Lynk Cup: Cavalier too hot for Dunbeholden
Published:Saturday | May 20, 2023 | 1:06 AM
Shaniel Thomas scored a brace as Cavalier turned back Dunbeholden 3-0 in the second leg of their Lynk Cup semifinal at the Stadium East field yesterday to advance to the final 4-0 on aggregate.
Thomas, who has been out of action since mid February due to injury, was happy to be back with a bang and he is promising similar performances for the rest of the season.
“To come back and display this type of performance in a match like this and help my team advance to the final is very pleasing,” the former Jamaica College forward said.
“Coming back hasn’t really been difficult. I just wasn’t certain about my match fitness but I pulled through and I’m happy with that,” he commented.
“This is a very serious point of the season and I hope we can continue to display the same character we showed tonight and I hope to improve on my goalscoring and assists,” Thomas added.
Speid said it has been a long way back for Thomas and he sees his return as perfect timing.
TWO INJURIES
“We had two injuries, so it is good we could draw on a quality player like Shaneil and able to do the business.
“It is a good time for him to come back. He was injured for a while and it was a long way back for him,” Speid said.
In an evenly contested first half both teams had good chances to go in front.
Collin Anderson should have put Cavalier ahead in the 35th minute but he lifted the ball over the bar with goalkeeper Damian Hyatt at his mercy.
However, the black and white clad Cavalier unit broke the deadlock just before halftime when Thomas broke through and slipped the ball past Hyatt for the opener in first half added time.
Both teams continued to trade blows at the start of the second period and they created several openings. Anderson continued to be wasteful but Thomas added a second in the 72nd when he broke through the Dunbeholden defence and calmly slotted home.
Ronaldo Robinson sealed the win a minute before time when he lobbed the advancing Hyatt to make it 3-0 on the night.
Dunbeholden assistant coach Craig Richards said the players did not play to instructions.
“They didn’t listen to the instructions today. We were in the game up to the 45th minute, and to have given up a soft goal just before the end of the first half was very disappointing,” he said.