ST MICHAEL, Barbados — Jamaica were left rueing the standard of the playing surface as second-half strikes from Darren Mattocks and Deshorn Brown lifted them to an unimpressive 2-0 win over hosts Barbados in front of approximately 2,000 spectators here at the National Stadium.

After Barbados hit Jamaica’s goal upright midway the second-half of Sunday night’s Friendly match, Mattocks opened the scoring from close range in the 76th minute.

Only six minutes later, Brown made the win safe after heading in from a Romario Campbell corner.

Jamaica, particularly in the first-half, found it hard to settle on an uneven, sand-based surface, and under floodlights which appeared inadequate for an international night game.

“It was not easy and Barbados played good football. We would want a better field because it was a catastrophe. It affected 22 players, not just Jamaica,” the Jamaica head coach Winfried Schaefer told reporters after the game.

“It was not easy and Barbados played good football. We would want a better field because it was a catastrophe. It affected 22 players, not just Jamaica,” the Jamaica head coach Winfried Schaefer told reporters after the game.

“After our goal we played better and that was the key. It’s the first step, only a small step towards the future,” he added, in reference to the campaign for the Russia 2018 World Cup.

The Barbados coach Colin Forde was satisfied with the showing of his inexperienced team against higher-ranked opponents.

“I’m happy that we were organised. Our young team held our own for most of the game. We came out positive in the second-half and we were not embarrassed,” Forde said.

Approximately eight minutes into the encounter, the slippery Brown went around the right side of the Barbados defence and floated a cross for Mattocks, whose downward header was impressively saved by Jason Boxill. Barbados attacked with purpose on a few occasions, but were guilty of being both indecisive and imprecise in the final third. Their best chance in the first-half came when Carl Joseph’s thunderous free kick from 30 yards was tipped over the bar by the agile goalkeeper Andre Blake in the 17th minute.

Those early forays from either team gave promise of some exciting action to follow, but fans in the single-stand venue were left holding an empty bag for the remainder of the half.

Though the field was far from ideal, there could be little excuse for the numerous hurried and misplaced passes which both camps were guilty of.

As is expected in a friendly game, a host of substitutions were made in the second half.

Jamaica came out with a more patient approach and it almost paid off . In the 51st minute, Brown hit tamely at Boxill after having a good look at goal from close range.

Barbados’ Jamal Chandler hit the upright with a rasping left-footed drive that beat the sprawling stretch of Blake in the 64th minute. A mere 12 minutes later, Mattocks scored from a simple tap-in after a crisp passing move. Michael Seaton, one of the substitutes, slipped a pass to overlapping left-back Lawrence, who zipped a grounded cross into the path of the onrushing Mattocks, to finish.

In minute 82, the lead was doubled when Brown headed in Campbell’s corner after the Bajan ‘keeper misjudged the flight of the ball.

Teams: Barbados — Jason Boxill, Rashida Williams, Rahiem Sargeant, Carl Joseph (Jabarry Chandler 86th), Ramario Harewood, Jamal Chandler (Chai Lloyd 82nd), Mario Harte (Diquan Adamson 73rd), Rommel Burgess (Teriq Highland 71st), Ricardio Morris, Ramuel Miller, Akeene Brown

Subs not used: Kerry Holder, Andre Bourne, Ramar Miller

Booked: Harewood (4th), Burgess (37th)

Jamaica — Andre Blake, Upston Edwards, Alvas Powell (Hughan Gray 85th), Nicholas Beckett (John Ross Edwards 69th), Kemar Lawrence, Ricardo Morris (Romario Campbell 46th), Renae Lloyd (Michael Seaton 46th), Nicholi Finlayson (Dicoy Williams 89th), Je-Vaughn Watson, Deshorn Brown, Darren Mattocks.

Sub not used: Gariece McPherson

Booked: Watson (59th)

Referee: Sherwin Johnson

Assistant Referees: Adrian Goddard and Clifton Garnes

Fourth Official: Adrian Skeete

Match Commissary: Anthony Jordan

Jamaica’s captain Je-Vaughn Watson (left) looks on as Kemar Lawrence prepares to challenge his Barbadian opponent for the ball during Sunday’s friendly international at the National Stadium. Jamaica won 2-0.

(PHOTO: SHAKA MAYERS, BARBADOS NATION)