Western Union wins thriller over Scholars to claim the Cayman Islands league championship
The final match of the 2005 CIFA/Foster’s National Football League season may have looked to some like it was destined to be a sad, forgetable affair. There was no seating at West Bay’s hurricane-damaged Ed Bush Field and the field was a pathetic patch of scorched earth. It was a wasteland, hardly worthy of the season’s most important match. But then a funny thing happened, referee Alfredo Whitakker blew his whistle and a brilliant, occaisionally spectacular, match broke out.
Scholars and Western Union had produced solid seasons and deserved their place in the final. Both came out determined and played aggressive at both ends. In the first half Scholars created most of the better chances but couldn’t score.
Western Union played a hard-charging physical game but seemed to suffer the most for it as they lost player after player to injury.
Both goalkeepers clearly were tuned in to the game’s importance as they worked hard to keep it scoreless through 90 minutes.
The 10-minute overtime period was not as good as the previous 90-it was even better. Scholars and Western Union came out hungry for the one goal needed to claim a year’s worth of glory. Western Union had the best chance to win it when referee Whitakker awarded a penalty kick to Western Union. The shot hit the right post, however, and time soon ran out, leaving the match to be decided by a penalty shootout.
Kingsley Wellington, Jermaine Wilson and Joseph Wright had the right stuff and each of them scored with their chance to make Western Union the 2005 CIFA/Foster’s National Football League champions.
Jeffrey Webb, president of the Cayman Islands Football Association, said it was a fitting final between the league’s two best teams.
‘It was a good game,’ he said. ‘These two teams were the most consistent and descerved to be here.
‘I congratulate all the teams, especially considering the conditions we played under this season. The hardships we have had since Ivan make you really value what we had; because we have nothing now, not even changing rooms or lights. But we still had a great game. At the end of the day, all you need is a field and two goals.’
The Western Union goalkeeper, Devon Donnegan, shouldered plenty of pressure, particularly during the penalty shootout.
‘Thank God we come out victorious,’ he said. ‘We trained hard for this and we were able to do our thing when we had to.’
‘It was exciting, scruffy in parts,’ said Athelston ‘Playmaker’ Watts, Western Union’s team manager. ‘The guys fought hard out there. Scholars played well. They are good runnersup but in the end, I think the better team prevailed.’
Western Union was coached by Josclyn Morgan and Scholars was coached by Antonio Smith.
Related Videos
