Two sweet! Bodden Town FC wins the double

By Cayman Sports Buzz
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Updated: 20 June 2017

2016/17 Cayman Premier League and CIFA FA Cup Champions - Bodden Town FC.

Bodden Town Football Club are the undisputed champions of men’s football in the Cayman Islands after winning the FA Cup Sunday night (18 June) to win their second title of the 2016/17 season.

Having won the Cayman Premier League title comfortably back in April, only a youthful Academy Sports Club side stood in Bodden Town’s way of another trophy.

Captains shake hands to get things going.

Academy started off well, pressing forward early but Bodden Town stood their ground and took advantage of what the game gave them. In the 23^rd minute, Ricoh Brown fired a shot from the left top of the 18-yard box but Academy keeper Miguel Pitta was able to deny. The rebound though went straight to a pouncing Kyle Leon, who volleyed it into the back of the net for a 1-0 Bodden Town lead.

“It definitely gave us a sense of security. It eased the nerves of the guys, helped us to play our game and we were just a little bit more relaxed after that. I’m glad that we got it early,” BTFC captain Ramon Sealy later said.

Down a goal at the half, Academy coach Jack Brazil appeared to energise his squad in the dressing room but the wind would be temporarily knocked out of their sails nine minutes after play resumed. A free kick by Brown from the right wing was perfectly placed to find Kareem James, who volleyed it past Pitta to double the lead.

Late in the game, a chance for Academy: Romario Dixon took a free kick from about 25-yards out on the right side and curled it toward goal, Finigan Huffington raced in and got a foot to the ball, which beat Sealy in the Bodden Town net, only to ricochet off the cross bar, bounce inches infront of the goal line and back into play, where Julian Moxam’s tame header was easily taken by Sealy.

Though no goal came of it, Academy’s bench urged the players to keep at it. A penalty kick was awarded in the first minute of injury time and Jonah Ebanks, the leading goal scorer in the Cayman Premier League, easily converted to cut the lead to a single goal.

There wasn’t enough time, as Valdin Ledgister’s final whistle came soon after. In the end, it was Bodden Town FC winning 2-1.

And what a tough road to take to the FA Cup title, beating CIFA First Division champions George Town in the first round, then perennial powerhouses Scholars International and Elite Sports Club in the quarterfinals and semi-finals before taking on a young and rising side in the final.

CIFA President Lee Ramoon presents the FA Cup to Ramon Sealy.

“The road we took to get to the final shows the strength and the depth in our team that we don’t ever give up. It justifies our preparations in training. It’s a culmination of a great season for us,” Sealy said.

The run by Academy SC this season was not lost on the double champions. “It was a good challenge that Academy gave us,” said midfielder Karl Solomon. “It’s a young team, a fit team. We want to tell them to keep their heads up.”

Sealy agreed: “They played a hell of a game. It was tough for us. Academy is a young side. They kind of remind me of us when we were coming up and this is just the beginning for them. I see them competing for the [league] title next year, giving us some really tough competition.”

District MLAs Alva Suckoo and Chris Saunders present BTFC their league trophy.

After a season with no hardware last year, coach Elbert McLean was full of praise for the effort put out by his guys.

“It is very sweet because it’s a big improvement from last season, and I know the way the guys have been working You’ve come to our training and you’ve seem the numbers have been there, the guys have good attitude and they work hard – I always tell them that guarantees success,” he said in an interview with CaymanSportsBuzz.com.

“It’s been a good season. I want to thank the Heavenly Father for all the support he has given us throughout the season,” McLean added.