Rowe and Blackman strike as T&T U-14s bounce back with win over SKN

Trinidad and Tobago closed off their group stage campaign tonight with a 2-0 win over Saint Kitts and Nevis at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, as they advanced to the semifinal round of the CFU Boys U-14 Series tournament.

The young Soca Warriors, who finished as Group A runners-up, face Group B champs French Guiana on Friday evening at Bacolet while Group A winners Jamaica tackle Puerto Rico in the other semifinal.

Jamaica, French Guiana and Puerto Rico are all undefeated in the ongoing competition, although only the young “Reggae Boyz” have a 100 percent record.

This afternoon, Jamaica maintained their hot streak with a 5-0 win over Aruba. Coach Andrew Peart’s team have scored 15 times from four games at the CFU Series, with none conceded.

For the Soca Warriors, coach Densill Theobald would have been happy to shake off last night’s dispiriting 2-0 loss to Jamaica—although today was a mixed bag.

Trinidad and Tobago were again without their injured captain and centre forward Adasa Richardson for this evening’s affair while Kyen Anderson failed to shake off a knock from Monday’s excursion against Jamaica.

Then, in the warm-up, defender Jaimarley John also broke down.

It meant Trinidad and Tobago, approaching their fourth game in as many days, had just 15 outfield players to choose from.

Thankfully, they were never stretched by Saint Kitts and Nevis, who mustered one attack of note over the 70 minutes and offered little beyond plucky resistance.

Midfielder Aaden Jones should have scored twice for the host team from headers within the first 15 minutes—the second was a glaring miss from a pinpoint cross by defender Essien Thomas.

Reagan Rowe thought he put Trinidad and Tobago on the board in the 35th minute, only for his effort to be chalked off due to an offside call against winger Darnell Walcott who crossed for Rowe.

The opener, ironically, was a scrappy affair. Kittian goalkeeper Brian Collins dropped another Thomas cross and Rowe was on spot to hit home.

Deron Blackman doubled Trinidad and Tobago’s lead in style as he surged forward from his deep-lying midfield role to hammer into the roof of the net in the 57th minute.

Thomas, who seemed to start most of Trinidad and Tobago’s attacking moves with his accurate, driven passes, threatened to get a goal himself in the 63rd minute, with a long-ranged shot that squirmed under Collins and went for a corner. But Trinidad and Tobago had to settle for a two-goal triumph.

It was one-sided; but it was not particularly pretty or controlled from the hosts.

Theobald would hope that two days’ rest make a big difference as the young Warriors enter the knockout stage on Friday.

(Teams)

Trinidad and Tobago (4-3-3): 18.Samuel Hosein (GK); 2.Lucas Shaw (9.Jeremai Nanton 58), 14.Kenai Richardson (captain), 5.Essien Thomas, 15.Antoni James; 20.Samuel Balfour (16.Jaden Marcelle 58), 6.Deron Blackman (8.Ackim Duncan 62), 17.Aaden Jones; 7.Darnell Walcott, 13.Jaeden Anthony, 10.Reagan Rowe.

Unused substitutes: 1.Christian Telfer (GK), 12.Jahmiah Gibbes, 19.Sebastian James.

Injured: 3.JaiMarley John, 4.Kyen Anderson, 11.Adasa Richardson.

Coach: Densill Theobald

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), 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, Reagan Rowe 49, Aaden Jones 59, Jaeden Anthony 70), Saint Kitts and Nevis 0 at Dwight Yorke Stadium;

(Monday 19 August)

Saint Kitts and Nevis 2, Aruba 2 at Dwight Yorke Stadium;

Trinidad and Tobago 0, Jamaica 2 (Davion Clarke 28, Carlondo Morris 37) at Dwight Yorke Stadium;

(Tuesday 20 August)

Jamaica 5, Aruba 0 at Dwight Yorke Stadium;

Trinidad and Tobago 2 (Reagan Rowe 35, Deron Blackman 57), Saint Kitts and Nevis 0 at Dwight Yorke Stadium.

Upcoming fixtures

(Friday 23 August)

Jamaica v Puerto Rico, Semis, Dwight Yorke Stadium;

French Guiana v Trinidad and Tobago, Semis, Dwight Yorke Stadium;

(Sunday 25 August)

Third-place playoff and Finals, Dwight Yorke Stadium.

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