Bodden Town may be the in-form team that has not lost all season, but it is George Town who remain at the top of the Premier League.
Ariel Tatum and Tex Whitelocke scored for George Town in their 2-1 win against Scholars International at the Ed Bush stadium on Sunday to give them their 10th win in 13 league games.
Scholars captain Oneil Taylor scored for his side and, despite the loss, they are third in the table and only six points behind George Town who have 31.
Bodden Town recorded their fifth draw in the league, at home, aka The Office, against Elite. Bodden Town looked certain of victory after a Wesley Robinson first half strike but resolute Elite hung in there and equalized through Jason Ebanks with only three minutes remaining.
In the games at the TE McField Annex, Cayman Athletic’s youngsters did not look like the bottom club in beating fellow strugglers North Side 4-0. Christopher Myles got one and gifted teenager Christopher Ebanks got the others with an impressive hat-trick.
In the other game at the TE McField Annex, Sunset came from behind to seal a 2-1 victory thanks to goals by Kevin Guirey and Justin Pierre. Academy’s captain Yannick Solomon got theirs in the first half. Academy are one of the youngest sides in all the Cayman Islands leagues which is why they are struggling, but they do have an excellent youth policy.
Sunset have adapted to life in the top flight well after being promoted from the First Division last term. Under technical director Gareth Theaker, they are extremely fit and well organized and fully deserve their fourth spot with 21 points.
Then come Elite on 19 points, followed by Academy on eight, North Side on six and Cayman Athletic at the bottom with five.
Virgil Seymour, Academy’s technical director, said, “Our objective this year is to give the kids as much playing time as possible because they also play at Under-17/U-23 level.
“Playing in the three leagues, this will give them 26 to 30 games. We have an emphasis on developing youths, which is partly why older guys are no longer with the club.”
Coached by Renard Moxam, Seymour’s experience was needed on Sunday and he went on as a sub, but soon pulled a hamstring and had to be subbed off himself.
“Our objective is to beat Cayman Athletic on Sunday at Annex, otherwise we could be competing for a playoff place at the end of the season to stay in the Premier,” Seymour said.
“My youngsters are coming along well. With coach Glenn Whewell training the younger players, the transition to playing in the Premier should be a lot smoother for the kids.”
Only a couple of years ago, Elite were the dominant side, but they now have a small squad and, as a consequence, are not the same force, despite having sharp shooter Dwayne “Gaza” Wright in their line-up.
Elite technical director Greg Ebanks said, “Bodden Town are my tip to win the league. They are on an unbeaten run of over 30 games stretching back almost a year. It is a hell of a record.
“They have strength in depth, are totally committed and fully motivated. The fact that they play in the Caribbean Football Union Club Champions’ Cup next week gives them extra motivation.
“They could win all the competitions. I don’t have the depth in my squad any more and Gaza’s form is affected by injury.”
Scholars International are always been one of the best sides and their technical director Dougie Rowe is not conceding the league to either George Town nor Bodden Town yet.
“We haven’t thrown in the towel yet,” Rowe said. “We are still very much in it and there are still eight matches to go. It’s still pretty open. Bodden Town may be unbeaten but I heard that Elite outplayed them for much of the match on Sunday. Also, Bodden Town still have to play us.”
Bodden Town technical director Elbert McLean is pleased how his side is dealing with the mounting pressure to keep the unbeaten run going.
“The team is going from strength to strength,” he said. “We may have drawn against Elite but that is better than a loss. I thought their goal was offside, anyway.
“We’re in a good place, only two points behind George Town. We go to Puerto Rico for the Club Champions’ Cup next week and when we come back we’ll continue on the run.”
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