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MATCH commentator Angus Eve declared that the only reason Dexter Skeene was selected on the team was because he was chief executive officer of the Digicel Pro League.

And since Eve later took the field as part of the Pro League squad which defeated a Media XI 4-0 in Friday's opening match for the Lucozade Goal Shield final at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, his declaration was accepted as good inside information.

A double by former Boavista striker Leonson Lewis had the ex-pros comfortably up 2-0 at the end of the first half before Skeene came on and made an immediate impact at the start of the second session.

Skeene showed some good dribbling skills before getting the third goal and then took up a permanent offside position for the rest of the match, before he later chipped substitute Media XI goalie Anthony Gray for his second goal on the night.

The Pro League was well represented by ex-national players with Skeene, Lewis, Trinidad and Tobago head coach Russell Latapy, Michael McComie, Tony Rougier, Anthony "Prowler" Streete, Clayton Morris and Philbert Jones among the 18-man squad.

They also fielded turncoat media part-timers Eve and McComie, as well as foreign imports such as Brazilian Jose Luis Seabra, Earl Jean and United Petrotrin's Brazilian coach Marcos Tonocos, who showed a good touch by skillfully "capping" Newsday reporter Walter Alibey.

However, almost all Latapy's well-documented finishing skills deserted him and he missed half-dozen chances at goal, which was well kept by CCN TV6 reporter and goalkeeper James Saunders.

Finally, after about 60 minutes, Latas was either taken off or sent off the field.

The Media team comprised practioners such as radio/television presenter Jason "Thin Foot" Williams, CNMG's Jovan Rovello, ex-Gayelle cameraman Negel Alexander and Pro League website writers Gordon Pierre and Rando Bando.

But the action was not all one-way and the media men did give Pro League goalkeeper Anthony Rougier a couple scares.

Alibey revived memories of his QRC school days by shaving the far post with a low shot, although not actually scoring, while Express freelancer Lasana Liburd proved quicker at covering a Jack Warner story than a piece of "Manny Ramjohn" turf.

Under pressure from the ex-nationals, the Media XI resorted to underhand tactics like using 12 players on the field, until spotted by match officials, who were taking the game far more seriously than the folks on the pitch.

And desperate to keep out goals, the media men even called on 46-year-old former T&T and West Indies fast bowler Gray, probably hoping his height would help.

But, it all came to nought when Skeene used Gray like a stump to line up a successful chip into the goal.

With many of those who played well into their 40s, the match added a lot of fun to the night, but also proved that football is a young man's game as Lewis so wisely declared when asked if he was considering a comeback to the national squad.

Anyone for a re-match?