Quiet day for TT footballers in UK

NATIONAL footballers playing in the English and Scottish football leagues had a relatively ineffective day yesterday. Only Birmingham City striker Stern John and Portsmouth goalkeeper Shaka Hislop had any sort of impact for their respective teams while, on the losing end, were Crewe Alexandra (Clayton Ince), Brentford (Anthony Rougier), Wrexham (Carlos Edwards, Hector Sam and Dennis Lawrence) and Livingston (Marvin Andrews). John, on the receiving end of two chances created by recent acquisition Damien Duff, missed both in their English Premier League clash against Newcastle at St James’ Park, Newcastle.

But Duff converted a 64th minute penalty to give Birmingham full points while John was replaced by Geoff Horsfield seven minutes later. Hislop was called to make a number of saves but his team were held to a goalless draw by fellow Premiership newcomers Wolverhampton Wanderers. Fellow national goalie Ince could do nothing to prevent Burnley’s Richard Chaplow from notching the winner in the 52nd minute in their First Division fixture while, in the Second Division, Rougier played the full 90 minutes but his Brentford club went under 1-0 to Port Vale. Also in the Second Division, Edwards had the best performance for Wrexham but Bournemouth prevailed 1-0 while Celtic thrashed Livingston 5-1 in the Scottish Premier League (SPL). Ex-Trinidad and Tobago striker Dwight Yorke did not make the final 16 for Blackburn Rovers’ visit to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with both teams battling to a 2-2 draw.