Islandsun Newspaper - British Virgin Islands

February 14 2003

BVI continue world Cup tune-ups with ties against St. Martin teams
BY DEAN GREENAWAY

The BVI walked away from its fourth and fifth pre World Cup qualifying tune up matches with ties against two French St. Martin teams over the weekend, ahead of their Feb. 22 World Cup qualifier against St. Lucia at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds.

Coach Michael Tulloch said over the last five games in which they beat the U. S. Virgin Islands lost to Dominica twice before drawing with St. Martin, the team is more understanding of each other. "You are now separating the men from the boys and you can see who can handle what situation and who can't," Tulloch noted. "In putting the composition of the team together for their first game against St. Lucia I know exactly who I want to put on the field for that encounter and who will be on the bench."

Giving an analysis of the two matches Tulloch said Saturday's 2-2 tie was a good game against a quality team, comprised of players from Guadeloupe, Martinique and St. Martin. "I think they put up a good performance. We went ahead 20 minutes into the game when Jairo (Morris) scored, but they came back and led us 2-1 and were pressuring us," Tulloch said. "After speaking to them at halftime, the guys lifted their game and in the second half played a more compatible game by relaxing more with the ball, slowing it down and not being hasty. It proved a problem for St. Martin because they couldn't handle it." Kenmore Simmons scored the equalizing goal in the 65th minute.

On Sunday game, the BVI settled for a 1-1 tie against another team from St. Martin that Tulloch described as lesser in quality but played a more physical game. Saturday's opponent he said had more finesse and classical players in terms of their ball control, but Sunday's match was rough. "The guys kept kicking them, stepping in their belly and doing all sorts of things to them," Tulloch noted. "That sort of threw the team off in a way but they hanged on and got a draw." Morris had the BVI's only goal. Playing away games Tulloch said was a good experience for the team. He said the atmosphere and everything that happened was different. "I think they should have learnt something from it and know what to expect going to play in St. Lucia," Tulloch said.