Jamaica U20s edge T&T U17s in mock exam; T&T U20s maul Dominica

A second half goal by substitute Gillisha Gilbert guided the Jamaica Women’s National Under-20 Team to a 1-0 win over the T&T Red Angels (effectively the Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Under-17 team) at the Larry Gomes Stadium today in the closing group stage match of the Jewels of the Caribbean tournament.

It was the first time that the Red Angels had conceded a goal and dropped points for the entire competition. But Jamaica would need to repeat the trick tomorrow if they are to leave Trinidad with the trophy.

At kick-off, the Red Angels were two points clear at the top of the standings. By the final whistle, the “Reggae Girlz” led by one point.

Tomorrow, it is a case of winner-takes-all at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva when the two teams square off from 5 pm in the championship match.

The T&T White Angels (the Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Under-20 team) also made it to the final day of action, as they will face Saint Vincent and the Grenadines from 3 pm tomorrow in the third-place playoff in Couva.

The White Angels, who had just one point and no goals scored before kickoff today, cruised to a 7-1 hammering of Dominica to end the round-robin phase on a high.

Eden Lander put Dominica in front after six minutes, but the White Angels responded with items from captain Anastasia O’Brien (10th), Shadea Andrews (11th), Mariah Williams (29th), Gyasi Lewis (31st), Daneelyah Salandy (45th) and Alliyah Baptiste (61st and 67th) for an emphatic win.

The final points tally was: Jamaica 10 points, followed by the Red Angels (nine), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (five), White Angels (four) and Dominica (zero).

Jamaica triumphed in the marquee matchup of the day, though.

Gilbert, who replaced midfielder Britney Gregory, was only on the field for two minutes when she made the most telling impact of the match.

Left-back Andrene Smith ran onto a pass from Destiny Powell and manoeuvred her way past opposing wing-back Jessica Nesbitt.

Inside the penalty box, Smith’s pass was deflected by Red Angels defender Hackeemar Goodridge onto the path of Gilbert, who stroked her right-footed shot beyond goalkeeper Zaira Aimey and into the back of the net.

This was a game of few chances, as both coaches (Jamaica’s Leacroft Lettman and Red Angels’ Ayana Russell) chose a cautious approach. To the onlookers, it seemed as if they did not want to give away too many secrets ahead of the final.

Jamaica striker Tiny Seaton came close to breaking the deadlock in the 26th minute with a point-blank range header off a cross from Smith, only to see her header saved by Aimey.

There were a few opportunities early in the second half for the Red Angels to get on the scoresheet.

A minute after the resumption of play (each half comprised 35 minutes), skipper and attacker Orielle Martin met a long ball from substitute Madison Campbell but failed to hit the target with her left-footed shot

Five minutes later, Nikita Gosine got a return pass from Martin but sent her right-footed drive wide.

Those errors came back to haunt the Red Angels when Gilbert put Jamaica ahead in the 51st minute.

Rather than chase an equaliser, Russell replaced Martin, the Gosine sisters (Nikita and Natalia), Ty’Kaiya Dennis and Taya Wiliams in the 57th minute. They were probably changes made with Friday’s final in mind.

Jamaica held firm until the final whistle. But they would need to do it all over again at the Ato Boldon Stadium tomorrow.

Teams

T&T Red Angels (4-5-1): 1.Zaira Aimey (GK); 2.Jessica Nesbitt, 15.Kanika Rodriguez (16.Madison Campbell 36), 4.Hackeemar Goodridge, 13.Taya Williams (14.Cherine Steele 57); 9.Nikita Gosine (20.Nilla Rae Smith 57), 8.Ty’Kaiya Dennis (3.Zyesha Potts 57), 17.Mikaela Yearwood, 7.Rasheda Archer, 12.Natalia Gosine (11.Rori Gittens 57); 10.Orielle Martin (captain) (5.Alyssa Singh 57).

Unused substitute: 18.Alexia Dolland (GK).

