It would be an obvious understatement to conclude that St Kitts-Nevis were no match for the Trinidad and Tobago’s women national football Team.
The Soca Princesses’ 10-0 beating of the visitors in their opening Women’s Caribbean Cup Group B match on Wednesday night suggested a one-sided blowout.
“Obviously the score says it all,” stated bewildered St Kitts-Nevis head-coach Dennis Martin afterwards. He was almost lost for word after his team’s drubbing . “They (T&T) teach we something tonight.”
The match itself was over almost as fast as it began, with T&T, who started lightning quick, cruising with a four-goal lead in just 10 minutes. The goal-fest began with USA-based Seattle Sounders striker Kennya “Ya Ya” Cordner’s overhead flick and lob shot for the opening goal in just the third minute.
Veteran midfielder Tasha St Louis scored three goals, including a penalty; while tidy playmaker Janine “Jan” Francois scored twice, including when putting her body on the line by forcefully heading a loose ball into the net.
Captain Maylee-Attin Johnson guided in Francois’ square pass for another; USA–based college striker Mariah Shade put a low left-footer past four defenders; and versatile midfielder/striker Dernell Mascal topped it all off with a gem, when she found the far corner with a deft chip over very capable, but outgunned, St Kitts-Nevis goalkeeper Tynetta McCoy.
One expected an elated T&T camp, not one where the key performers saw imperfection in their display. And should T&T tonight achieve the improvement they spoke of on Wednesday, there will be trouble for Antigua-Barbuda, their second Group B opponents tonight.
“We had a good start, but after that the intensity dropped,” stated two-goal scorer Cordner, following the St Kitts-Nevis massacre. “Against CONACACAF teams we have to keep the intensity right through, so we have to pick it up for the next game.”
Antigua-Barbuda might take Cordner’s call for greater intensity with some concern, as they had to recover from an opening 2-0 defeat to much softer Martinique. The Antiguans play in-form T&T from 7.15 at Hasely Crawford Stadium, while two hours earlier, St Kitts-Nevis will look to bounce back against Martinique, who might be more to their level.
Trinidad and Tobago assistant coach Marlon Charles felt the good spectator turnout on Wednesday was great assistance to the Soca Princesses. Football people were out in force, among them Cornell Glen, Ron La forest, and Muhammad Isa.
“The supporters are out 12th man,” Charles said. “The girls (Soca Princesses) are doing this to make young girls want to play football and people to want to come out to see football again.
“It’s a good start for us to do as well as we did tonight,” Charles added. “We as coaches are very happy with the first 30 minutes of the game. But there are things we need to improve on.”
TEAMS:
Trinidad and Tobago: 1. Kimika Forbes; 4. Rhea Belgrave, 2. Ayanna Russell, 5. Arin King, 12. Lauryn Hutchinson; 14. Karyn Forbes; 11. Janine Francois, 9. Maylee-Attin Johnson (capt) (18. Annalis Cummings 62nd), 3. Mariah Shade (13. Shenelle Henry 73rd); 10. Tasha St Louis (7. Dernelle Mascall 53rd), 19. Kennya Cordner. Unused substitutes: 21. Tinesha Palmer (GK), 6. Khadidra Debesette, 8. Afiyah Matthias, 15. Patrice Superville, 16. Jo-Marie Lewis,
Coach: Randy Waldrum, Marlon Charles (assistant).
St Kitts and Nevis: 1. Tynetta McKoy; 6. Charnel Arthurton, 16. Astonia Carey, 3. Rozel Liburd, 8. Lavern Francis (20. Shamekah Isaac 56th); 7. Caroline Springer, 4. Shandor Wilkinson (capt) (9. Kerisha Powell 46th), 12. Chelsey Harris, 14. Shinell McCalla, 5. Shirmel Johnson; 11. Pheonetia Browne. Unused substitutes: 18. Keshanna Huggins (GK), 2. Tyra Wilkinson, 10. Leranja Wilkinson, 13. Kerrise Hanley, 15. Tishauna Stanley, 17. Kidedra Henry, 19. Shirris Edwards
Coach: Dennis Martin.