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Saturday, April 18, 2026
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Promotion Party for Trott & Bermudian Footballers Round-Up
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Nathan Trott and Cardiff City are heading back to the Championship after a clinical away performance secured their return to English football’s second tier on a dramatic afternoon for Bermuda's overseas professionals.
Cardiff traveled to the Select Car Leasing Stadium knowing that victory over Reading would guarantee promotion. Trott, a consistent presence in goal throughout the campaign, played his part in a disciplined 3-1 win that sparked jubilant scenes among the traveling Cardiff supporters. The result ensures the Welsh side’s stay in League One was a short one, as they bounce straight back up at the first time of asking.
Elsewhere in the Football League, Nahki Wells played a crucial role from the bench as Luton Town battled to a 2-2 draw against Mansfield Town. Wells was introduced at the Field Mill Grounds with his side trailing, providing the veteran presence and attacking impetus needed to help the Hatters claw back a point in a physical encounter.
The success continued in the National League North for Keziah Martin, whose Hereford FC side delivered an authoritative performance at Edgar Street. Martin was instrumental in the midfield as Hereford dismantled Radcliffe in a 3-1 victory, keeping their late-season momentum alive in front of a vocal home crowd. In the National League South, Kane Crichlow also tasted success on the road, helping Chelmsford City to a 2-0 win over Chesham United at The Meadow.
The Southern League Premier Division Central proved to be a hotbed of stalemates and shared spoils. Willie Clemons and Leiston FC fought out a 2-2 draw with Spalding United at the Flannery Stadium, while Milan Butterfield was involved in a high-stakes tactical battle at Latimer Park. Butterfield’s Halesowen Town played out a goalless draw with Kettering Town in a massive play-off clash where neither side could find the breakthrough.
There was also a notable "Bermuda Derby" at the Farley Way Grounds as Zhani Burgess and Quorn FC hosted Reggie Lambe’s Needham Market. In a game of shifting momentum, a late penalty for the home side ensured the points were shared in a 2-2 draw. In the Southern Premier Division South, Ajani Burchall and Wimborne Town also earned a point on their travels, finishing level at 2-2 against Sholing FC.
The afternoon held mixed fortunes in the lower divisions. Coolridge Fubler and Binfield FC suffered a frustrating 1-0 defeat at home to Kingstonian, despite a second-half onslaught that failed to produce an equalizer. Meanwhile, the United Counties League season drew to a close with a five-goal thriller between Ayleal Dill and Roger Lee. It was Lee’s West Bridge FC who emerged with the bragging rights in a 3-2 victory, leaving Dill’s Southwell City to finish their campaign in 13th position.
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Thursday, April 16, 2026
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Smith’s Rhode Island Fall to Revolution
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For the second-straight year in the Lamar U.S. Open Cup Round of 32, Khano Smith's Rhode Island FC and the New England Revolution delivered an instant classic, playing to a dramatic 1-1 tie before the Revolution prevailed 3-1 in a penalty shootout. After going down 1-0 early in the second half, RIFC striker JJ Williams sent Centreville Bank Stadium into euphoria in the 11th minute of stoppage time, scoring the latest goal in club history to equalize and send the game into extra time.
The game, despite playing to a dramatic finish, started slow. The first 45 minutes had just two shots and an expected goals (XG) tally of just 0.03 between the two teams, and neither goal saw much action as the two teams entered the break scoreless.
After a cagey first half, the New England Revolution broke the game wide open in the 51st minute when a loose ball in the box fell to Diego Fagúndez. After Peyton Miller’s cross from the left side was nodded back down into the box, Fagúndez was first to the open ball, slamming it into the top-right corner with a powerful effort to put the Revs up 1-0.
Two minutes later, the Ocean State club made an impactful triple-substitution, bringing on Williams, Leo Afonso and Jojea Kwizera. The trio transformed Rhode Island FC’s attack, putting the pressure on a New England Revolution backline that desperately held on deep into stoppage time. RIFC nearly equalized in the 82nd minute when Kwizera curled a cross-field ball to Afonso, who broke into a one-on-one position down the right wing. Afonso sprinted into the box and unleashed a low shot, but New England goalkeeper Donovan Parisian produced a heroic diving save to deny the second-half substitute.
RIFC would continue to lay on the pressure, and nearly found an equalizer in the 10th minute of second-half stoppage time. After Parisian jumped off of his line to punch away a long cross from Clay Holstad, Hugo Bacharach lunged to nod the close-range rebound towards the empty net, but his effort nailed the near post and was cleared. Just one minute later, however, Hamady Diop sent the ball right back into the box, and Williams jumped through traffic to nod the deflected cross into the back of the net in the dying seconds of the game, sending the two teams into extra time.
Through the first 15 minutes of extra time, RIFC rode its newfound momentum, creating a handful of dangerous chances. New England, however, came closest to the game-winner in the 103rd minute when Luca Langoni brought down Miller’s cross on the right side of the box. Lining up a shot, Langoni fired towards goal, but RIFC defender Grant Stoneman rushed back in time to sweep the ball off the line. Coming down the other way in the 111th minute, Williams got on the end of Aldair Sanchez’s cross in the box, but Parisian scooped up the close-range header to keep the game level. Throughout 120 minutes, New England narrowly outshot RIFC 11-10, while the Ocean State club held a 54-46 percent edge in possession.
Ultimately, neither side could find the breakthrough in extra time, sending the game into a win-or-go-home penalty shootout. Parisian was the hero for New England in the shootout, turning away three-straight RIFC penalties before Tanner Beason buried the decisive spot kick to send the Revolution into the Round of 16.
