Super Cup Final

By Sheena Carten
Caymanian Compass

Cayman's footballers were runners-up in this year's Western Union Super Cup after a scoreless draw against Arnett Gardens on Sunday. A valiant display by Cayman's footballers was overshadowed in the dying minutes when Chris Welcome was red carded.
Cayman's number 21 was made walk after he allegedly responded to a punch by Arnett Gardens Eugene Barnes. The sending off clearly soured the game, which was a real pity.

In the first half Cayman played well, especially in defense. Michael Wilks, Tom Elliot and Carson Fagan played a stormer of a game. Elliot and Fagan making some brilliant blocks and Wilks making some great runs. Cayman's keeper Tuda Murphy was given plenty of work but stayed in control.

In the second half, whatever Cayman coach Marcio Maximo said to his players at half time it worked. The players really piled on the pressure looking for that goal as soon as the second half whistle blew.

Just one minute into the half the effervescent Gareth Anderson saw a chance and blasted the ball towards goal but it went just to the right of the post. Following that were shots for goal from Captain Lee Ramoon and Leon Whittaker. Cayman had another really good chance from a free kick taken by Eric Brown who curled the ball into the hands of Arnett Gardens keeper Selvin Collins.
After that there were a series of goal attempts from both sides. Cayman played fantastic in the last 15 minutes of the game but it wasn't enough.

The sending off was bad and brought about a few unpleasant moments in the game. The Arnett Gardens keeper, just before the sending off, kicked the ball right towards the fans and ran up to challenge a Cayman player.

In the end, however, the game ended 0-0.

After the game, Coach Maximo summed it up. "They won $5,000 but deserved $10,000." A win would have been the ideal result, but the Brazilian was well pleased with his boys' performance. "Almost one year, the boys have not lost a game," says Maximo.
The fans, from Caymanians to Jamaicans and a plethora of other nationalities, turned out and for the fist time in two years, says Maximo, "You could hear 'Come on Cayman, let's go, let's go' in the stands."

"This team is a strong competitive team," says Maximo. "I believe it is the youngest in the Caribbean. They are very strong mentally and always believe they can win." The signs would suggest that the days of the six-nil hammerings are well gone and that the Cayman National foot-ball team is a force to reckoned with. Starting early next year, teams like Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Martinique want to play Cayman in prepa-ration for the Gold Cup.

Until then, Cayman's senior footballers should take comfort in knowing that their young team has come along way. They have played well and made their fans respect them.