'We have to improve'

Jamaica's Under-17 women's football coach, Vin Blaine, says the team has a lot of work to do heading into the CONCACAF round of qualifiers in May 2012 after going down 1-0 to Trinidad and Tobago in their final game of the Caribbean Football Union Finals, at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex late Saturday evening.

The loss meant Jamaica finished second to Trinidad and Tobago in the four-nation qualifiers.

However, with three of the four teams qualifying to the CONCACAF round, the Jamaicans, who ended with six points, booked their spot nonetheless along with Trinidad and Tobago, the eventual group winners with a perfect nine points from three matches, and The Bahamas (three points), who clipped Guyana (no point) 1-0 in the opening game of what was a double-header at the venue.

"If we are to compete effectively and challenge for a spot ahead of next year's FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup, we will have to improve on all areas of our game," said Blaine.

"Tactically, we are behind; technically, we need to recruit more players, and physically, we need to get stronger.

"It's a lot of work, as evidenced by our showing today against Trinidad, but if we put our heads down and prepare properly, anything is possible and that is what we will be aiming to do," he added.

T&T in good form

Trinidad and Tobago, who in winning the CFU Finals are likely to get a favourable grouping during the CONCACAF play-offs next year, were led to victory on a 65th-minute strike from the leading goalscorer in the play-offs, Diarra Simmons.

Using her height and strength to good effect Simmons, who was netting her fifth goal, was able to outjump the equally aggressive and otherwise impressive Shaquilla Pitterson and bury a header past the outstretched arms of Chris-Ann Chambers in goal for Jamaica.

The victory, in the meanwhile, was hailed by Trinidadian coach Stephan De Four.

"I think the result is a fair reflection of the game as I thought we dominated most of the possession," he said.

"It's a good victory for us as our aim coming into the play-offs was to finish on top.

"With our mission now complete, it's about going back and improving on our weak areas and building on our strengths, as we would love to once again participate in the Under-17 Women's World Cup," De Four noted.

The Under-17 World Cup will be held in Azerbaijan next year.