Bodden Town holds firm atop standings

By Cayman Sports Buzz
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Updated: 16 January 2017

Ricoh Brown had the game-winner.

A match-up between league-leaders Bodden Town FC and defending champions Scholars International saw two of the Cayman Premier League’s top four teams in action on the same pitch.

With both teams playing solid defence, decent scoring chances were few and far between in the first half. Late in the first 45, Bodden Town had back-to-back opportunities to take the lead from set pieces but could not get past Scholars keeper Jermaine Brown.

A golden opportunity presented itself on the stroke of halftime, when Ricoh Brown stepped up to the left of the goal on the edge of the 18-yard box for a free kick. With his bench urging him on that this was the best bet to get an advantage, the midfielder steadied himself behind the ball before launching it toward goal and beating the Scholars netminder low and to his right, possibly getting a deflection from a defender’s head. (see video below)

That play put Bodden Town ahead 1-0 mere seconds before the whistle blew signalling the end of the first half.

Scholars, who won their first encounter of the season 2-0 three months ago, came out with purpose in the second half. Rodrick Pearson had a good chance early when his shot from about 21 yards out sent BTFC keeper Ramon Sealy diving to his left only to see the ball miss the mark by inches.

Bodden Town, leaving nothing to chance, pressed to extend the lead but forward Casey McLaughlin could not penetrate the Scholars back four. Brown sent a screamer towards goal but it was way high. It did, however, signal to the champs that Bodden Town was not comfortable holding a one-goal lead.

With about 15 minutes left in regulation, James ‘Paddy’ Ebanks thought he had the equaliser but his shot curled wide to the left.

Fagan is shown a yellow card for his tackle on Sealy, still lying on the ground.

A moment of drama came with about 10 minutes left in the game when Sealy advanced from the 18-yard box. Scholars substitute Carson Fagan was advancing and both made a play on the ball during which Scholars players and supporters were adamant Sealy handled the ball as he won the challenge. Perhaps out of retaliation, seconds later, Fagan brought him down from behind and was fortunate to be only shown a yellow card.

In the dying minutes of the game, Rolly Bodden’s header from just right of the goal was a tad high. Then a few possessions later, he botched another chance when he couldn’t control a pass that would have seen him one-on-one with Sealy. Another attempt by Fagan in added time was too tame to bother the Bodden Town keeper, who held on to his clean sheet.

This was Bodden Town’s seventh win in 10 league outings, with five of those wins coming from a one-goal margin. The leaders moved on to 22 points, as Scholars remain in fourth on 14 points.

Meantime, Roma United picked up their first since the second week of the season, beating Academy Sports Club 2-1 at Ed Bush Sports Complex on Sunday. Jonah Ebanks scored his league-leading seventh goal to put Academy out front in the 5^th minute but Delano Mitchell drew level for Roma in the 11^th and Kimani Finn put Roma out front in the 35^th – all scoring happening in the first half. Academy was previously unbeaten in their last four games. Their last loss was on 30 October against Bodden Town FC.