It was another goal-fest for Trinidad and Tobago on Monday at the Caribbean Football Union Boys’ Under 14 Challenge Series being contested in Curacao. A beaver-trick from Nathaniel James and Ja-Shawn Thomas’s hat-trick were the highlights of an 11-1 victory versus Bonaire as the Elites followed up an 8-0 opening day win over Guyana with another impressive performance.
It was not always smooth sailing though with Stuart Charles-Fervier’s lads conceding as early as the fifth minute via the bounce of Curty-Son Piard’s speculative shot lobbying goalkeeper Tristan Edwards and into the back of the net, much to the delight of their boisterous ban of supporters.
They where left silent (just barely) when Nathaniel James answered four minutes later as he left markers in his wake with a familiar burst down the left flank which ended in a neat tuck pass the keeper to tie up the scores.
Despite dominating in the possession department which was littered with missed opportunities, Trinbago had to wait until added on time of the first 35-minute half to take the lead. Once again it was James using some fine individual skill to give himself space and time to pick his spot and give his team a 2-1 lead at the half.
Bonaire is part of the Netherlands Antilles and much is expected from the Dutch Islanders youth program which is headed by Emmanuel Cristori of Argentina. Those expectations took a dent in the second half of this encounter when Thomas went on a ten-minute rampage to register his hat-trick with items in the 38th, 41st and 49th minutes.
The San Juan Jabloteh striker then caused further problem which gave his team an indirect free kick in the opponent’s penalty area, which was eventually bundled in by Captain Jaheim Marshall to make it 6-1.
Coach Fevrier then made five changes in the 54th minute but T&T never broke stride and the continued pressure was rewarded with a penalty which James converted for his hat-trick in the 56th. The relentless onslaught was halted for a short invasion by a swarm of bees, making most at the Stadion Ergilio Hato hit the ground to evade their attention but following the departure of the ‘honey-makers’ James got his 4th goal in the 61st minute.
Goals number 9 and 10 came courtesy Dantaye Gilbert as the clock ticked down but there was enough time for a determined Jaheim Faustin to get on the scoresheet and round out the tally, one short of a dozen.
Videos -
Fevrier reacts to 11-1 victory over Bonaire in CFU U-14 Boys Challenge Series
Lawrence gives his views on U-14 Boys at CFU Challenge Series