Gibbes’ double delight as T&T U-14s thump SKN 5-0; Jamaica are next

Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica both tallied emphatic wins on the second match day of the CFU Boys Under-14 Series today, to set up a cracking group finale tomorrow at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago.

Jamaica crushed Aruba 6-0 in the first game of a double header. Trinidad and Tobago replied with a 5-0 thumping of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The results saw pole position switch hands, with the young “Reggae Boyz” moving to the top of Group A with a goal difference of eight—one more than the junior Soca Warriors.

However, there was more to celebrate than moan about in Bacolet as coach Densill Theobald’s team again showed appreciable poise, aggression and offensive menace.

On Saturday, forward Adasa Richardson led the Trinidad and Tobago attack well. Today, it was the turn of flanker Jahmiah Gibbes, whose energy and dribbling skills were too much for either St Kitts and Nevis full back.

Richardson lasted just 18 minutes before being substituted this evening—presumably after failing to shake off the effects of a strong tackle by opposing defender Joshua Finch.

Theobald’s team does not lack depth though. Within seconds of his introduction, deputy centre forward Jaeden Anthony started the play that led to Trinidad and Tobago’s opener—with Gibbes stepping inside an opponent to stroke home with his left boot, after an incisive Deron Blackman pass.

Gibbes and Anthony, incidentally, were two of five Tobago players who wore national colours in Bacolet this evening, alongside Ball Blasters teammates Kyen Anderson, Ackim Duncan and Jaden Marcelle.

Gibbes celebrated his opener by sprinting half the length of the pitch to hug Theobald.

Five minutes later, Gibbes again benefitted from Anthony’s enterprise, as the latter player won a penalty kick that the former dispatched with his right boot to double Trinidad and Tobago’s advantage.

Saint Kitts and Nevis got a path back into the match in the 40th minute, as flanker Adondre Eddy got past Trinidad and Tobago left back Jaimarley John far too easily and his defensive partner, Essien Thomas, bundled over the attacker for a penalty.

But defender Lajewan Jeffers skied the spotkick.

Trinidad and Tobago right back Lukas Shaw did not cover himself in glory as he responded to Jeffers’ anguish by sprinting over to taunt the player—and earned himself a booking in the process.

The hosts felt aggrieved, though, when the match referee missed a more dangerous provocative act as Finch punched Trinidad and Tobago attacker Regan Rowe in his midsection off the ball in the 48th minute.

Still, Rowe got his revenge within seconds with an angled shot that inexplicably squirmed under Saint Kitts and Nevis goalkeeper Brian Collins at his near post for the third goal of the night.

And another substitute, midfielder Aaden Jones, got the fourth item after an Anderson cross-cum-shot rebounded off the bar and caused chaos in the opposing box.

Trinidad and Tobago were in complete control by then, with Duncan humming in a deep-lying playmaker role while Thomas’ pinpoint passing over distance were a constant threat to the opposing defence.

But Jeremai Nanton and Anthony failed to take good scoring opportunities.

Anthony would not end the night empty-handed, though, as he wriggled past two opponents on the edge of the Saint Kitts and Nevis penalty area to slap home Trinidad and Tobago’s fifth.

Jamaica will now present the toughest test of the talented troops’ international career to date.

(Teams)

Trinidad and Tobago (4-3-3): 1.Christian Telfer (GK) (18.Samuel Hosein [GK] 36); 2.Lucas Shaw, 14.Kenai Richardson (4.Kyen Anderson 51), 3.JaiMarley John, 15.Antoni James (5.Essien Thomas 36); 20.Samuel Balfour (17.Aaden Jones 51), 6.Deron Blackman (8.Ackim Duncan 45), 19.Sebastian James (captain) (16.Jaden Marcelle 36); 12.Jahmiah Gibbes (9.Jeremai Nanton 51), 11.Adasa Richardson (13.Jaeden Anthony 18), 7.Darnell Walcott (10.Reagan Rowe 45).

Coach: Densill Theobald

Saint Kitts and Nevis (4-3-3): 1.Brian Collins (GK); 2.Kasali Archibald, 18.Lajewan Jeffers, 12.Najeeb Kelly, 5.Joshua Finch; 14.Isaiah Bradshaw, 13.Malik Freeman, 10.Aj’narel Wilkinson (captain); 8.Kymarni Newton, 9.Romero Hanely, 19.Adondre Eddy.

Substitutes: 3.Jonathan Sumersol, 4.Evroy Barnes, 6.Tejonne Charles, 7.Kemaali Benjamin, 11.Lajarni Byron, 15.Keijahri Saddler, 16.Leondre Bridgewater, 17.Demilleon Williams, 20.Isaiah Nicholls.

Coach: Earl Jones

CFU Boys’ Under-14 Challenge Series Tier I

Group A

(Saturday 17 August)

Jamaica 2, Saint Kitts and Nevis 0 at Dwight Yorke Stadium;

Trinidad and Tobago 3 (Adasa Richardson 30, Lukas Beyer OG 55, Jeremai Nanton 70 pen), Aruba 1 (Jonatan Quintero 47) at Dwight Yorke Stadium;

(Sunday 18 August)

Aruba 0, Jamaica 6 at Dwight Yorke Stadium;

Trinidad and Tobago 5 (Jahmiah Gibbes 19, 26 pen, Regan Rowe 49, Aaden Jones 59, Jaeden Anthony 70), Saint Kitts and Nevis 0 at Dwight Yorke Stadium.

Upcoming fixtures

(Monday 19 August)

Saint Kitts and Nevis v Aruba, 4.30pm, Dwight Yorke Stadium;

Trinidad and Tobago v Jamaica, 6.30pm, Dwight Yorke Stadium;

(Tuesday 20 August)

Group A 2nd v Group A 3rd, 4.30pm, Dwight Yorke Stadium;

Group A 1st v Group A 4th, 6.30pm, Dwight Yorke Stadium.

(Friday 23 August)

Group A winners v Group B runners-up, Semis, Dwight Yorke Stadium;

Group B winners v Group A runners-up, Semis, Dwight Yorke Stadium;

(Sunday 25 August)

Third-place playoff and Finals, Dwight Yorke Stadium.

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