before Paul Brown (35th) pulled one back for Scholars.
It was the Rodriguez show after the break, but Athletic always pressed in an exciting match that could have gone either way.
In the earlier Annex game, North Side beat Tigers, 4-2. Tigers desperately need points to climb off the bottom and they showed plenty of tenacity, which was lacking earlier in the season. But it wasn’t enough against a North Side team also anxious to avoid the drop in their first season in the top flight.
Veteran striker Eric Brown gave Tigers the perfect start with a brace in the fourth and 17th minutes. But that was just the incentive North Side needed to raise their game, as two apiece came from Floyd “Irons” McKenzie (25th and 31st) and Dwayne Wilson (74th and 90th).
McKenzie scored twice in the Heineken Sunday League for Triple Crown Wanderers that morning to bring his tally in the two leagues to 19.
In Sunday’s other Premiership game, George Town drew with Academy, 2-2, at the Bodden Town field. Tex Whitelocke (26th) and Jermaine Seymour (41st) found the net for George Town and Academy’s goals were hit by Mark Brown (73rd) and Ricoh Emmanuel Brown (87th).
With four games to play, Bodden Town have 44 points and Scholars 40, but they still have to play each other. Elite are third with 35 points, followed by George Town (25), Academy (19), Cayman Athletic (15), North Side (10) and Tigers (three).
In the First Division there are two clear, Sunset and Roma, with 29 points and 26, respectively. Cayman Brac are third on 15, ahead on goal difference from East End. Prospect have 11 and Future seven.
Roma’s Kenroy Graham and Future’s Richard Clarke are top scorers on eight, Roma’s Gavin Reynolds has seven and Richard Addison of Sunset has six.
Both leagues are involved in the FA Cup this weekend. On Saturday, Tigers play Cayman Brac at the TE McField Annex at 6pm. Then Cayman Athletic face Sunset at 8pm.
On Sunday, George Town are up against Future at Ed Bush Stadium in West Bay at 5pm before the match of the day, Scholars versus Elite. Scholars are reigning league champions and FA Cup holders.
Elite no longer have a chance of the league title, but they won the Digicel Cup last season and were beaten by their West Bay rivals in the Digicel Cup final this season.
At the TE McField Annex, Prospect face East End in the 5pm game and Roma will bring the Jamaicans out in force for their 7pm kick off against North Side, who also have strong Jamaican support.
The women get their FA Cup chance two weeks later, in their semifinals, when Elite face Sunset at 6pm at Ed Bush Stadium followed by Scholars and Future two hours later on Saturday, 6 April.
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