Sunset FC took their first men’s senior title and claimed the first major honours of the season with a nerve-jangling 2-1 win over Bodden Town in the President’s Cup Final on Ash Wednesday.
A spectacular overhead kick from Cesare Bandini and a late winner from Andrew Joyner were enough to secure victory for Sunset in a closely contested finale under the lights at Truman Bodden National Stadium.
After a scruffy, goalless first half, Bandini broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion just after the break. Bodden Town fought back and levelled the scores though Ricoh Brown in the 77th minute.
But as the prospect of extra-time loomed, Anton Nelson broke down the right flank and clipped a neat low-cross towards Andrew Joyner who finished neatly at the near post.
Sunset coach Alan Purvis admitted to some nerves as Bodden Town rallied in search of a second equaliser but his team held on for the win.
“I am very proud of the guys because it was a tough game,” said Purvis, who is in his first season as head coach after successful stints with the women’s and youth teams.
“It is an important win for us because it is the first major trophy we have won as a Premier League team.”
With an important league game against Premier League leaders Scholars looming at the weekend, the celebrations were somewhat muted.
Purvis said he hopes the victory is just the beginning for his side.
“We are trying to build something here, we are playing a slightly different way and to get some early success is encouraging.”
Bodden Town coach Elbert McLean felt the game could have gone either way.
But he acknowledged his side had not been at their best.
“I don’t think they played to their full potential,” he admitted.
“We are disappointed but I told them after the game, making it to the final is a big achievement. There were a lot of teams in the competition that didn’t make it so far.”
His side are still in the hunt for the FA Cup and McLean believes they have a chance to win a title this year.
“I am pretty sure we can win a trophy. This was a game that could have gone either way,” he said.
The men’s game started later than scheduled after an even more closely contested women’s final went to extra time.
Molly Kehoe was the match winner for Elite, scoring twice to help her side come from behind to secure a 2-1 win over Scholars.
The game went to 0-0 at halftime, with Kehoe striking midway through the second half.
Chelsea Green equalised for Scholars minutes later to level things up and send the game into extra time, where Kehoe was the hero again, scoring the game winning goal.
Cayman Islands Football Association president Alfredo Whittaker said it had been a good night for football.
“We had two very good games and a good crowd as always,” he said.
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