So much for a friendly encounter. Barbados showed no mercy as they crushed St Maarten 6-0 in the first Concacaf Under-15 warm-up match yesterday at the Wildey Turf.
The visitors fell behind after just three minutes on referee Jamar Springer’s watch as Nadre Butcher gave the hosts the early lead.
Butcher got on the end of a neat through ball that carved open the defence, dribbled past an advancing Biaeny Pinthierre and placed the ball into an empty net.
It was the perfect start for Barbados, who will face heavyweights Portugal in their first Concacaf Under-15 match at the IMG Academy, Miami, Florida, next month.
Barbados definitely used the home support to their advantage, playing with purpose and precision with every kick of the ball in the 70-minute contest.
Centre back and captain Tyrique Bailey-Edwards marshalled the Barbados defence and often went forward in support of the attack.
Barbados should have doubled their advantage minutes later, when Bailey-Edwards, on the first day of the school summer vacation, brought his geometry set to the field and measured a perfect pass into the path of Shewayne Burke. He evaded his marker before delivering a cross that was met by a diving header from Butcher, who was denied from point-blank range by Pinthierre.
St Maarten’s front line of Quincy Busby, Brerton Peters and Reshawn Eustace were kept at bay, hardly ever threatening Barbados custodian Adam Malilaueu.
Busby was the only St Maarten player to manage shot on target in the first half. That opportunity went a-begging and the miss came back to haunt the visitors.
Barbados snatched a second goal in the 27th minute thanks to a clever dummy by Butcher that allowed Shay Prescod’s initial long-range pass to deceive Pinthierre and roll into the back of the net.
Janash Jaunai then headed home four mintues later from inside the box before Ryan Lashley and Aaron Cumberbatch gave Barbados a handsome 5-0 lead at the half-time break.
In the second half, St Maarten started the more solid unit but were unable to convert the few goal-scoring opportunities they created. Substitute Khamani Cox put the icing out top of Barbados’ cake ten minutes from time, slotting home with his right boot to complete the victory.
“The result is a very pleasing one. I think it is a reward for the hard work the boys have put in. We never knew what to expect, so we focused on ourselves. Our objective offensively was to be quick on the ball and make responsible decisions,” said Barbados head coach Marlon Harte. (AGB)
