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Jamaica's Shantell Thompson (left) battling with Trinidad and Tobago's Khadisha Debesette during yesterday's final match in the Under-17 Women's Caribbean Football Union World Cup qualifiers at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex in St Andrew.
- Ian Allen
Jamaica's Under-17 women's coach Vin Blaine says the team has a lot of work to do heading into the CONCACAF round of qualifiers 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 on Saturday.
Jamaica in losing finished second to Trinidad and Tobago. However, with three of the four teams in the group guaranteed a spot the Reggae Girls advanced along with The Bahamas, who clipped Guyana 1-0 in the opening game of 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 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.
Trinidad, who in winning the zone 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 group's leading goalscorer Diarra Simmons.
Using her height and strength to good effect, Simmons, who was netting her fifth goal, was able to out- jump the equally aggressive and otherwise impressive Shaquilla Pitterson to a header, which eluded the outstretched arms of Chris-Ann Chambers in goal for Jamaica.
The victory, in the meanwhile, was hailed by Trinidad's coach, Stephan Defour.
"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 completed, 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," he said.
