It was a frantic day of action across the English football leagues for Bermuda’s international contingent, headlined by a resilient home draw for Nathan Trott’s Cardiff City and a frustrating afternoon in Devon for Nahki Wells and Luton Town.
At the Cardiff City Stadium, goalkeeper Nathan Trott was at the heart of a physical encounter against Stockport County. The visitors took an early lead when Trott produced a sharp initial save to deny Josh Dacres-Cogley, only for Kyle Wootton to react quickest and fire home the rebound. Cardiff’s persistence was rewarded deep into first-half stoppage time when Ollie Tanner’s dangerous cross found Joel Colwill, who curled an exquisite equalizer into the far corner to ensure the spoils were shared in South Wales.
Nahki Wells suffered a different fate as Luton Town’s promotion push took another blow with a 1 - 0 defeat at Plymouth Argyle. It marked a third successive away loss for the Hatters, though Wells was agonizingly close to salvaging a point late on. With twenty minutes remaining, the veteran striker unleashed a goal-bound effort that beat the keeper but was heroically cleared off the line by a backtracking defender.
Further down the pyramid, Kane Crichlow and Chelmsford City produced the comeback of the day at the Fusion Aviation Stadium. Facing a 2 - 1 deficit against Horsham FC in the National League South, the Clarets mounted a spirited second-half charge to turn the game on its head and secure a vital 3 - 2 victory.
Milan Butterfield was also in clinical form for Halesowen Town as they dominated St Ives Town at the Westwood Road Grounds. Leading by a single goal just after the interval, Butterfield ghosted into the box in the 47th minute to meet a deep cross at the back post, heading home with precision to double the advantage. Halesowen never looked back, cruising to a comprehensive 4 - 0 win.
In the Isthmian League South Central Division, Coleridge Fubler Jr. and Binfield FC extended their remarkable unbeaten run to six matches with a hard-fought 3 - 2 win over Hayes & Yeading United. The victory marks three wins on the bounce for the Moles as they continue their climb up the table.
There were scenes of late jubilation for Rahzir Smith-Jones and Welwyn Garden City at Herns Way. Facing a 1 - 0 deficit against Biggleswade Town, Smith-Jones’ teammate Lewis Taffe struck with the final kick of the game to rescue a 1 - 1 draw. Meanwhile, Reggie Lambe and Needham Market endured a difficult afternoon at the Zeeco Stadium, falling to a narrow 1-0 defeat against a resilient Stamford side.
Willie Clemons found the scoresheet for Leiston FC during their trip to Harborough Town, though it ultimately ended in a 3 - 2 defeat. Clemons had momentarily drawn his side level in the first half when his deflected effort looped over the Harborough keeper, but the hosts eventually rallied to take all three points.
Elsewhere, Harry Twite and Loughborough Students fell 2 - 1 at home to Coventry Sphinx, a scoreline matched by Southwell City as Alyeal Dill saw his side concede in the dying moments to fall 2 - 1 against Stapleford. At Garden Walk, Zhani Burgess remained an unused substitute for Quorn FC during their Southern League clash with Royston Town.
Saturday, January 24, 2026
Bascome’s Blast Fall as Sockers Sizzle in Maryland
IslandStats.com
David Bascome’s Baltimore Blast endured a difficult night at the SECU Arena as a clinical San Diego Sockers outfit secured a commanding 10-5 victory. The visitors established their dominance early in a high-octane opening period, leaving the Blast with a mountain to climb from which they ultimately could not recover.
The contest began at a frantic pace with the Sockers striking twice in the space of twelve seconds. Juan Salazar opened the scoring at 04:08 before Sean Callahan doubled the advantage at 04:20. When Nick Perera added a third at 06:40, the hosts looked shell-shocked. Baltimore did manage a brief rally as Jairo Guevara pulled one back at 07:35 and Juan Pereira reduced the deficit further at 08:10, but Andrew Estrella restored the San Diego cushion with a quick-fire double at 11:01 and 14:31 to end the first quarter.
