Somerset Eagles kept their promotion ambitions firmly on track this past weekend as they secured a vital victory over Southampton Rangers in the only First Division fixture to survive the weekend's inclement weather.
In a clash played out in wet and windy conditions at the Southampton Oval, the Eagles delivered a professional performance to claim a 3-1 win.
The result sees the Somerset Eagles leapfrog Wolves into third place in the standings, amassing 14 points from their eight games. They now sit five points adrift of west end rivals Somerset Trojans, who occupy the second and final promotion spot with 19 points from the same number of matches.
At the summit, Robin Hood remains the team to beat, leading the league.
In the individual scoring charts, Robin Hood’s Keishen Bean continues to lead the way with a staggering 18 league goals this campaign.
Following his two goals this weekend, Nathan Rego has moved up the rankings to join Jadan Ratteray Smith of the Somerset Trojans on four goals each for the season.
PREMIER DIVISION
27 PHC Zebras 25 Devonshire Colts 25 Dandy Town Hornets 22 North Village Rams 17 Devonshire Cougars 13 X-Road's 10 St. George's Colts 10 Young Men Social Club 09 Paget Lions 06 Boulevard Blazers
PREMIER LEADING GOALSCORERS
11 Enrique Russell - PHC Zebras 10 Senoj Mitchell - Devonshire Colts 10 Zeiko Lewis - Young Men Social Club 08 Chae Brangman - Devonshire Cougars 08 Donovan Thompson - X-Road's 07 David Jones - Dandy Town Hornets
FIRST DIVISION
21 Robin Hood 19 Somerset Trojans 14 Somerset Eagles 11 Wolves 08 Southampton Rangers 07 St. David's 00 Vasco
LEADING GOALSCORERS
18 Keishen Bean - Robin Hood 04 Jadan Ratteray Smith - Somerset Trojans 04 Nathan Rego - Somerset Eagles
Thompson Reaches Final as Goater’s Villa Slump to Defeat
IslandStats.com
It was a day of contrasting fortunes for Bermuda’s footballing exports in the United Kingdom, as national team stars reached cup finals while coaching legends faced a difficult afternoon in the top flight.
Kenni Thompson is heading to a major final. The Bermudian winger played a pivotal role as AFC Bournemouth Women secured their place in the FA Women's National League Cup Final with a professional 2-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion Women.
The semi-final clash at the Nationwide Windows Arena saw the Cherries dominate from the outset. Thompson, who has been a standout performer since joining the club, was a constant threat on the flanks before being substituted in the 86th minute to a standing ovation. Bournemouth will now face Plymouth Argyle Women in the showcase final on March 28.
In the Women's Super League, life remains tough for Shaun Goater and his Aston Villa side. The Bermudian legend, currently serving as an assistant coach at the Midlands club, saw his team fall to a heavy 4-1 defeat against Liverpool.
The result moved Liverpool off the foot of the table, leaving Villa searching for answers. Despite a competitive start, late goals from Liverpool captain Grace Fisk and substitute Aurelie Csillag put the game beyond reach, overshadowing what was a dominant display from the Merseysiders against Goater’s tactical setup.
Elsewhere, Bermuda’s national team captain Eva Frazzoni suffered a narrow defeat with AFC Sudbury Women against Jya Ratteray-Smith’s Chesham United. Welcoming Chesham United FC Women to the Elite Travel Stadium, Sudbury were hoping to build momentum in the FA Women's National League.
Despite Frazzoni's leadership in the heart of midfield, the hosts went down 2-1 in a tightly contested affair. The result is a blow for Sudbury’s league ambitions, though Frazzoni remains a key figure for both club and country as Bermuda prepares for upcoming international qualifiers.
Jasmine Spence and her Newport Pagnell Women's FC Teammates went down 2 - 1 to Northampton Town Women in a East Midland Division One South battle at Willen Road.
Saturday, February 07, 2026
Bermudian Footballers Brave the Big Freeze
IslandStats.com
While a sweep of frozen pitches across the United Kingdom forced several Bermudian players to the sidelines this weekend, those who did see action delivered a series of clinical performances to secure vital points across the football league pyramid.
Nathan Trott produced another authoritative display between the posts to help Cardiff City defy the odds in a 3–0 away victory over Rotherham United. The Bluebirds appeared to be in significant trouble just 21 minutes into the contest at the AESSEAL New York Stadium when Ryan Wintle was shown a straight red card.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Trott and his teammates remained resolute. The Bermudian stopper commanded his area with composure to record his 11th shutout of the season, providing the foundation for a brilliant counter-attacking performance that silenced the home crowd.
At Kenilworth Road, Nahki Wells proved to be the difference-maker as Luton Town extended their impressive home streak. The veteran forward came off the bench to help secure a 2–1 victory over his former employers, Bradford City.
The result ensures the Hatters remain unbeaten in their last 10 home league fixtures, a run that has cemented their position as promotion contenders. Wells’ movement and experience proved pivotal in the closing stages, ensuring the points stayed in Bedfordshire.
