Northern Ireland shut out TT 3-0

BLACKBURN ROVERS striker Dwight Yorke made a return to international football after a long spell through self imposed “exile,” but his presence failed to save Trinidad and Tobago being shut out 3-0 by Norethern Ireland at the stadium named in his honour, in Bacolet, here. Two goals by David Healy and another by Stuart Elliott gave Northern Ireland their victory in the friendly international. Coach Bertille St Clair was using yesterday’s game as a final tune up before Trinidad and Tobago take on Dominican Republic later this month, in a first-leg CONCACAF Zone World Cup Germany 2006 qualifier.

Healy’s first goal came after just five minutes from a quickly taken free-kick from 30 metres out, which caught goalkeeper Clayton Ince and the Trinidad and Tobago defence napping. And the same player had a part to play in the second goal which came in the 42nd minute, when his low right footed centre was met by an unmarked  Elliott, who had the simple task of tapping in. Yorke, who requested to train with the Trinidad and Tobago team came on as second  half substitute in the role of a midfielder, amid loud cheers of a crowd estimated at 7,000, but could make no impression on the outcome.

Healy got his second and the Northern Ireland  third goal after 65 minutes when the defence failed to clear a left side corner by Phillip Mulryne, and he blasted the ball past Ince. Trinidad and Tobago’s best effort was in the 38th minute when a right side centre from English-born midfielder Andre Boucaud was headed on by Stern John whose initial header was saved by Irish goalkeeper Maik Taylor, and skipper Angus Eve failed to capitalise on rebound. Earlier a Trinidad and Tobago Under-17 squad humbled their Tobago counterparts  9-2.