June 2, 2002
Going into their opening fixture in Concacaf’s Nations League competition, Anguilla were ranked 210 in FIFA’s world rankings, which made them the second worst country in the world, with only San Marino below them. There has been some talk of repeating the match 20 years earlier between the world’s two lowest ranked teams, when Bhutan beat Montserrat 4-0, but so far nothing has materialised.
Despite their lowly ranking Anguilla had actually won their last two matches, but unfortunately neither counted for FIFA ranking points as the behind closed doors friendly 2-1 win over British Virgin Islands at Bisham Abbey in England was considered to be a training match rather than an official fixture, and the 2-1 win over St Martin was against a side that isn’t an official FIFA constituent.
Dominica had a FIFA ranking of 184 but didn’t appear to have played any official fixtures since the World Cup Qualifiers in June 2021, when they drew 1-1 in Barbados and beat Anguilla 3-0 at home in Santo Domingo thanks to first half goals from Thomas, Bertrand and Wade. They had previously lost at home to Panama ( 1-2 ) and Dominican Republic away ( 0-3 ) in their group
Group C of Concacaf League C consists of just three sides, who play each other twice, with the winners of the group being promoted to League B. The third side of the group are St Lucia, whose coach, Stern John had been coach of Anguilla between 2020-2022, and so will be shortly be meeting up again with this former associates. The Trinidad and Tobago international ( 115 caps and 70 goals ) had formerly played for Nottingham Forest, Coventry, Birmingham, Southampton, Crystal Palace and a few others. Former Anguilla international Nigel Connor had been appointed coach of Anguilla after his departure.
Today’s match was being played at the Raymond E. Guishard Technical Centre, named after the President of the Anguilla Football Association, which was built thanks to $1.7M of funding from FIFA, and Sepp Blatter turned up for the official ribbon ceremony in 2010. There were persistent rumours over the accountability of some of the amounts funded, and obviously, the donations to poorer countries ensured their loyalty to support Blatter.
The ground has a simple all-seater stand on one side, with an official capacity of 1,100. Behind one goal are some buildings intended to be accommodation for visiting sides to avoid them having to shell out to stay at the up-market hotels on the island, whilst the cricket ground is behind the other end.
I had previously attended a match at the stadium whilst on holiday to Anguilla in 2013, being able to attend an Under 16 fixture between Anguilla and St Martin, which the visitors won 1-0. Prior to the building of the Raymond E. Guishard Technical Centre, international matches had been played next door at Ronald Webster Park, which is the main cricket ground on the island, at which I had seen a local league match in which West Indian Internationals Omari Banks & Jamal Hamilton, future Derbyshire county player Chesney Hughes, and a few Leeward Islands players such as Montcin Hodge, Kelbert Walters and Rondal Lake were playing. The beers at the ground were being sold by the mother of former Hampshire player Cardigan Connor for 1 ECD !
The Raymond E. Guishard Technical Centre is where all the AFA Senior League matches are played, but interestingly the camera for today’s match was situated on the far side of the ground, with the main stand clearly in view. At kick-off there were probably only 150 or so spectators inside the stadium, plus another 30 watching from the cricket stadium but by the end of the match there were probably over 500 spectators watching, either attracted by news of how the home side were faring, or arriving after finishing work.
Anguilla’s squad for today’s match was dominated with selections from current champions Roaring Lions, although there were players from non-league in England, representing Aldershot Under-23s, Windsor, Binfield and Thames Valley Raiders. In addition, midfielder Tyrique Lake is currently playing in the USA for Longwood Lancers.
For Dominica, striker Julian Wade plays for Brechin City in Scotland’s Highland League, and after briefly having represented Montserrat, now has 38 caps and 17 goals for the island of his birth. Goalkeeper Glenson Prince, Dominica’s most capped international with 64 caps, plays his club football in Guadeloupe, whilst striker Sidney Lockhart and midfielder Briel Thomas play in Trinidad. Forward Darryl Longdon plays for FC Tucson in the USL Division One in the USA. The rest of their squad play for sides in Dominica
Bet365.com made Dominica 1/10 favourites, with the draw at 15/2 whilst Anguilla were rank outsiders at 18/1. The weather at the local 4pm kick-off was sunny, with temperatures around 29 degrees. The pitch looked to be in poor condition, but at least it was a grass pitch, and the game was being live streamed on the Concacaf channel on YouTube.
