Bodden Town FC pays tribute, wins third straight

By Cayman Sports Buzz
- Tweet
- Pin It
Updated: 24 January 2017

Bodden Town players release balloons after a minute of silence.

You could feel the calm as the clubs and officials gathered mid-pitch prior to kickoff, as Bodden Town FC remembered three members of its football family.

A minute’s silence was held prior to the team’s game against Sunset FC on 22 January, the first Cayman Premier League game played in Bodden Town for the 2016-17 season. Heads were bowed and balloons released in memory of Michael Gourzong, Della Berry and Gerome Graham.

Gourzong, 24, died last June after getting into difficulties while swimming off Spotts Beach. Della Berry, a parent attached to the club also died last year. Graham, 20, died after collapsing during a practice in 2012. It was later discovered that he had a heart condition. His memory remains emblazoned on some team t-shirts.

After the sombre moment, it was time for the league leaders to get into action against Sunset, who came in sixth in the table.

Sunset looked like the more determined team early but none of their early efforts caused any worry for Bodden Town captain Ramon Sealy between the pipes. A corner kick in the 7^th was his toughest test but he expertly rose and tipped the ball over the crossbar.

A moment of excitement for the home side in the 13^th when Theron Wood, who was back in action after an early-season knee injury, connected with Jahmelie Durrant at the top of the 18-yard box but the shot was a little high.

Theron Wood was back in the starting XI.

Sunset, who were playing some of their best football of the season, had half a chance in the 38^th minute from a set piece but nothing came of it.

It was a scoreless game at the half and Sunset, for a moment, thought the lead was theirs when Casey Berlin found himself with a close range shot on goal in the 48^th but finesse gave way to power when finesse would have worked and there was no trouble for Sealy as the ball easily went out of play.

In the 57^th, Wood, who looked sharp in his return, had an acrobatic attempt only to watch the ball sail high of the goal.

Sunset, holding the league leaders scoreless through 58 minutes would be made to work harder as they went down a player when Evans Chacon was sent off after collecting his second yellow card.

The deadlock was broken in the 83^rd minute when Ricoh Brown’s cross from the right wing found the head of Andre McFarlane. There was little that could be done Lee Parry, who was having a good game in net for Sunset and keeping Bodden Town at bay. After a bounce on the turf, the ball found the back of the net to put the side in purple out front. (see video below)

Sunset would not give up and it took a diving save from Sealy to deny Gavin Reynolds in the 89^th, as Bodden Town held on for the 1-0 win, their third in a row to remain ahead of the pack with 25 points through 11 weeks of the season.

Elsewhere in the Cayman Premier League this weekend:

Elite SC 3, Roma United 1

Andres Ruiz, Rene Carter and Raheem Robinson all scored as Elite SC came from behind to beat Roma United at the Annex. Amar Mundle put Roma ahead in the 37^th, as they held on for a halftime lead. Ruiz drew equalised for Elite in the 64^th before Carter put them ahead in the 78^th and Robinson added one for good measure seven minutes before fulltime. Elite now has 23 points and remain two points behind Bodden Town in the standings.

Latinos FC 5, Academy SC 3

A brace from the league’s leading scorer, Jonah Ebanks, was not enough for Academy as they were outgunned by Latinos at the Annex Sunday night. Rhon Royer put Academy out front in the 9^th minute. The lead did not last long as Brian Scott levelled in the 13^th.

Nahun Rodriguez gave Latinos the lead in the 28^th minute before Ziecko Herrera extended the lead to 3-1 just before the half.

Ebanks pulled Academy within a goal 11 minutes into the second frame but Rodriguez secured his own brace in the 60^th to keep Latinos out front. Ebanks, who is having an impressive season, once again cut the lead to a goal in the 82^nd before Darvin Dixon’s goal in the first minute of added time ensured a 5-3 win in favour of Latinos.

Scholars International 1, Cayman Athletic 1

An 80^th minute goal from Rolly Bodden secured a draw for defending champions Scholars after Anfernee Wright put Cayman Athletic ahead in the 61^st minute.