A wave of freezing temperatures across the United Kingdom continued to play havoc with the footballing pyramid this weekend, leaving several members of Bermuda’s overseas contingent watching from the sidelines as frozen pitches forced a string of postponements.
While the icy conditions decimated the schedule for many, two of Bermuda’s leading lights were able to take to the field in the FA Women's National League, where they navigated difficult conditions to secure valuable points for their respective clubs.
In the FA Women's National League Southern Premier Division, Kenni Thompson and her AFC Bournemouth teammates kick-started 2026 with a high-stakes clash against Hashtag United WFC. Despite the freezing bite in the air, the league leaders were determined to maintain their momentum at the top of the table.
In a closely contested battle, the Cherries were held to a 1-1 draw by a resilient Hashtag United side. The result ensures Bournemouth remain firmly in the title hunt, although the shared point allows the chasing pack to close the gap. Thompson, who has been in scintillating form throughout the winter months, was a constant threat on the wing, though the icy turf made the fluid attacking play typically associated with the Cherries difficult to sustain.
Further east, Bermuda national team captain Eva Frazzoni was in the heart of the midfield as AFC Sudbury Women took on London Bees in a Division One South East encounter.
The match proved to be a classic war of attrition, with both sides struggling to find a breakthrough on a surface that tested the technical limits of every player. Frazzoni’s leadership and defensive discipline were vital as Sudbury repelled a series of late Bees attacks to secure a 0-0 draw. For Sudbury, a clean sheet against a side with the attacking pedigree of the Bees represents a significant positive as they look to climb the standings in the second half of the campaign.
Jasmine Spence helped Newport Pagnell Town Women kick off 2026 in ruthless fashion as they dismantled Thrapston FC Women 10-0 at Willen Road. In a dominant East Midlands Women's Regional Football League Division One South display, the Swans showed no signs of festive rust, overwhelming the visitors from the first whistle to secure a statement victory.
Among the goals was the Bermudian international Spence, who found the scoresheet during a relentless attacking performance that kept the home crowd in high spirits despite the winter chill. The result serves as a massive boost to Newport Pagnell’s promotion ambitions, leaving the side well-placed as they look to maintain this scoring momentum through the second half of the campaign.
The "big freeze" has left club secretaries across the country with a mounting backlog of fixtures. Several other Bermuda internationals playing in the regional tiers saw their matches called off early on Sunday morning following failed pitch inspections.
With meteorologists predicting that the cold snap could linger well into the coming week, the BFA’s overseas players face a period of uncertainty as they await news on when their postponed fixtures will be rescheduled.
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