Dominica were wearing yellow shirts with green sleeves, and black shorts, whilst Anguilla were in white shirts with blue shorts.
Dominica started strongly, and the Anguillan defence initially looked uncertain in defending crosses and corners into their penalty area, and the visitors looked bigger and stronger than the Anguillan side. However, Anguilla survived the early pressure, and created a chance for themselves in the 8th minute as Guishard’s cross was met by Tyrique Lake, but his finish was weak and easily saved. A minute later a dangerous through ball into the Dominica area was safely gathered by keeper Prince before Guishard could connect.
Anguilla had a good spell, with Tyrique Lake looking lively and a free-kick from Paris in a promising position was slightly over-hit and went harmlessly off for a goal-kick. The first decent chance of the match fell to Dominica in the 14th minute. Joseph shot from a tight angle, but Anguilla keeper Bailey made a smart save at his near post to concede a corner.
Dominica then reapplied the pressure, but a free-kick from Thomas sailed high and wide and George showed good skill to turn but his shot was weak and easily saved by Bailey.
A water break was taken after 25 minutes due to the heat, although Dominica were looking the better side, they didn’t look like 1/10 favourites. The remainder of the first half was even, but the Dominica keeper had to be alert to make a decent catch from a cross and to gather another through ball ahead of an Anguillan striker.
With a half-time score of 0-0, the odds at Bet365.com had fallen to 4/9 for Dominica, 13/5 for the draw and Anguilla being reduced to 17/2.
Dominica continued to dominate and in the 51st minute Wade did well to control a cross from the left, but his shot on the turn was high and wide, which substituted Bonney repeated a few minutes later. After 60 minutes a dangerous looking ball down the right was superbly defended by Tyrique Lake to snuff out the danger.
A couple of minutes later the first yellow card of the match was shown to Anguilla right back Javille Brooks for hauling down the threatening Wade just outside the penalty area, but the free-kick from Javid George was straight at the keeper.
Anguilla then had a brief spell on the attack. Dominica keeper Prince misjudged a free-kick, and Jeanmal Prosper was forced to head off for a corner. The place-kick found substitute Shemaron Carty, but the shot was weak and easily saved.
Dominica responded with a long diagonal ball over the Anguilla back-line to put George in space, but the midfielder shot wide from 15 yards. With 15 minutes left to play, Dominica forced the ball into the net from a melee after a corner, but the goal was disallowed for a foul on keeper Bailey.
The visitors continued to search for the winning goal but Anguilla centre backs Paris and Smith defended solidly and behind them keeper Bailey’s handling was secure. With just under 10 minutes remaining, substitute Longdon went down in the penalty area after a challenge from Brooks, but the referee rightly waved play on.
In the closing stages, Anguilla keeper Bailey then ensured Anguilla’s first ever point in Concacaf competitions, by first saving from Thomas, then confidently gathering a decent cross from the right wing, and finally, making a good save to deny Wade and gathering at the second attempt.
Overall a draw was probably a fair result as despite having most of the possession, Dominica created very few chances against a stubborn Anguilla side, who will no doubt move up the FIFA rankings a little, and miss out on a high profile encounter against San Marino !
Anguilla : Bailey – Brooks, Paris, Smith, Lee – Hughes, T. Lake ( Smiens ), K. Lake, Duncan – V. Carty ( Bryan ), Guishard ( S. Carty )
Dominica : Prince – Joseph, J. Prosper, Williams, C. Prosper ( Bonney ) – Laville, Walter ( Jolley ), Thomas, George – Lockhart ( Longdon ), Wade
Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dJ8ZPVYlYk
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