Skipper Julien Feret's second-half strike ensured that Caen maintained their impressive start to the Ligue 1 season with a slender 1-0 victory over hosts Reims this evening.
Caen started the better of the two sides and they almost grabbed the lead through Ronny Rodelin, who saw his effort from the six-yard box somehow kept out by Johnny Placide.
Caen keeper Remy Vercoutre had to be alert too, when Reims forward Nicolas de Preville sent a smart header down towards the bottom corner, leaving the away stopper to stick out a hand and prevent the goal.
Much of the first period was dominated by balls into the box, and Caen were twice unlucky not to find a lead before half time, given that Alaeddine Yahia and Andy Delort both sent headers wide.
Some positive wide play in the second period should have given Caen the breakthrough, although Placide was to the rescue again as he kept out Delort's header down low.
The visitors were finally rewarded for their second-half dominance with just over 15 minutes to play, as captain Feret converted into the bottom-left corner having been picked out by Delort to give Caen an important three points.
Christopher Dodd
