San Jose Earthquakes forward Cornell Glen jumped in the second period of Tuesday’s practice match between the Trinidad and Tobago National Team and a TT Pro League select XI to score the winner for the Warriors in a 2-1 result.
The practice match set up by the Warriors head coach Russell Latapy to continue evaluating his players attracted a small crowd at the Hasely Crawford Stadium that witnessed an even contest between the National Team and the Pro League select XI.
Ipswich Town player Carlos Edwards and Turkish club Denizlispor forward Darryl Roberts were the only foreign based starters for Latapy side which started with mostly locally based players.
Latapy’s charges went ahead in the 15th minute through a penalty converted by Defence Force forward Devon Jorsling beating his club teammate Kevin Graham on the right with a low shot for a 1-0 lead after defender Rawle Fletcher bundled Kevon Carter inside the area three minutes earlier.
Carter was subsequently replaced by Hayden Tinto following the foul and watched the rest of the practice match from the sidelines.
But the Pro League select surely made some impressions on the match and on the eyes of Latapy.
Defence Force defender Corey Rivers, Jabloteh goalie Cleon John and Ma Pau attacker Lester Peltier are a few of the players that surely left thought in Latapy’s mind throughout their time on the pitch for the Ross Russell selected side.
Peltier opened up a decent opportunity in the 7th minute when he raced down the right flank to play a short cross to St. Ann’s Rangers forward Odelle Armstrong who had a crack just wide for the Pro League XI.
But it was only until early in the second period the Pro League select leveled the scores 1-1 when Jerwyn Balthazar slotted a low shot past Marvin Phillip after receiving a pass from Javon Wilson which began from a neat string of passes in midfield.
The National side regained its advantage with a 2-1 score when midway through the second period Glen chested Hughton Hector's cross and volleyed past a hapless Cleon John.
The Pro League select goalie then made two brilliant saves denying Glen and the follow-up by Jason Marcano from point blank range.
The Pro League select XI was denied twice by the posts, with both efforts coming from Wigan Athletic forward Jason Scotland—the only foreign based player in Ross Russell’s select—in the first and second periods.
Teams
T&T—Jan Michael Williams (Marvin Phillip), Aklie Edwards, Makan Hislop, Kern Cupid, Carlos Edwards, Keon Daniel (Hughtun Hector), Clyde Leon (Khaleem Hyland), Kevon Carter (Hayden Tinto), Devon Jorsling (Cornell Glen), Darryl Roberts (Jason Marcano), Densill Theobald (Devon Jamerson).
Coach—Russell Latapy.
Pro League XI—Kevin Graham (Cleon John), Corey Rivers (Dexter Thornhill), Joel Russell (Aaron Stewart), Noel Williams (Corey Rivers), Rawle Fletcher, Lester Peltier (Jerwyn Balthazar), Odelle Armstrong, Sean Narcis (Kevin Molino), Corneal Thomas (Ross Russell Jr.), Jason Scotland, Kwame Wiltshire (Javon Wilson).
Coach—Ross Russell.