Trinidad and Tobago’s Under 17 footballers completed a two-match victory run over Barbados’s Under 17 team with a hardfought 2-1 victory in the second international at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva on Sunday evening.
Substitute striker Gorian Highley, who netted a double in Saturday’s 3-1 win, again rose to the occasion, netting a 77th minute winner for the young “Soca Warriors”.
The Arima Senior Comprehensive player was among six players dropped from the original squad last week by ex-coach Dion La Foucade. but brought back into the team by Ron La Forest on recommendation from assistants Michael McComie and team administrator Rudy Roberts. Kitwana Abosi, Devon Drayton, Jamal Warner and Lemuel Lyons were the other four players who showed promise over the two internationals with the other player, Leon Mitchell, the only one yet to take the field.
The result was another welcomed one for coach La Forest who made several changes to his starting eleven from the one which took the field at the Larry Gomes Stadium a day earlier.
"I’ve seen all I wanted to see in these two games, so now there are just some readjustments that I have to make. It’s very easy to identify who’s going to represent the country because there was a difference in the performance of the two teams. All the players gave it their best shot and they deserve credit for this. Before the tournament we’ll be looking to play a few more games” La Forest told TTFF Media after the game.
“Ron La Forest has arrived and the fans who remember me will see this team playing my style of football, exciting and organised football and strict discipline. We want to say thanks to the fans for the support so far and we expect everything to keep building now.”
Among the new starters was Andre Charles, an English-based goalkeeper who recently came off a trial with English club Chelsea.
T&T enjoyed the better of the first half exchanges in Saturday’s match but the second time around it was the visitors who looked more comfortable and grabbed a 17th minute lead through Quincy Atherly who slammed a right-footed blast by Charles on his near left post but just on the edge of the penalty box.
T&T did have the first few looks at goal with Stephan Granderson’s low drive forcing goalkeeper Omari Eastmond.
Barbados also saw a free kick effort come off the crossbar in the 10th minute.
Midfielder Jack Weedon played a neat pass to Dwight Crichlow atop the left of the 18 yard box but his left footed attempt brought another save from the ‘keeper.
Highley replaced Adrian Connel in the 40th minute and almost immediately there was more urgency in the T&T attack.
Highley’s header from Ancil Farrier’s left side cross, crashed off the crossbar and resulted in a mad scramble before Josimar John shot the loose ball wide of the right post.
Six minutes later, Farrier collected a return pass from Devon Drayton but could only shoot against the ‘keeper’s body.
Granderson got T&T’s deserved equalizer when he ran onto a ball played into space and got there to power into the net past an advancing Eastmond. The goal was well received by the small crowd present and once again T&T looked like running away with the match.
T&T center-back Jamal Warner and his fellow defenders were tested on the evening but held firm allowing Highley and company to do their thing up front. Four minutes before full time, Kwesi Thomas’ shot was well saved by the visiting ‘keeper and a minute later, the same player had his effort pushed out by the custodian but Highley was well positioned to send his header into the net.
The team resumes training on Tuesday and a warm-up against Jamaica will be next on the schedule. They are preparing for the CFU World qualifiers in Bermuda from October 30-November 3 against the hosts, St Lucia and Grenada in a round robin group phase."