Navy crew beats Brac squad

Cayman News | 14/07/2009

(CNS): In what has now become a tradition, a football team from the latest Royal Navy ship to visit Cayman Brac, the HMS Iron Duke, was matched against a Cayman Brac Football Club select squad of U-16 and adults players Thursday afternoon onthe Bluff field. Playing their third friendly football game against a Navy team this year, the Brac team were handed their first loss, beaten 3-1 by a very young, fit, strong and skilled crew from the Iron Duke.

According to Brac Sports Instructor Mitchum Sanford, the Brac played against the Royal Navy team with a mix age group of players comprised of adults and the club’s U-15 and U-17 players. But it was 15 year old Brian Martin who was the sole goal scorer for the Brac with a superbly lobbed ball over the Iron Duke goalkeeper’s head.

The visitors’ first goal came 20 minutes into the first half from a long true-ball pass that broke the Brac’s defence and left an Iron Duke’s striker a one-on-one with the Brac’s goalkeeper to easily slot the ball into the back of the net for an easy 1-0 score. Five minutes later Brian Martin equalized for the Brac, but just before half-time a massive communication error between two Brac defenders saw an easy control let go freely for another easy 6 yard shot into the Brac’s net for Iron Duke to lead 2-1 at half-time. (Photo right by HMS Iron Duke ship’s photographer Leading Airman Stuart Hill)

Nicholas Scott went close to equalizing the score line shortly into the second-half when he climbed into the air to bicycle a Brian Martin cross. Chance after chance came knocking for the Brac but no one seemed to have wanted to score that all important equalizer, so it was Iron Duke again on the score sheet with a fantastic blend of power and accuracy that left the Brac’s goalkeeper helpless and gave the Duke a 3-1 lead that would hold to the end.

“It was very fun. The pitch is fantastic,” said Iron Duke team captain LET Michael Davis. “It was a good game but hard to play in the heat.”

"We welcome and look forward to the continued visits of the Royal Navy Fleet on our shores. The friendships, laughter and fun shared is much welcomed by this community," Sanford said. "The club looks forward to many more visits in coming years from the UK Navy fleet." (Scroll down for more pictures)