Pro League giants CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh eased past home team St Clair Coaching School 3-0 in the opening match of the Clico Cup double header on Saturday at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Tobago.
The win came through a pair of first half goals courtesy Jabloteh’s 2006 top scorer and World Cup player Anthony Wolfe, while rising star Atulla Guerra netted his team’s third item 10 minutes from time.
The match played under a cool overcast sky began with Coaching School looking for the early consolation in front of their home fans when midfielder Jerron Quashie had a shot just over goal keeper Cleon John’s crossbar in the first minute.
However, the steam didn’t last too long for the Tobago Club as Jabloteh got into stride. One person
sensing the trouble earlier than the first whistle was Coaching School’s head coach Bertile St Clair a former Trinidad and Tobago national team coach. St Clair decided to watch his charges from the stands.
In the 14th minute, Anthony Wolfe pounced, netting Jabloteh’s first item wiping off the disappointment of scoring a header from an offside position earlier. Wolfe had easy pickings when he tapped the ball past goalkeeper Klye Joseph at close range after his teammate Peter Buyers failed to capitalize on a neat pass inside the area from midfielder Jason Marcano for the 1-0 lead.
Coaching School found life difficult and had to deal with Jabloteh’s young prospects such as Elton John, Atulla Guerra, and Anthony Guppy attacking them from both sides of the field, while the creative Jason Marcano led by example.
In the 17th minute Wolfe punished the Tobagonians for a second time with Jason Marcano being the instrumental provider. Wolfe had another successful tap-in when he met Cyd Gray’s flick on off a right sided cross by Marcano to put the ‘San Juan Kings’ 2-0 up.
Jabloteh continued to dominate earning cheers by the Tobago crowd who also begged of more from their team.
Atulla Guerra had a decent long distance attempt but Coaching School goalkeeper Joseph was up to the task gatherd the ball after fumbling the initial shot in the 24th minute.
Jabloteh’s Antiguan signing Peter Buyers was also a crowd favorite, but his determination to score on his debut seemed to have done him wrong. He had a couple of great chances after making successful runs but his finishing failed him on all occasions.
With the visiting team holding on to better ball possession, Coaching School resorted to one or two long distance efforts to the end of the first period making life easy for goal keeper Cleon John and defenders Akiel Harley and Karlon Murray all on debut for the Terry Fenwick’s men.
Jabloteh took to the dressing rooms at halftime with a two goal cushion thanks to Anthony Wolfe.
After a delay due to the stadium lights being turned on late, both teams returned on the field after an extended break.
As the match continued, the younger Jabloteh players who were lead by a few senior players such as Cyd Gray, Ronald Primus and Wendell Joseph continued to dominate the match.
In the 51st minute midfielder Elton John who had a great match attempted a great swerving volley from outside the area only to see it swerve over the Tobagonians crossbar with goalkeeper Joseph getting a finger to it.
Three minutes later Wolfe missed out on his hattrick when he headed over bar a Peter Byers flick-on inside the area to the relief of the Coaching School players.
Elton John was on target however, in the 69th minute but saw his 25 yard low powerful free kick matched another time by goal keeper Joseph who flung himself low to block what was about to be Jabloteh’s third item.
Coaching School responded with a counter attack, but a long effort from the middle was comically chested down by goalkeeper Cleon John.
Ten minutes from time, the tall structure of Atulla Guerra powered past both midfield and defence to slam a low shot wide of goalkeeper Joseph and into the net as Jabloteh earned their third goal.
The San Juan based Club calmly held on to their 3-0 score to the final whistle and a win in their first match of the Clico Cup.
After the match Coach Terry Fenwick of Jabloteh spoke on striker Anthony Wolfe's situation, after the player’s contract was not renewed after the 2006 season, “Anthony now understands Jabloteh is where he needs to be.”
Fenwick didn’t renew the striker’s contract after the 2006 season and is now looking at things differently. “This is a kiss and make up between Anthony and Jabloteh. He is here with us because I want to show him off to Millwall. We haven’t decided yet, whether or not Anthony would sign with us for another season. We are now concentrating on this tournament,” ended the former England player.
According to Darryl Mahabir of Pro League Club, Economy North East Stars, he had signed his former player Anthony Wolfe ahead of the 2007 season, but handed him back the contract because the player seemed unsettled on a decision.
A well pleased Coach Terry Fenwick would now look to maintain his one hundred percent record in the tournament on Monday when his team goes up against another Tobago based team, a team he is very familiar with – Tobago United.
Teams
CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh—Cyd Gray(Capt.), Cleon John(GK), Ronald Primus, Akiel Harley, Karlon Murray, Wendell Joseph, Elton John, Jason Marcano, Anthony Wolfe, Peter Byers, Anthony Guppy.
Goal Scorers—Anthony Wolfe 14’,17’, Atulla Guerra 80’.
Substitutes—Devon Jamerson, Durance Williams(GK)
Coach—Terry Fenwick
St Clair Coaching School—Tyronne Walters(Capt.), Klye Joseph(GK), Nicholas Goddard, Jerome Williams, Sheldon Small, Curtis Moses, Dominic Adams, Trevin Ceaser, Diego Nicolson, Keon Price, Vernon Wilson.
Substitutes—Junior Noel, Colis Joseph, Shaquille King(GK), Clifford Kerr, Jerron Quashie, Kaylon Morris.
Coach—Bertille St Clair
Match Referee—Noel Bino