Scholars topple Naya 1-0

By Tara Bush
Caymanian Compass

Naya's defence proved to be their undoing yet again, as the team fell to Scholars 1-0 in a match they should have walked away with a draw if not the win. But this is nothing strange, as Naya seems to be in the habit of losing lately, being one rung up from the bot-tom in the Zone A's league table.

While Scholars may have been expecting an easy game, Naya gave them a serious fight, this despite being somewhat handicapped. Naya lacked players on their bench and top- striker Anthony Fogarty was out due to too many yellow cards. In fact, their coach Robin Dalton had to wear two hats during the game - one as player and coach as the other.

Naya's first goal scoring opportunity came early when Lennox Carradice floated a wicked drop shot from a set piece about 35 yards out. Just when it appeared as if the ball was going to fall into the basket Scholars keeper Alfredo Whittaker tipped it over the crossbar.

Naya's combination play provided attacking options that Scholars simply lacked for most of the match. Had a statistician been keeping track he would have shown that Naya dominated and outplayed the Zone A league leaders. In spite of all this, however, Naya target seekers could not find the net. It seemed that their front man Ever-ton Surgeon was too slow, badly out of form and tried one pass too many in front of the goal. Around the 20th minute Naya's Floyd McKenzie struck at goal. However, Whittaker made the save.

Scholars' only notable scoring opportunity in the first half came in the 30th minute when Terrance Timoll broke through Naya's rearguard. Timoll went one-on-one with keeper Anthony Lawson. Timoll fired the ball hard and straight at Lawson, who smothered the chance. The game remained scoreless going into the second half. That changed in the 50th minute when David Arch broke away from Naya's defence. Lawson advanced hoping that Arch would make a mistake. Looking composed, Arch beat Lawson and slotted the ball in the open net, taking the score to 1-0. Naya came back strong, stringing together several crisp, swift passes. But again Scholars denied them.

Around the 70th minute Dalton was injured after a tackle. He took himself out of the game and his team was down to 10 players on the field. From then on it just seemed that Naya played as if they were beaten. And in the dying minutes of the match it was Scholars' turn to squander chances. The number was four in rapid succession.

Scholars Otis Myle deposited the ball into the net, but it was ruled offside. Then Scholars Michael Carridice fired the ball just inside the box, but it rebounded off the post. Timoll reloaded, taking a shot on goal, but it hit the post, again ricocheting into play. Arch collected and sent the ball goalward. This time Lawson made the save.