The Blast showed plenty of character in the second period, momentarily threatening a comeback. Nelson Santana found the net at 06:10 and Eber Ospina struck at 09:33 to bring the home fans to their feet. However, the Sockers quickly snuffed out the revival as Jesus Pacheco scored at 10:27 and Gabriel Costa added another at 13:07 to maintain the visitors' control.
Defences tightened in the third period, but the Sockers continued to find gaps in the Baltimore backline. Pacheco claimed his second of the match at 07:13 to further extend the lead. While Patrick Thompson gave the Blast a glimmer of hope by scoring at 14:46 just before the final break, the gap remained substantial.
The final period saw San Diego manage the game with professional ease. Tavoy Morgan added a ninth for the visitors at 02:00, and despite Baltimore's efforts to press forward, Sebastian Mendez put the finishing touch on the result at 13:45. It was a tough outing for Bascome's men, who must now regroup after being outpowered by a relentless San Diego performance.
Friday, January 23, 2026
Rams & Cougars Advance in FA Challenge Cup
IslandStats.com
North Village Rams 2 Dandy Town Hornets 1
Defending FA Cup champions North Village Rams secured a dramatic passage to the next round with a late 2-1 victory over Dandy Town Hornets at Bernard Park.
The marquee matchup of the first round lived up to its billing as two of the island's Premier Division heavyweights clashed on Friday night.
The Rams asserted their authority early, finding the breakthrough in the 15th minute when Amir Dill clinical finish put the home side ahead. However, Dandy Town showed their resilience, and David Jones Jr leveled the scores in the 40th minute to ensure the sides went into the interval on equal footing.
The second half was a tense affair, with both teams searching for a decisive blow as the threat of extra time loomed. With just one minute of regulation time remaining, Jalen Harvey emerged as the hero for the champions, ghosting into the area in the 89th minute to slot home the winner and spark celebrations at Bernard Park.
Devonshire Cougars 9 Island Bulls FC 0
Devonshire Cougars delivered a ruthless performance at the Devonshire Recreation Club, overwhelming Corona League outfit Island Bulls FC with a 9-0 victory.
The Premier Division side wasted no time asserting their dominance, effectively ending the contest as a spectacle before the halftime whistle. Chamari Burns opened the floodgates with a header from a corner in the 4th minute, followed quickly by a strike from Cristian Albuoy in the 8th minute. Albuoy added his second in the 34th minute, and Burns secured a first-half brace just sixty seconds later to send the Cougars into the break with a commanding 4-0 lead.
The onslaught continued immediately after the restart as Burns completed his hat-trick in the 47th minute. Mosias Mills added a sixth in the 56th minute before the Cougars turned to their bench. Substitute Chae Brangman, who replaced hat-trick hero Burns, showed no signs of mercy, finding the net in the 67th minute to make it 7-0.
The final stages saw the Cougars extend their lead further, with Kydan Browne getting on the scoresheet in the 74th minute. Brangman then rounded out the scoring in the 81st minute with his second of the night, sealing a comprehensive win that sees the Cougars march confidently into the next round of the competition.
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Curly Joe Sets Sights on New League & 2027 World Cup
IslandStats.com
Leroy "Curly Joe" Wilson has officially issued a call to arms for Bermuda's veteran footballers, announcing the launch of a competitive walking football league designed to propel the island toward the 2027 Walking Football World Cup.
Speaking recently at the Bermuda College Gym, Wilson—a former Dandy Town and Wolves coach—revealed that tryouts and open practice matches will be held throughout January and February. The move comes on the heels of a successful inaugural overseas tour to the UK last November, where Curly’s Walking Football Club secured a 4-2 victory in their final round-robin match against Merseyside-based opposition.
"We’re trying to start a league that will be more competitive because it’s our goal to get to the World Cup," Wilson stated. "We need to have a league so we can have more competition and better players."
