Terminix La Horquetta Rangers got an unpleasant surprise in Tier I of the T&T Premier Football League on Thursday night when they were thrashed by unlikely opponents- newcomers FC Phoenix 4-0 at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago.
They paid the price for their decision to expose several young players against a hyped-up Tobago outfit, coach Dave Quamina said on Friday.
Rangers went into the encounter needing an expected win to take them back to second in the standing.
However, an overconfident move to change six players from their starting line-up that lost 1-0 to AC Port of Spain on Monday night at the St James Police Barracks in Port-of-Spain, saw them go under after just five minutes in the game.
The prolific Phoenix striker Mickaeel "Jem" Gordon fired them ahead 1-0, an advantage that the Tobago-based team took to the halftime interval.
Later, the home team, supported by a large crowd, extended their advantage in the 55th minute through Adriel George. And Like a horror scene from a movie, Phoenix, the Tier II winners who made a bold step to the top-flight league, believing they could be an ideal representative for the sister-isle, then snatched a three-goal lead, courtesy of Trevonne James effort in the 66th minute.
Still, it was not the end of the Phoenix's torture of the La Horquetta men, as Jariel Arthur hammered the final nail into their coffin to cap off a convincing victory and their first win of the tournament.
Quaimina said his team played poorly, while the Tobagonians came out with more intensity and enthusiasm to capitalise on their home advantage.
"Take nothing away from the Tobago team, they played well in front of their home crowd. We were poor as a unit and you know how the game is, anytime you lapse you will be made to pay," said Quamina.
"Our team is a young one and so we have to develop them, that's the chance we have to take. Of course, we want to win, but we have to ensure that our young players are developed for the future. On Thursday, we gave them the opportunity to prove their worth and to be honest, it was no fault of theirs that we lost. In fact, I think they did well."
For the match, Rangers used 19-year-olds Gerald Nunes (wing-back) and Kyle Sylvester (centre-back) in their defensive lineup, along with teenagers Jelani Peters, a utility player who usually plays in defence but was used in the midfield, striker Tyrik Lee and goalkeeper Shakeem Darius who came in for the first-choice Jabari Brice in their team.
Rangers will next face Central FC.
Tomorrow's match
Police vs Prison Service, Ken Cooke Ground, St James Police Barracks, 6 pm