In the Southern League Premier Central, Willie Clemons provided the weekend's most dramatic moment. Traveling to Barwell FC, Leiston FC appeared to be heading for a share of the spoils until the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Clemons reacted quickest in a crowded penalty area to smash the ball home from close range, sparking wild celebrations among the traveling support and snatching a 3–2 win in the dying seconds.
Further down the pyramid, young Bermudian talent continued to flourish on the road:
NPL Midlands Division One: Harry Twite anchored a dominant Loughborough Students side as they eased to a 4–1 win at the Long Eaton United Stadium.
Isthmian League South Central: Coleridge Fubler Jr. and Binfield FC secured a disciplined 2–0 victory over Hendon FC at the Robert Parker Stadium.
With several matches postponed due to the weather, many of the island's contingent will be hoping for a thaw ahead of the mid-week fixtures.
Saturday, February 07, 2026
Promotion Hopes Dented as Eagles Stun Rangers at the Oval
IslandStats.com
Southampton Rangers 1 Somerset Eagles 3
Any lingering hopes that Southampton Rangers held of utilizing their games in hand to reel in the Somerset Trojans for the second promotion spot suffered a terminal blow at the Southampton Oval. In a clash that carried significant weight for the First Division standings, the Rangers were soundly defeated 3-1 by a clinical Somerset Eagles side.
The contest took place under the challenging conditions of a blustery and chilly afternoon, but it was the visitors who acclimatized the fastest. The Somerset Eagles asserted their authority just 10 minutes into the match when Matthew Groves found the back of the net to ignite the scoring.
The momentum remained firmly with the Eagles as Nathan Rego began to dominate the attacking third. Rego doubled his side's advantage in the 28th minute with a well-taken strike before adding his second of the afternoon in the 36th minute. His quickfire brace stunned the home supporters and ensured the Somerset Eagles carried a commanding 3-0 lead into the halftime interval.
Southampton Rangers emerged for the second half with renewed purpose and looked to have handed themselves a lifeline when Daischon Chin scored in the 48th minute. Despite the early breakthrough pulling them within two goals, the comeback proved short-lived. The Somerset Eagles defenders stood tall against a wave of Rangers pressure, maintaining their discipline to see out the victory and leave the hosts frustrated as the gap to the promotion places widened.
Friday, February 06, 2026
Concacaf Unveils Radical Revamp for Men’s National Teams
IslandStats.com
Victor Montagliani has heralded the start of an "extraordinary chapter" for North and Central American football as Concacaf unveiled its comprehensive men’s competition calendar for the 2026–2030 cycle. The announcement, which outlines a revamped FIFA World Cup qualifying format and the expansion of the Nations League, is designed to cement the region's growth following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup next summer.
For nations across the Confederation, including a Bermuda side looking to rebuild after a challenging 2026 qualification campaign, the new roadmap provides a clear—if arduous—path to the sport's greatest stage.
The centerpiece of the calendar is a restructured qualification process for the FIFA World Cup 2030. In a bid to increase competitiveness across all 35 FIFA-affiliated associations, the qualifiers will be contested over three distinct rounds and a final "Play-In" tournament.
The stakes have never been higher, with up to seven Concacaf nations potentially earning a spot in the 48-team 2030 tournament. Six teams will earn direct berths, while a seventh could advance via a FIFA Intercontinental Play-Off.
The Qualifying Journey:
Round One (September–October 2027): 22 teams ranked 14–35 in the FIFA rankings will face off in home-and-away knockout matches. Round Two (October 2027 – March 2028): The 11 survivors join the top 13 ranked nations in a 24-team group stage. Six groups of four will play home and away, with the top two from each group advancing. Final Round (June 2028 – October 2029): 12 teams split into three groups of four. The top two in each group (six teams total) qualify directly for 2030. Concacaf Play-In (November 2029): The two best third-place finishers from the Final Round meet in a direct elimination match to decide who represents the region in the Intercontinental Play-Off.
While the World Cup remains the ultimate goal, the Concacaf Nations League continues to be the bedrock of the region's elite competition schedule. Two further editions are scheduled for 2026/27 and 2028/29, maintaining the three-league system that has become the pathway to the Gold Cup.
Bermuda, currently competing in League B following a second-place finish in their 2024/25 group, will be among the nations eyeing a historic promotion to the top tier. For the first time, League B and League C will feature their own Finals, adding eight additional matches to the calendar to heighten the drama of promotion and relegation.
The League A Finals for 2027 will be hosted at the iconic SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, ensuring the Confederation’s premier domestic tournament maintains its high-profile status.
The calendar is a reflection of a Confederation that has spent the last four years preparing to host the largest World Cup in history. Montagliani expressed his gratitude to the 41 Member Associations for embracing a "football-first" approach that balances senior men’s, women’s, and club competitions.
"This calendar ensures that our members can continue to pursue their next goals through consistent elite competition," Montagliani said. "It will continue to elevate and transform the game across Concacaf."
With the 2026 World Cup acting as a catalyst for growth, the focus now shifts to ensuring that the period from 2027 to 2030 delivers on the promise of the region’s rising stars.