Coach: Ayana Russell

Jamaica (4-5-1): 1.Sajane Anderson (GK); 3.Tavia Gayle (17.Ariel Lindo 36), 4.Jaileah Cox-McPherson (captain), 5.Shanae Ashley, 6.Andrene Smith; 16.Britney Gregory (8.Gillisha Gilbert 49), 7.Alyssa Stephenson, 19.Cassandra Smith, 10.Destiny Powell, 11.Olivia Ashbourne (14.Moya Thomas 49); 12.Tiny Seaton.

Unused substitutes: 13.Solange Brown (GK), 9.Kryshana Reid, 15.Dale-Ann Daley, 18.Daneil Beckford.

Coach: Leacroft Lettman

Referee: Cecile Hinds

Jewels of the Caribbean results

(Sunday 15 December)

Jamaica 1 (Alyssa Stephenson 6), St Vincent and the Grenadines 1 (Nasheeka Prescod 35+1) at Larry Gomes Stadium;

T&T Red Angels 5 (Orielle Martin 14, 34, 37 pen, 41, T’kayai Dennis 65), Dominica 0 at Larry Gomes Stadium;

(Monday 16 December)

Dominica 0, Jamaica 7 (Andrene Smith 2, Tiny Seaton 11, Destiny Powell 17, Olivia Ashbourne 21, Alyssa Stephenson 56, Cassandra Smith 57, Jaileah Cox-McPherson 67 pen) at Ato Boldon Stadium;

T&T White Angels 0, St Vincent and the Grenadines 0 at Ato Boldon Stadium;

(Tuesday 17 December)

Dominica 2 (Le-Myar Forde 9, 40), St Vincent and the Grenadines 3 (Meiya Wilson 23, Nasheeka Prescod 43, Vinesha Johnson 52) at Larry Gomes Stadium;

T&T Red Angels 1 (Jayda Herbert 52), T&T White Angels 0 at Larry Gomes Stadium;

(Wednesday 18 December)

T&T Red Angels 4 (Nikita Gosine [2], Orielle Martin, OG), St Vincent and the Grenadines 0 at Ato Boldon Stadium;

T&T White Angels 0, Jamaica 4 (Tiny Seaton, Cassandra Smith, Destiny Powell, Jaileah Cox-McPherson) at Ato Boldon Stadium;

(Thursday 19 December)

Dominica 1 (Eden Lander 6), T&T White Angels 7 (Anastasia O’Brien 10, Shadea Andrews 11, Mariah Williams 29, Gyasi Lewis 31, Daneelyah Salandy 45, Alliyah Baptiste 61, 67) at Larry Gomes Stadium;

T&T Red Angels 0, Jamaica 1 (Gillisha Gilbert 51) at Larry Gomes Stadium.

Upcoming fixtures

(Friday 20 December)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines vs T&T White Angels, Third place playoff, 3pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;

Jamaica vs T&T Red Angels, Championship match, 5pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.

Goals

5—Orielle Martin (T&T Red Angels),

2—Le-Myar Forde (Dominica), Tiny Seaton, Destiny Powell, Alyssa Stephenson, Cassandra Smith, Jaileah Cox-McPherson [1 pen] (Jamaica), Nasheeka Prescod (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), Nikita Gosine (T&T Red Angels), Alliyah Baptiste (T&T White Angels),

1—Eden Lander (Dominica), Andrene Smith, Olivia Ashbourne, Gillisha Gilbert (Jamaica), Meiya Wilson, Vinesha Johnson (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), T’kayai Dennis, Jayda Herbert (T&T Red Angels), Anastasia O’Brien, Shadea Andrews, Mariah Williams, Gyasi Lewis, Daneelyah Salandy (T&T White Angels).

Standings (Played-Won-Drew-Lost-Goals For-Goals Against-Points)

Jamaica       4-3-1-0-13–1–10

T&T Red    4-3-0-1-10-1–9

St Vincent   4-1-2-1-4-7-5

T&T White 4-1-1-2-7-6-4

Dominica    4-0-0-4-3-22–0