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Sunday June 1, 2008; International Friendly.

Trinidad & Tobago 0 England 3

England: David James (Joe Hart 45), Glen Johnson, Wayne Bridge (Stephen Warnock 84), Gareth Barry, Rio Ferdinand (Phil Jagielka 45), Jonathan Woodgate, David Beckham (David Bentley 45), Stewart Downing (Ashley Young 57), Dean Ashton (Peter Crouch 45), Steven Gerrard, Jermain Defoe (Theo Walcott 69).

Match Report: There was undoubtedly a carnival atmosphere inside the Haseley Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain as the teams took the field for a game helping to mark Trinidad & Tobago's centenary celebrations.

Unfortunately for the hosts it was England who came out of the blocks like the famous sprinter. All the early possession was England's with the home side sitting too deep and inviting pressure while allowing too much time and space on the ball for their opponents all over the pitch.

David Beckham, restored as captain for this game, whipped in a dangerous early centre that was well defended by Kern Cupid. From that moment on, however, the right back would endure a torrid first half before being withdrawn at the interval.

Steven Gerrard won England a free kick just outside the box but Beckham was unable to get his shot over an extremely big defensive wall. His effort did occasion Stern John, the man who blocked it, some genuine discomfort, however.

England were being allowed to knock the ball around with freedom and the midfield quartet of Beckham, Gerrard, Gareth Barry and Stewart Downing were all able to settle into the game in some style. When Gerrard sent a longer ball forward into the channel for Dean Ashton to chase the forward laid it back to the supporting Beckham who fizzed a lovely first time centre across the face of goal which Jermain Defoe should have done more with than glance wide of the far post.

Then came a really disappointing moment. England had been completely untroubled in the early stages but when a long ball was suddenly sent down the middle David James made a rash decision to come beyond his area to deal with a situation that Rio Ferdinand had under control and was obliged to lunge into a 50/50 challenge with Kenwyne Jones.

James' awkward challenge took just about everything and Jones was forced to leave the field on a stretcher. With him went the home sides' chief attacking threat which was the last thing the boisterous crowd wanted to see.

On this occasion the referee was content to allow James' intervention to go unpunished. In a competitive match he might not have been so lucky.

Having survived this scare England resumed control and soon had the lead. A nice move down the left culminated in Downing chipping a precise ball through for the overlapping Wayne Bridge who picked out the run of Barry who volleyed home comprehensively from point blank range.

Five minutes later it was two as Downing pierced the centre of the Trinidad defence with a low ball into Defoe who had so much time and space that he was able to get away with two dodgy touches before bobbling a left foot shot into the far corner of the net.

At this stage there was a very real danger of things turning embarrassing for the hosts who were soon standing off and watching as Defoe sauntered towards the edge of the box for a low drive straight at Clayton Ince.

This was more than the keeper could take and a prolonged volley of abuse towards his teammates seemed to have the desired effect as the home side finally began to apply some pressure to their visitors.

The home side earned a free kick in a decent position but Carlos Edwards' effort deflected behind off the wall. The corner, hit low, produced a moments' panic in the England defence and Ferdinand required treatment after the ball was finally scrambled clear.

Khaleem Hyland then produced the biggest cheer of the night with some slick footwork that baffled Gerrard who found himself in the referee's book for the foul that followed. Edwards whipped a good looking ball into the box but this was well defended by an England head.

The home sides' improvement was then highlighted by their first shot on target. Keon Daniel tricked Glen Johnson on the left and his low centre ended with Darryl Roberts sending a snap shot at David James from the edge of the box.

England responded and both their strikers missed decent opportunities within a couple of minutes of each other. First it was Defoe who cleverly lobbed the ball over a defenders' head from Gerrard's long ball before blazing way over the top and then Ashton was found by Beckham peeling off his man at the far post but his attempt to cushion a volley back across goal was badly spooned.

England were finishing the half in a far more sloppy fashion than they had started it, however, although Downing did cut inside to test Ince with a low right footer from outside the area.

The keeper had no trouble in dealing with that effort and was soon leaving the pitch for half time in company with Dean Ashton, no doubt reminiscing about their good old days at Gresty Road with Crewe.

Half Time: Trinidad & Tobago 0 England 2

England made just the four changes at half time with Joe Hart, Phil Jagielka, David Bentley and Peter Crouch coming on for James, Ferdinand, Beckham and Ashton.

Within three minutes of the restart they had increased their lead. Bentley was allowed time and space to centre to the far post where a defender headed back across goal under pressure from Crouch and Defoe pounced to score from close range.

Within seconds Defoe was offered another sight of goal by generous defending but could only poke wide. Bentley then picked out Gerrard breaking into the box but his volley was nowhere near the target.

Hyland, perhaps the home sides' most impressive performer, had Hart scrambling with a low shot just wide of the post from twenty yards and this was to be the start of an uncomfortable baptism for the young Manchester City keeper.

Defoe saw another hat trick chance go begging mainly due to a poor first touch before Crouch wasted a fine chance with a weak shot after a slick moving involving Gerrard, Bentley and Defoe.

Bentley then came within inches of getting on the scoresheet with a sliced centre that flew beyond Ince and just missed the far post.

The pace had dropped almost to walking pace by the middle of the second half but Hart managed to get himself into a tangle from corners in quick succession and was grateful to his defenders for bailing him out of trouble.

Ashley Young and Theo Walcott were also introduced but there appeared to be no urgency to exploit their pace as the game began to drift.

Walcott went scampering after one long ball forward and Ince was fortunate that he could just about get his head to the bouncing ball as he came outside his box to deal with the situation.

Then the Arsenal flyer was left in the clear when Dennis Lawrence completely missed an interception but Ince was able to parry Walcott's weak shot before reacting well to deny Crouch from the rebound.

Trinidad came forward to create their best chance of the night but Aurtis Whitley could not keep his shot down from an Edwards pull back and the crowd's last chance to really celebrate something had gone.

There was one great moment when Crouch headed for goal and Ince didn't bother using his hands to save but just brought the ball down on his chest instead and then the keeper had to make a more difficult stop to keep out Young's low drive.

By the end, however, you almost got the feeling that the crowd were happy for the game to finish so that the party could really get going.

Full Time: Trinidad & Tobago 0 England 3

England: David James 4 (Joe Hart 2), Glen Johnson 5, Wayne Bridge 7, Gareth Barry 7, Rio Ferdinand 5 (Phil Jagielka 5) Jonathan Woodgate 5, David Beckham 6 (David Bentley 5) Stewart Downing 6 (Ashley Young 4), Dean Ashton 6 (Peter Crouch 3), Steven Gerrard 7, Jermain Defoe 7 (Theo Walcott 4).

Star Player: Gareth Barry

Neat and tidy but far more constructive than Owen Hargreaves in the holding position. Took his goal well.

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