Despite a failed Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup qualifying campaign, Trinidad and Tobago senior women’s Head coach Richard Hood took heart from the effort of his team, as he forecast that much more can be achieved, provided there is continuity going forward.

Hood’s sentiments followed a spirited performance by his team in limiting regional powerhouse Mexico to one goal, on their home leg at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo. This was particularly pleasing because Trinidad and Tobago were hammered 6-0 when they first visited the Mexicans.

So, while the twin island republic didn’t secure a spot in next year’s Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup group stage or preliminary round, Hood felt their objective, which was continued improvement, was met for the parts.

Trinidad and Tobago finished at the bottom of the three-team League A group with a solitary point, as Mexico (12 points) and Puerto Rico (four points) progressed to the inaugural Gold Cup.

"I was satisfied with the efforts from the team and satisfied with the organisation. I am not so much satisfied with the offensive part, as I thought we struggled to keep the ball," Hood said.

"I am happy with the performance and the effort from the younger girls. I thought the real purpose for me in this game was to keep demonstrating the improvements (we have made), and I think we did that,” he added.

The tactician singled out 23-year-old goalkeeper Simone Eligon for some praise, as she was impressive throughout the campaign, and was even named to the Concacaf League A Best XI for the October window.

"Simone has been magnificent. She has come up big for us in each of the (three) games she has played. She was a little nervous in her first game against Puerto Rico but that is understandable. International football is a completely different kettle of fish. Our understanding of the tactical requirements of the game — offensively and defensively — was good,” Hood noted.

Still, Hood pointed out that there is much more work to do if the Women Warriors are to be more competitive in the future, which is why he stressed the need for continued development of the programme.

"We were not great offensively, but it is a work in progress. It is something we have to keep continuously working on with the girls. It is important for us to maintain continuity where the local girls are concerned and we have to monitor those who are abroad as well,” Hood reasoned.

"Minister Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis indicated the ministry is very much willing to back the women's programme to the same level of monetary (contributions) from Concacaf. She asked us to make proposals and we are going to do that. It is critical for the women's programme. We must never get back to the level where we met the programme when we started in July this year,” he noted.

Trinidad and Tobago missed out on a spot in next year's Concacaf Women's Gold preliminary stage, as they went down 0-1 to Mexico in their final Group A fixture in League A of the Gold Cup qualifiers at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on Tuesday night.

Needing a win to secure second position in the group, the Soca Ladies fought gallantly, but couldn't take what would have been a famous three points off the Mexicans, who had the all-important strike through Cristina Ferral.

With the win, Mexico topped the group with maximum 12 points from four games and join Costa Rica, Panama, United States and Canada, among others in the Group stages of the inaugural Women's Gold Cup. Puerto Rico, with four points, secured a berth in the preliminary stage, while Trinidad and Tobago end with a solitary point in the three-team group.

Despite an expected dominant first half display, Mexico had to wait until the latter stages of the half to break the deadlock, and they did so in style. 

Ferral collected a ball out outside the area and smashed a right-footed strike into the top right corner in the 40th minute.

The visitors tried desperately to add to their lead in the second stanza but found Trinidad and Tobago's defenders and goalkeeper Simone Eligon in a defiant mode.

In fact, Eligon produced a diving save to deny Jacqueline Ovalle's 63rd-minute effort, and she again came up big with another series of saves in the final quarter-hour to keep her side in it.

But her efforts were in vain as the twin island failed to get on target, and, as such, Mexico snared all three points.

Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago played out a goalless stalemate to close out the October window in Group A of League A in the Concacaf Women's Gold Cup qualifiers on a positive note at the Estadio Juan Roman Loubriel in Bayamon on Tuesday.

With the result, Puerto Rico inched up to four points in second position on the three-team table, while Trinidad and Tobago collected their first point after three matches.

Puerto Rico controlled much of the first half and far outpaced Trinidad and Tobago in terms of shots by 6-1 but visiting goalkeeper Simone Eligon proved equal to the task.

The host maintained their tempo in the second half and Juelle Love came within an inch of breaking the deadlock with a shot at the near post that hit the crossbar.

But Trinidad and Tobago later found their footing and created a few chances of their own. As they forced Puerto Rico into a defensive posture, Asha James had a good crack at goal but her 62nd minute effort went just wide.

Puerto Rico found room on the counter, though, and Susana Roberts should have put them ahead in the 78th when she rounded Eligon but could not get her final effort on frame from a narrow angle.

Trinidad and Tobago will host Mexio in their final group fixture in late November and will require a win if they are to have a chance of progressing as the group's runners-up.