Jamaica's Dever Orgill (centre) shrugs off Trinidad and Tobago's Keon Daniel (left) during their friendly international football match at the National Stadium yesterday. Looking on is Jamaica's midfielder Rodolph Austin. Jamaica won 1-0. - Ricardo Makyn

THE REGGAE Boyz reaffirmed their status as the region's top team after registering a 1-0 win over archrivals Trinidad and Tobago in their international friendly at the National Stadium yesterday.

The Boyz gave a reasonable performance in the first half but their play dropped in intensity and cohesion in the second half, as coach Theodore Whitmore effected six changes.

"We have a job to do and I think we have done it to some extent," said Whitmore, Jamaica's head coach. "Our focus is on the DCC (Digicel Caribbean Cup), we keep looking on players and we will continue to look on players. It might not be the best of games but as I say it is work in progress," he added.

Dane Richards scored the game's lone goal in the 19th minute from the penalty spot, after Eric Vernan was impeded in the area, leaving the Mexican referee Armando Archunla with no choice but to point to the spot. Richards placed his kick well to the right of the keeper for his second goal for the national team.

"Well against rivals Trinidad, it is a really great feeling (to score). It was a tough game but I am happy that I scored and the team won," said Richards.

The Boyz had in August eased passed the Soca Warriors 3-1 in their own back yard, but on this occasion Trinidad and Tobago's coach Russell Latapy believed they gave a much better showing.

"We had even share of possession but I think we gave away a bad goal in the penalty and we I think we didn't score the chances that we created," Latapy cited. "I didn't get the result but I am mostly happy with the performance tonight," he added.

It was the 97th-ranked Trinidadian side that got the first effort on goal when Devon Jorsling cracked a 40 -yard drive in the opening minute, which Jamaica's custodian Richard McCallum had to dive to his right to push around his post.

Jamaica, who are the top-ranked Caribbean team at 76th, created a reasonable amount of goal scoring opportunities that should see them come away comfortable winners. Two of these fell to one of three debutants in the team, Marvin Morgan, in the space of two minutes but he lacked composure in the box.

Morgan was replaced by another debutant, Dever Orgill, in the 55th minute. He had an immediate impact on the game and actually got the ball in the back of the net in the 73rd minute but was harshly adjudged to have been offside.

The third debutant for the Reggae Boyz was Columbus Crew player, Shaun Francis.

Jamaica Football Federation president Captain Horace Burrell was hoping for more goals.

"I can't say I am very pleased because I wanted to see a wider margin of victory, we didn't get it but we won," Burrell stated. "The performance I thought could have been better but on the other hand we won the game and having won the game I guess we have to be satisfied with that," he added.

The win marked Jamaica's 17th triumph over their rivals in 34 meetings with 10 drawn results.

Jamaica's Dane Richards slips by Trinidad and Tobago's Jovian Jones during yesterday's friendly international at the National Stadium. Richards scored the lone goal, a penalty, to win the football match. - Ricardo Makyn