Antigua Barracuda News Release -- www.antiguabarracudafc.com
Friday, May 6, 2011
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua -- A decisive header from Jamaican international Christopher Harvey in the 60th minute and a close range strike from Stefan Smith in the 77th minute was enough to secure a 2-0 victory and the three points for Antigua Barracuda FC against River Plate Puerto Rico on Friday, consolidating their position as leaders of the USL PRO International Division and giving the side its fifth consecutive victory.
“I am happy with my performance tonight," Harvey said. "I still believe I can do better so you can look forward to much more from me.”
The game started under cloudless skies and for large periods of the first half, the home team pressed and hurried the visitors preventing their usual smooth silky passes and any time to negotiate and exploit any weaknesses in the 'Cudas defense.
As the game continued though the influence of Peter Villegas, captain and engineer of almost every attack initiated by River Plate PR, became more influential. On the other hand, the power and pace of Peter Byers and Smith, along with the individual skill of Tamarley Thomas and Orlando Mitchum, provided their share of concerns for the visitor's defence.
The first real opportunity for the visitors fell to Villegas who should have done better when he beat the offside trap only for goalkeeper Keita DeCastro to make an important save.
Minutes later, Byers was put through and much to the dismay of the home crowd kicked wide to maintain his scoreless record at home.
The second half saw the visitors adapt a more direct approach that presented some problems for the Barracuda defence but the discipline of the team prevailed.
“We worked really hard out there tonight," Antigua coach Tom Curtis said. "They are a good team but we wore them down tonight and we had two good goals from Chris (Harvey) and Tommy (Smith).”
Smith recorded his fourth goal for the ‘Cudas and his second in as many matches was happy to put the game away and secure his team's position at the top of the table.
“After our long road trip it’s really nice to secure this victory in front of our fans," Smith said. "They deserve it and we hope to make it six straight on Sunday night.”
With another game scheduled for Sunday night and the bench of the visitors extremely short they must be carrying a few concerns going into the next few days. Meanwhile a rampant and buoyant Barracuda FC can look forward to further enhance their stock as front leaders as they carry the fight for club and country.