Audley Boyd, Assistant Editor - Sport

HAVING given debut starts to two new players and introduced a couple others in the second half of yesterday's friendly international against Trinidad and Tobago, Theodore Whitmore, the head coach of Jamaica's Reggae Boyz, says he will continue to test new players as he sifts to find the right mix for the regional football championship finals, which will be played next month.

"It is a work in progress, our main aim is the Digicel Caribbean Cup. We have been looking on players and we will continue to do so," Whitmore told the media following the 1-0 win at the National Stadium, as Jamaica continued its dominance over the Soca Warriors.

Dane Richards scored the winner, coolly slotting a penalty past goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams - who dived the right way - in the 19th minute.

One of two newcomers to the team, 24-year-old Columbus Crew midfielder, Shaun Francis, was involved in the lead-up play to the penalty, when he supplied the ball inside, from which Eric Vernan was eventually toppled to earn the goal-making opportunity.

A largely- left-sided player, Francis was more impressive than the other starting debutant, the much-talked-about teen, Marvin Morgan Jr. Both showed a lot of confidence, but their production, especially that of Morgan, never quite matched their self-belief, on the night.

One senior team debutant who probably ensured himself another look-in is the former Titchfield High scoring ace, Dever Orgill, who is at Portland Digicel Premier League outfit, St Georges Sports Club, after doing a stint in the US second-tier competition with Canadian team Vancouver Whitecaps.

Good positioning

Having replaced Morgan at the 55th minute, he showed good movement and positioning to find clear openings and may have had a hat-trick on another day, with a bit of luck. He had what appeared a legitimate goal waved off for offside, after rounding the keeper to convert, and had two shots cleared off the goalline.

The victory was the 17th for the Jamaicans over their Caribbean archrivals, in 34 internationals. Trinidad and Tobago have won seven, while the other 10 ended in draws.

The Jamaicans had to work hard for their latest victory, even though they made by far the bulk of, and better scoring chances.

In truth, the Boyz, without really stamping their authority, were superior in the first half but thoroughly outplayed in the second, as they gave an error-riddled display.

During the second stanza, Whitmore made a number of substitutions as he tried other players. However, they still found it difficult to wrestle free from the stranglehold brought on by Trinidad and Tobago's increased possession, that led to territorial domination.

"Our first half was a better one than the second half. We lost the game a bit when we started to make the changes, but all in all I was satisfied," Whitmore said.

This was actually the second in a two-game series, which saw the Jamaicans putting in a more dominant performance for a 3-1 win in Trinidad and Tobago in August.

With regards to the play last night, however, Whitmore thought otherwise.

Good game

"It was a game we were looking forward to based on the last result and I thought it was a much better game than we played in Trinidad and Tobago," he said.

His opposite number, Russell Latapy, also a midfield genius while representing his country, was relieved with his eastern-Caribbean team's second showing and decried their attempts to score.

"In football you need to outscore your opponents. We missed a few scoring opportunities. By the time we get to the Cup I hope our finishing and our technical play is where we will want it to be."

Despite having the lion's share of possession, they lacked real danger and hardly created clear-cut chances to score. Still, they were so greatly inferior at home that he had enough reason to be buoyant.

"Tonight I was a lot happier than our home game, it was different personnel but it was a better performance," Latapy remarked. "But our real goal is the Digicel Cup and this game was a good tune-up. Based on our performance tonight I really think we are heading in the right direction."