First win in four years, Tobago Utd beat Petrotrin.
By: Opuku Ware (ttproleague).
Shock waves ran through the sister isle as Tobago United scored an historic first league win for 2007 in the TT Pro League on Saturday evening at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Tobago.
The Peter Granville and Kenny Thomas coached Tobago United outfit scored a well-deserved 2-0 win over the South based United Petrotrin, which also represented their first league win in four years of professional league football.
In the competition five years now, Tobago United's last league win came in their first season in 2003 when they had a total of four league victories in 36 matches.
Saturday's game was a re-match, following a 1-1 draw that was protested by Petrotrin. The Pro League ordered a replay because it was deemed the referee made an error regarding the laws of the game.
This was the first game for both teams after a month-long break in League action because of the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament. During the break, the Tobago based team stepped up their training and employed the services of a trainer from the Defence Force to improve their physical fitness, while coach Granville instituted a firm regimen of discipline for the players.
These factors were quite evident in the team's play, as they displayed more energy and concentrated for longer periods.
As early as the ninth minute, the combination of Collie Hercules and Kayode Legall got moving as Hercules fed Legall a through pass inside the Petrotrin penalty area and Legall slammed a fierce right foot shot past Tristan Charles in the Petrotrin goal.
The South based Pro Team refused to lie down and mounted a number of attacks on the Tobago United goal, but they were thwarted by solid defence from Jamal Jack, Kevin Adams, George Dublin and the flying goalkeeper Andre Durant.
Tobago-born national player Keon Daniel and Devon Drayton were orchestrating numerous plays for Petrotrin. But their forwards failed to convert the chances created.
Tobago United went in with a 1-0 advantage at the end of the first half. Both teams sought the ascendancy during the second period, but Petrotrin suffered dearly when playmaker Devon Drayton was red carded mid-way into the second half.
Tobago United took advantage of the 10-man Petrotrin team by spreading their play across the field. They also added fresh legs by replacing Handel Manswell with Uriah Palmer and Tichord Joseph for Pierre Joseph.
The Tobago team mounted a series of attacks and their persistence paid off when Garvin McKenna blasted home a right foot shot after good work by Legall and Hercules.
When referee Lester Alleyne finally blew his whistle to signal the end of the game, the Tobago United players were given a standing ovation by their many supporters, having registered their first victory of the season.
Meanwhile, United Petrotrin Head Coach Brian Williams was circumspect after his team suffered a stunning 0-2 defeat to the Pro League table-proppers Tobago United last Saturday at the Dwight Yorke Stadium.
The former National defender told ttproleague.com that he was aware that the Tobago team was playing an improved brand of football and it was only a matter of time before they got good results.
“I did not want us to be the team which would lose to them, but this is a ball game and those things happen,” Williams said, “It was a hard fought game and Tobago United must be given credit for their win.” The dreadlocks coach indicated that his Team did not convert their chances but he said “We will have to lift our heads up and face the future games with confidence.”
Williams noted that a win would have moved the South Team to second place in the standings and he was disappointed at throwing away that opportunity.
Tobago United assistant coach Kenny Thomas took the win in stride. He said, “We really worked hard during the one month break and we got the result to show.”
He showered praise on Army physical instructor Marvin Brassey for the work he did with the team. “We are improving and we will seek to improve further,” Coach Kenny added.
Head Coach Peter Granville made it clear however, the journey has only just begun, “Now is not the time for us to forget our mission which is to build a team which could make Tobago proud and make a positive contribution to National football.”
Both Granville and Thomas felt that the Team’s first win in the competition will serve as an inspiration to the players to work even harder.”