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Wednesday, April 15, 2026
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Wells & Lambe On Winning Sides in UK
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Luton Town captain Kal Naismith breathed new life into the Town’s play-off charge with an incredible late free-kick to earn a crucial third League One win on the spin.
Just days after the jubilant celebrations of their Vertu Trophy success at Wembley, the Hatters returned to the bread and butter of league action with a nervy but vital 2-1 victory over Northampton Town at Kenilworth Road.
In a contest that seemed destined for a stalemate, the score was deadlocked at 1-1 with just five minutes remaining on the clock. Up stepped the skipper, Kal Naismith, to curl a glorious effort from 25 yards into the top corner. The strike brought the house down and sealed a dramatic victory that lifts Luton to within three points of the League One top six.
It was a result the Hatters arguably deserved after a relentless second-half display. While the physical toll of Sunday's final was evident, the presence of Nahki Wells and a spirited Luton side ensured they found a way to win. For Northampton, the defeat carries a heavy price, confirming their relegation from League One despite a resilient performance.
Beyond the drama of the Football League, Bermuda’s Reggie Lambe was also on the winning side as Needham Market FC continued their impressive Southern League Premier Division Central campaign.
Lambe and his teammates traveled to the War Memorial Athletic Ground to face Stourbridge FC in a closely contested battle. A disciplined defensive display, combined with a solitary clinical strike, was enough for the Marketmen to secure a 1-0 victory.
The win keeps Needham Market firmly in the hunt for the promotion play-offs, sitting sixth in the table as the season enters its final weeks. For Lambe, it marks another consistent performance in a standout season since joining the Suffolk-based side.
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Wednesday, April 15, 2026
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Pedro's History Making Accomplishment Acknowledged
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Following www.islandstats.com report on Sunday that history was made the Bermuda Football Association announced, while North Village captured the coveted FA Cup for the 12th time. Another milestone was quietly achieved.
Rhys Pedro became the youngest ever match official for the Men's FA Cup final at the tender age of 14.
Pedro has only been officiating for 2 years and started officiating the men's leagues during the 2025/26 season.
Pedro is a graduate of the program at Warwick Academy, organized by BFA in conjunction with the school. The program offered training through international instructors. Since receiving the initial qualification through that course, he has attended several additional courses offered through the BFA Referee Committee, with international FIFA assessors and mentors coming to the island.
Pedro has already set his sights on being a center referee in a First Division game within the next year and qualifying as a FIFA-listed official.
Pedro had this to say about the FA Cup Final: “When I was first informed of being selected as one of the officials for the FA Cup final, I was initially nervous; however, it soon gave way to excitement and a feeling of pride. Standing in front of the crowd before the game, I was overwhelmed with a mixture of pride, fear, and excitement, especially as it was my first time officiating in the Flora Duffy Stadium. As the game began, all of those feelings of doubt and nervousness slipped away, and I focused solely on the game.
If I had to give any advice to other young people that were thinking of trying out officiating, it would be to ignore all the people who doubt you and instead focus on improving day by day, bit by bit, and you will succeed. There is a lot to learn and remember, but Bermuda has some amazing instructors and fellow referees who are always willing to help provide guidance. You also pick up a lot of useful life skills, such as teamwork, communication, and being able to confidently make big decisions.”
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Tuesday, April 14, 2026
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Trott Heroics & Crichlow Strike Highlight Bermuda Footballers
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 Kane Criclow IslandStats.com
In a contest where the hosts looked increasingly likely to snatch all three points, it was Trott’s intervention that ultimately defined the evening. The Bermudian shot-stopper was forced into action early in the first half when Huddersfield’s Bojan Radulović rose to meet a near-perfect cross from Lasse Sørensen. Radulović’s header looked destined for the back of the net, but Trott produced a phenomenal fingertip save to deny the opener.
The drama intensified in the closing stages after eight minutes of stoppage time were signaled. With the Terriers pushing relentlessly for a winner, substitute Marcus McGuane unleashed a powerful strike that seemed certain to break the deadlock, only for Trott to brilliantly tip the effort onto the crossbar. Moments later, the Cardiff number one denied the hosts again from point-blank range, ensuring Yousef Salech’s earlier return to the scoresheet earned the Bluebirds a vital point on the road.
Beyond the drama of the Championship, several of Bermuda’s overseas stars were in action across the English non-league circuit on Tuesday:
Chelmsford City: Kane Crichlow was among the goals in a six-goal thriller at the Hornchurch Stadium. With Chelmsford leading 1-0 in their National League South clash against Hornchurch FC, Crichlow doubled the advantage in the 16th minute. However, the hosts fought back to secure a 3-3 draw in a high-octane encounter.
Wimborne Town: Ajani Burchall enjoyed the most emphatic result of the evening as Wimborne Town dismantled Tiverton Town 6-0. The Southern Premier Division South victory at the Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium saw Wimborne produce a clinical attacking display to overwhelm their opponents.
Leiston FC: Willie Clemons played his part in a disciplined defensive performance as Leiston FC edged Real Bedford 1-0. The Southern League Premier Division Central match was decided by the narrowest of margins, with Clemons’ side holding firm to claim all three points.
Hereford FC: It was a tougher night for Keziah Martin, whose Hereford FC side suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Oxford City. Despite the advantage of playing at the MandM Edgar Street Stadium, Hereford were unable to overcome their National League North rivals.
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