BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC):

Rookie forward Devon Hodges struck an early second-half goal that gave Jamaica's Reggae Boyz a 1-0 victory over St Kitts and Nevis in their friendly football international on Sunday night.

Hodges scored in the 55th minute to give the Caribbean Football Union's (CFU) No.1 side a patchy victory at Warner Park Stadium.

Fresh from their decent scoreless draw against World No.36 South Americans Ecuador last Wednesday, the Jamaicans delivered a below-par performance and struggled to get past the Kittitians.

Hodges, who had hit the post with a low shot midway the first half, got the winner 11 minutes into the second half.

Perfectly positioned

After a good build-up by the Jamaicans, Hodges was perfectly positioned near the penalty spot to finish the play, hitting past goalkeeper Kaiyon Benjamin.

St Kitts and Nevis, ranked No.11 in the CFU, were suffering their second loss in a month at Warner Park to a top-flight regional team.

Trinidad and Tobago beat them 3-2 in a friendly here in mid-July.