by EZRA STUART

Barbados' footballers were at their flamboyant best as they had a thrilling 3-0 win over St Vincent and the Grenadines in the Digicel Caribbean Cup Group G match at the National Stadium on Tuesday night.

First half goals by Dwight James (16th minute) and captain Norman Forde (34th), and a 60th-minute penalty by Paul Ifill swept Barbados to an emphatic triumph over the fancied Vincentians.

The victory, their fourth in consecutive Digicel Cup matches this year, extended their unbeaten streak to eight international games.

Barbados are sole Group leaders on a maximum six points, and just need a draw in tonight's final game against Bermuda to qualify for next year's finals in Trinidad and Tobago.

From the outset, the passion, pride and purpose in Barbados' play was evident as they took the attack to the Vincentians, whose movements were muffled as they committed a number of fouls.

Barbados' opening goal came from a set play when Parris, back in the starting line-up, made a long throw in from the left side and Vincentian-born defender Dwight James neatly back-headed the ball which sliced off the leg of one of the Vincentians and went in at the near post.

Goal No.2 came from a right-sided corner by John Hawkesworth which was partially headed away but dropped at the feet of the lurking Forde at the edge of the penalty area.

He fired a low, laser-like shot which flew through a space left at the near post, much to the delight of the cheering Bajan fans.

The Vincentians' woes were compounded when Benford Joseph got his second yellow card and was expelled by referee Felix Mercedes.

Barbados also had to substitute Forde, who was nursing a groin injury, with Michael Forde.

Ifill cleverly advanced towards goal and fell to the ground under a challenge by Charles. The referee pointed to the spot and Ifill got up and placed the ball along the ground into the far corner to send Barbados 3-0 ahead.

Shortly after, substitute Jason Blackman – who had replaced Ifill – broke free on the right side and fired a shot straight to 'keeper Melvin Andrews.

The shot was parried back to Blackman, who squared it across the six-yard box but Michael Forde missed his side-footed attempt to tap home.

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