By Ma Pau Staff

By Ma Pau Staff
April 27, 2010

MICHAEL McComie head-coach of Ma Pau FC said that his team's performance against reigning champion team Joe Public last Friday was very interesting.

Ma Pau through utility player Anthony Wolfe earned the team a share of the points after Kerry Baptiste, the League 2009 'Player of The Year' gave Joe Public, a 13th minute 1-0 lead in the feature match of  Digicel Pro League  at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

  McComie said that his team matched Joe Public stride for stride and surprised the opposition with its physical level play for the full 90-minutes.

"I think Joe Public was surprised that a young team like Ma Pau could match them for most of the encounter. We competed with them and that was positive and we'll build on those positive areas," he explained.

Asked about who he felt stood out for Ma Pau he replied: "It was a team effort but credit must be given to defenders Keyeno Thomas, Seon Power and Cyd Gray."

Although Baptiste scored from a right-foot shot in the 13th minute, when he controlled inside the area and unleashed a low shot that beat goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa’s out-streatched right hands, Mc Comie felt that his team's 4:4:3 system presented many challenges for Joe Public. He pointed out that Joe Public Public wingers were always under challenge and check.

"Ma Pau will focus on a strong pattern of play and ball possession rather than systems. We must be able to adopt to any style of play from our opponents in this league and react positively," said McComie.

He commended Anthony Wolfe, a member of the Trinidad and Tobago's 2006 World Cup team, who stayed focus when he was challenged by Joe Public's goalkeeper Marvin Phillip to scored the equalizing goal.

Wolfe bundled the ball over Phillip after a spectacular long through ball by Elton John into the Joe Public defence.

  He said: "We had good scoring chances in the second half of play but we failed to convert those chances because of anxiety and nerves. The Pro League stage is becoming a big stage and our players need to focus for 90 minutes and make those chances count in the future."

  The match was the feature of grudge tackles with seven yellow cards dished out by Surinamese referee Enrico Wijengaarde as both sides unsettled each other.

Friday's Results:

  Ma Pau SC  1 (Anthony Wolfe — 44') v  Joe Public -  1 (Kerry Baptiste 13’)

W Connection 1 (Matthew Bartholomew 63') v San Jaun Jabloteh 0

Saturday’s Results 
Defence Force 3 (Devon Jorsling 17th, 66th, Kevon Carter 49th) vs Police 0.

NE Stars 2 (Errol Mc Farlane Jr 33rd, 73rd, Sean Fraser 89th) vs South End 0.

Caledonia 4 (Shawn Beveney 36th, Daniel Cyrus 42nd, Sherron Joseph 60th, Hayden Vincent 72nd) vs Rangers 2 (Odelle Armstrong 29th, Josimar Belgrave 82nd).


Round two Fixtures
Friday April 30
Venue: Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo
Ma Pau vs Rangers, 6pm.
Jabloteh vs Joe Public, 8pm.

Saturday May 1
Defence Force vs W Connection, Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, 4pm.

Venue:Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.
South End vs Tobago United, 5pm
NE Stars vs Police, 7 pm.