Eve hits winner for Warriors

EXPERIENCED midfielder Angus Eve continued his scoring form for Trinidad and Tobago when his 41st minute rocket shot was decisive in their 2-1 victory over Atlanta Silverbacks at the Sunrise Hilton training pitch in Ft Lauderdale, Florida on Tuesday. In what was the final tune-up before Saturday’s 2006 World Cup qualifier away to Guatemala, coach Bertille St Clair’s team turned in a solid performance against opponents who never really posed problems. Goalkeepers Shaka Hislop and Clayton Ince each got a half with not very much to do between the uprights.

Overall though, the exercise was just what the team wanted at this stage —  a chance to get together in a match situation. The Silverbacks, for whom midfielder Leslie “Tiger” Fitzpatrick plays, seemed intent on giving the visitors a tough run but they never really matched up and were lucky not to have gone behind in the 22nd minute when Anton Pierre’s drive from the top edge of the penalty box went just wide of the upright. With nothing to show on the scoresheet, Eve then stepped up. A ball played into Stern John by midfielder Dwight Yorke on the edge of the box led to Eve collecting wide on the right and he had sufficient time to rifle home a right-footer through the stranded Silverbacks goalie in the 34th minute.

Stoke City’s Kenwyne Jones started  up front with John but he had to be replaced in the 24th minute after receiving a knock to the knee. His replacement, Nigel Pierre,  didn’t take long to make the 100-odd TT fans present aware of his presence. Carlos Edwards swung one over from the right and Pierre, all alone, went  up and perfectly headed into the right corner for a 2-0 advantage going into the break. Moments before the break though, Fitzpatrick won the ball atop the box and found Yorke whose well-struck low shot was saved by the ‘keeper. The second half saw St Clair change his team around with Silvio Spann replacing Edwards. Keyeno Thomas for Eve, while Rojas, an earlier substitute, came back on for Eve. 

The other defenders — Anton Pierre, Brent Sancho, Nigel Henry played the full 90 minutes as did John and Yorke. Wrexham’s Dennis Lawrence and Hector Sam were received at the Sunrise Hilton shortly after the outing. Miami-based forward Jason Nelson, from Tobago, also got a few minutes in place of Pierre (N) near the end. Nakhid got 17 minutes of the pitch in place of Atiba Charles and showed glimpses of his ability in the middle, making runs at the defence and threaded the ball around but to little avail at that stage.

“I think overall the match was a good one for us because the guys looked more assertive and comfortable as a team,” St Clair said. “It allowed us to see how the players would perform in the positions that we will like to be in and all in all, it was not a bad showing. We were clean in defence and things didn’t look badly in the middle of the park but we know that it will be a different ball game in Guatemala and at this stage we will be prepared for what is to come at us,” St Clair added. The team spent much of yesterday relaxing and will return to the training  ground today before departing for Guatemala ahead of Saturday’s encounter.