Canada left-back Gabriel Gervais ruined a night in the spotlight for 17-year-old Ipswich prospect Jaime Peters by getting himself sent off after only 22 minutes against Northern Ireland at a soaked and wind-swept Windsor Park.

Frank Yallop's declared intention to have a good look at all his outfield players was set aside when Gervais got his second yellow card within just two minutes for a rather innocuous obstruction.

Yallop elected not to pitch young Jaime's slight frame and silky skills into a rugged rearguard battle in appalling conditions until the 86th minute, as Canada hung on to an improbable 1-0 victory on the strength of their only effort on target.

When Jaime finally did enter the fray along with Tranmere striker Iain Hume, Canada actually took the game to the men in green on an occasional counter-attack.

In the eight or so minutes, including stoppage time, that Peters was on the field he did reveal a glimpse of the quality that secured him a contract with Town. With luck, and more discipline from his teammates, we may well see much more of it in Canada's friendly against Portugal next month.

Peters blocked one goal-bound shot and made two timely and uncompromising clearances, and sent goal-scorer Occean away behind the defence with one great through-ball.

Other than that, he hurried and chased and closed men down, and showed a willingness to hold the ball and go at a player, something not seen from anyone in a red shirt for the first 85 minutes. He looked quick, up-for-it... and very small.

In the 32nd minute, Canary Jim Brennan provided a sweetly flighted left-footed free-kick which was powered home by the head of Olivier Occean.

From then on Canada drew everyone but Occean behind the ball as they hung on, and on, and on. They rarely had possession, but defended resolutely, aided by the woodwork on three occasions, and were thankful throughout for the sure hands of Montreal Impact keeper Greg Sutton. Surprisingly, Lars Hirschfeld was confined to the bench.

Opposite number Roy Carroll also started on the bench, probably wishing he had stayed there when his first touch earned him a sly scrape on the cheek from Occean's left boot.

Carroll was only saved from another of his patented blunders by the Maltese referee's final whistle, moments after he was dispossessed by De Rosario some 70 yards from goal.

Highlights for this viewer, other than the eventual appearance of Peters, were the substitution of Brennan with Hume, the familiar ineptitude of Mulryne and, amusingly, the continuous criticism of Frank Yallop's negative tactics by his old mate Craig Forrest.

Craig, working for North American TV channel Sportsnet, was called upon to provide 'colour commentary' when the Belfast sound-link went down.

The two Millwall lads, Josh Simpson and Adrian Serioux, ran tirelessly for Canada and gave as good as they got in a singularly unfriendly 'friendly'. Leicester's Keith Gillespie set the tone with two nasty challenges in the first 30 seconds, and then drew Gervais into his first yellow card.

The Northern Irish finishing was appalling, with David Healy the main culprit. Another 1200 minutes is beginning for them, I fear.

Inexplicably, after falling at home to ten men of the world's 90th ranked team, the Ulstermen were applauded off.

Many thanks to TWTD Message Board regular Readtheleaguetable for the report.

Photo: Action Images

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