Positive Night for Bermudian Footballers & Setback for Another
IslandStats.com
Nahki Wells and his Luton Town teammates are just one win away from a Wembley final after a dramatic late penalty from Jordan Clark secured a 2–1 victory over Plymouth Argyle in the Vertu Trophy quarter-finals.
In a tense encounter at Kenilworth Road, the Hatters appeared set for a penalty shootout after Plymouth’s teenage substitute Tegan Finn cancelled out Isaiah Jones’ early opener. However, with just one minute of normal time remaining, the veteran Bermudian international Nahki Wells proved the difference-maker. Racing onto a ball over the top, Wells was clipped in the area by Argyle defender Mathias Ross, leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the spot.
Jordan Clark stepped up to drill the resulting 89th-minute penalty down the middle, booking Luton a semi-final meeting with Northampton at Kenilworth Road next Wednesday. The victory marks a significant milestone in the Hatters' campaign as they target a piece of silverware in the season's final stretch.
While Luton celebrated their cup progression, another Bermudian international was making headlines in the National League South. Kane Crichlow emerged as the hero for Chelmsford City, coming off the bench in the 84th minute to snatch a sensational 95th-minute winner against Hemel Hempstead Town.
Under the lights at CM1, it looked as though the Clarets were heading for a frustrating third consecutive home draw after Harry Barbrook struck the woodwork deep into stoppage time. However, Crichlow had other ideas. Latching onto a clever flick from Jesurun Uchegbulam, the substitute showed immense composure to slot the ball home, sending the home support into raptures and securing three vital points in their push toward the play-off places.
Across the non-league pyramid, Milan Butterfield was at the heart of a dominant display as Halesowen Town dismantled Barwell 6–2 in Leicestershire. The "Yeltz" produced a ruthless first-half performance, scoring five times to overwhelm their hosts. Elsewhere, Coleridge Fubler and Remi Coddington helped Binfield FC to a clean-sheet victory, shutting out Horndean 3–0 at Five Heads Park.
However, the news was more cautious for Chorley striker Kole Hall. The Magpies' talisman has yet to feature this season due to a medical condition suffered last summer, and manager Andy Preece revealed a slight delay in his return. "Kole is having to have another scan because the one he had before was not clear," Preece confirmed. Despite the setback, the club remains hopeful that the striker, who has been training with the squad, will play some part in the final weeks of the season once cleared.
