TWO goals in the final 20 minutes sealed an ultimately comfortable 3-0 victory for Jamaica over India in the first international to be staged at Vicarage Road on Thursday, August 29.

Disappointingly, only between 1,500 and 2,000 fans turned up to witness the friendly, but the match did not lack atmosphere, with the colourful supporters of both sides producing a non-stop barrage of noise.

The Reggae Boyz, lacking most of their better known English-based players, over-powered their energetic opponents, who, while largely technically inferior, made up for it with their determination, particularly in defence.

After being pushed back for the opening ten minutes, India thought they had scored with their first attack when Bury player and skipper Bhaichung Bhutia cleverly flicked home Tomba Singh's cross, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

After both keepers had been forced into saves, Jamaica got the goal their pressure deserved on 34 minutes when Fabian Taylor cut the ball back from the by-line, and Jermaine Anderson emphatically beat keeper Sangram Mukherjee with a close-range shot on the turn.

Irvino English headed against a post straight after the restart as Jamaica sought to extend their lead, but they had to wait until the 72nd minute for a second. Substitute Roland Dean was pulled back in the penalty area, and keeper Aaron Lawrence ran the length of the pitch to slam the spot-kick past his opposite number.

A third goal was harsh on India, but it arrived four minutes from time, courtesy of the head of towering defender Ian Goodison, who converted Christopher Jackson's free-kick from inside the six-yard box.

Both sides now travel to Wolverhampton to do battle again at Molineux on Sunday, September 1.

Don't miss next week's edition of The Watford Observer for a full report on the international.

India: Mukherjee; Tombi Singh, Mandal, Gawli; Naik, Kumar Bharti, Venkatesh, R. Singh, T. Singh; Yadab, Bhutia. Substitutes: Nair Ajayan for Renedy Singh after 58 minutes; Kumar for Yadab after 61 minutes; Anchery for Venkatesh after 66 minutes; B. Singh for Kumar Bharti after 77 minutes; Malhotra for Gawli after 78 minutes; Ghosh Dastidar, Ghosh, Duley, Ambrose and Akthar not used.

Jamaica: Lawrence; Goodison, McDonald, Davis; Dawkins, Taylor, Hendricks, J, Williams, English; Anderson, Wilson. Substitutes: D. Williams for J. Williams, Dean for Anderson and Lisbie for Wilson after 45 minutes; Jackson for English after 58 minutes; Richards for Dawkins after 77 minutes; Nelson, Dunn and Ricketts not used.

Referee: Steve Bennett (Orpington).