Gale double seals dramatic tridents comeback

Bolton Wanderers winger Thierry Gale inspired a dramatic comeback, as Barbados battled back from a goal down to defeat Bermuda 2-1 at the Wildey Technical Centre on Monday.

The victory saw the Tridents finish the four-game Concacaf Nations League window at the top of League B Group B on 10 points, following three wins and a draw.

Saint Lucia, had earlier leapfrogged Barbados after a 1-0 defeat of Guadeloupe, are second on nine points, with Guadeloupe third on four and bottom-of-the-table Bermuda yet to get off the mark.

In a match played in windy, wet conditions, Barbados created an early chance in the ninth minute but Omani Leacock shot wide.

Barbados continued to probe a staunch Bermuda defence without success before half time despite two efforts from Jaheim Neblett, as the visitors showed much more cohesiveness than during their 4-1 defeat on October 2.

With local fans growing restless, Bermuda continued to frustrate the Kent Hall-coached Tridents, who relentlessly pushed for the opening goal without success.

Ironically, it was Bermuda who would strike first as Djair Parfitt capitalised on some uncertainty in the Barbadian defence following a slick series of passes, to boot his side ahead and silence the crowd in the 75th minute.

Stung by the goal and facing the prospect of defeat on home soil by the group’s bottom-placed team, Barbados stepped up a gear and once again it was former schoolmates Niall Reid-Stephen and Thierry Gale who combined for a goal, as a pinpoint cross from Reid-Stephen was met by an exquisite curling right-foot shot from Gale, which levelled the scores in the 79th minute.

It was Gale’s sixth goal in four matches and 13th for Barbados, but he would boost both numbers by one three minutes later, with a near-post finish that was too good for Bermudian goalkeeper Jahquill Hill.

The fans who had braved the wet conditions at Wildey celebrated wildly until the final whistle a few minutes later, as the Tridents displayed even more evidence that the current squad is evolving into a highly competitive unit.

The win confirmed Barbados cannot now be relegated from League B and are also now just one win away from qualifying for the Concacaf Gold Cup, which is the region’s most high profile competition.

Speaking after the game, head coach Kent Hall heaped praise on his team, saying that while Gale would grab the headlines, it was a total team effort under challenging conditions.

“I am so proud of the boys (because) the team has done so well to get to this point despite a nervy match from start to finish. I cannot express how proud I am of them and my staff,” said Hall.

Despite the historic streak of goals that has seen him become one of the biggest stars of the Nations League, Gale says he’s driven to further improve his consistency, in an effort to become  one of the Caribbean’s best ever players.

“I try to be consistent, even off the pitch and making up my bed every morning, I try to be consistent. My dream is to play at the highest level and to be the best ever Caribbean player or at least one of the best.

“I am nowhere near there yet so I’m just getting started.”

(KH)