Savannah and Cayman Prep to defend titles

(CUC-PFL): Supporters of “the powerful game” were treated to a youth football spectacle this past Saturday as the semi-finals in the 2013/2014 CUC Primary Football League (PFL) took centre stage at the Annex Field. To add to the excitement, there were plenty of wonderful goals, last minute heroics, brilliant goal keeping, and great team camaraderie. In the Under 9 Consolation Cup, due to a number of unavoidable reasons, George Town Primary was unable to field a full team and therefore had to forfeit their semi-final encounter to Red Bay Primary.

In the second semi-final, Bodden Town Primary defeated Truth For Youth 2-1 with Jacobi Tugman opening the scoring for the victors in the 5th minute and Breshawn McLean sealing the victory in the 36th minute.

Truth For Youth staged a late comeback after Keon Jennings pulled a goal back in the 43rd minute but the “boys in blue” left it too late and ultimately ran out of time.
In the Under 9 Consolation Cup Final, defending champions Bodden Town Primary will face Red Bay Primary.

Meanwhile, defending Under 9 champions Savannah Primary secured their place in the final after overcoming St.Ignatius Prep 3-0 thanks to two goals from Jacquan Wray and a solitary strike from Dylan Hernandez.  Savannah Primary will face Cayman Prep in the final for the second year running after the Prep boys came from behind to defeat Sir John A. Cumber Primary 2-1. “Small man” Shaunjay Bodden opened the scoring in the 29th minute for Sir John A. Cumber capping off a great run with a sublime finish only to see Tom Byrne equalise two minutes later and then secure the victory five minutes later in the 36th minute with his second strike of the game.

In the Under 9 Champions Cup final, Savannah Primary will play Cayman Prep in a repeat of last year’s final and Sir John A. Cumber will take on St. Ignatius Prep in the third-place game.
In the Under 11 Consolation Cup semi-finals, Truth For Youth avenged their Under 9 team’s loss to Bodden Town Primary with a 4-2 victory with Kenneth Challenger grabbing two goals in the 18th and 41st minutes and Oscar Hernandez securing the win in the 21st and 55th minutes.

Bodden Town’s Under 9 hero Jacobi Tugman kept it interesting with two of his own goals in the 56th and 61st minutes, the latter from the penalty spot, but it was too little too late. In the second semi-final, Red Bay Primary secured a place in the final following their enthralling 4-3 victory over a “never say die” Cayman International School side. ‘New Red Bayboy’ Brad Lansdell scored three goals adding to Alejandro Holness’ penalty to secure the victory for his new school.

Cayman International fought valiantly and came from 2-0 down and 3-2 down to almost take the game into overtime before Lansdell settled this exciting encounter in the final minute. Cayman International’s Johnathan Rado (2) and Francisco Magno scored their team’s goals.
In the Under 11 Consolation Cup final, Truth For Youth take on Red Bay Primary.

Defending Under 11 champions Cayman Prep were in top form for the second week running with a comfortable 5-0 win over South Sound Schools in the first semi-final. Igor Magalhaes, Max Palmer, Victor Thompson and Harrison Hew added to Kiran Connolly-Basdeo’s own goal to complete the scoring.

In the second semi-final, Sir John A. Cumber and St. Ignatius scrapped, battled and fought for 80 minutes through regulation time and overtime without anyone finding the back of the net. Sir John A. Cumber’s Omar Bodden and St. Ignatius’ Kai Dobbin were exceptional between the posts with both youngsters making some key saves throughout the game.

Ironically, it would be up to one of these fine young players to decide this encounter as the game moved into penalties. St. Ignatius’ Jonah Sigsworth and Corey Smith made no mistake with their penalties but Omar Bodden turned away Daniel River’s effort. Likewise, Daniel Wallace and Jahrion Bodden scored for Sir John A. Cumber but Kai Dobben thwarted Rashaad Powery’s attempt and the score after the penalty shootout remained a tie at 2-2.

Onto sudden death penalties and Liam Walton from St. Ignatius Prep made no mistake to put his school in front. Up stepped Malik Gordon for Sir John A. Cumber but found Kai Dobbin up to the task as he pushed young Gordon’s effort over the bar much to the delight of his ecstatic team mates.

St. Ignatius had survived, defeating their opponents from West Bay 3-2.

In this weekend’s final, St. Ignatius Prep will face defending champions Cayman Prep in the Under 11 Champions Cup and Sir John A. Cumber Primary will play South Sound Schools for third place.

As always, special thanks to the officials Shakur Welcome and Chastine Rankine and to sponsors Progressive Distributors.

The finals, third-placed games and trophy presentations for the 2013/2014 CUC PFL Playoffs are scheduled for this Saturday, January 25 beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Annex Field.