The Walking Football World Nations Cup, organized by the Federation of International Walking Football Associations (FIWFA), is the premier international event for the sport. Following the 2025 tournament held in Torrevieja, Spain—where England dominated across multiple age categories—the third edition is tentatively scheduled for late summer 2027.
While the 2027 host location is yet to be decided, Bermuda's new league is intended to serve as a high-performance pipeline for a national team selection. The proposed local league is set to officially kick off on March 7th, with sessions held every Saturday morning at the Bermuda College Gym.
Walking football is a fast-growing variant of the "beautiful game" designed primarily for men over 50 and women over 40. The rules are strictly enforced to ensure safety and accessibility: The "One Foot" Rule: Players must have at least one foot in contact with the ground at all times; running is strictly forbidden. No Contact: Minimal physical contact is allowed, with no shoulder charges or slide tackling permitted. Height Restriction: The ball must generally remain below head height (typically 6 feet or crossbar height) to prevent collisions.
The Bermuda program, introduced in 2020 with support from local legend Clyde Best, has already garnered sponsorship from Polaris Holding Company Ltd. to help realize its international ambitions.
"It’s nice to see the older people being involved," said Best. "This will help with your fitness, keep you safe, and keep you sharp".
Bermudians interested in joining the movement or trying out for the 2027 national squad can attend training sessions at the Bermuda College Gym every Saturday from 9:00 am to 10:30 am.
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Bermuda Overseas UK Footballers Round-Up
IslandStats.com
Willie Clemons teammate Fraser Alexander struck with the final kick of the game to rescue a dramatic 3-3 draw for Leiston FC against Alvechurch, on a night where Jenson Kilroy’s heroics nearly denied Clemons and his teammates.
The encounter at Victory Road appeared destined to end in frustration for the home side as Alvechurch goalkeeper Jenson Kilroy produced a series of stunning saves to keep the visitors in the hunt. However, in a breathless finale, Alexander found the net to ensure a share of the spoils in a six-goal thriller.
Bermuda international Clemons was heavily involved in the Leiston engine room, helping to drive the offensive pressure that eventually cracked the Alvechurch resolve. The result keeps Leiston firmly in the mid-table mix of the Southern League Premier Division Central, though they will feel they did enough to secure all three points if not for Kilroy’s inspired display.
In one of the most remarkable results of the Isthmian League season, Coleridge Fubler Jr, Remi Coddington, and their Binfield FC teammates overturned a three-goal deficit to defeat Leatherhead 5-4 at Fetcham Grove.
Binfield looked dead and buried at the interval, trailing 3-0 after a dominant first half from the league leaders. Leatherhead’s Jacob Breckon, Nathan Hogan, and Anas Igozouln all found the net to seemingly put the game out of reach.
However, Binfield emerged for the second half a transformed side. Two goals from Amari Fashanu and strikes from Nathanael Boakye and Kickie Dzimba turned the tide in a chaotic 20-minute spell. Coddington’s introduction in the 76th minute added fresh impetus to the Binfield attack, and despite a late George Hedley goal for Leatherhead, Boakye held his nerve to slot home an 87th-minute penalty to seal the win, after Coddington was brought down in the box. Fubler, in goal for Binfield, had to be at his sharpest in the dying moments to preserve the one-goal lead and complete the "Miracle at Fetcham Grove."
Elsewhere, Rahzir Smith-Jones’ Welwyn Garden City teammates stepped away from competitive league action for a midweek friendly against Concord Rangers.
The fixture at the Parkside Stadium served as a vital tune-up for both sides as they navigate the mid-season schedule. In a tightly contested affair with few clear-cut chances, it was Concord who managed to find the breakthrough, securing a narrow 1-0 victory.
For Welwyn Garden City, the focus now pivots back to the Southern Football League, where they will look to translate the fitness gains from the friendly into points as they face Biggleswade Town this weekend.
