Mixed fortunes for Bermudian Stars in English Leagues
IslandStats.com
Nahki Wells and his Luton Town teammates suffered a frustrating setback on the road as they fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Wigan Athletic.
In a tightly contested affair, the deadlock was finally broken in the 72nd minute when Joe Taylor found the back of the net for the hosts. Looking to spark a late comeback, the Luton coaching staff turned to their veteran Bermudian striker, with Wells entering the fray in the 82nd minute.
Despite his inclusion, the Hatters were unable to find a way through a resolute Wigan defense before the final whistle.
The drama continued in the Endeavour Auto Suffolk FA Premier Cup quarter-finals, where two Bermudian internationals faced off at the Flannery Stadium.
Reggie Lambe and his Needham Market side emerged victorious, but the match was defined by a moment of indiscretion for Willie Clemons. The Leiston FC midfielder was shown a second yellow card in the 77th minute—just 18 minutes after his first—leaving his side a man down for the closing stages.
Needham Market eventually capitalized on the numerical advantage in the 83rd minute when Luke Ingram struck the decisive blow to send his team through to the semi-finals.
In the women's game, Kenni Thompson and AFC Bournemouth Women endured a difficult evening on their travels to face Oxford United.
Following a scoreless first half, the deadlock was broken by Oxford’s Holly Manders in the 62nd minute. The hosts were later reduced to ten players after Nicole Barrett received a second caution, but despite the player advantage and Thompson’s creative efforts from midfield, the Cherries could not find a way back into the game, ultimately losing 1-0.
Elsewhere, Ava Frazzoni was in action for AFC Sudbury Women as they visited the Nest Grounds for an FA Women's National League encounter against Norwich City Women.
It proved to be a tough outing for the Sudbury squad, who were unable to contain a clinical Norwich side. Despite Frazzoni’s presence in the lineup, the match concluded in a 3-1 victory for the Canaries, leaving Sudbury to reflect on a difficult result against one of the league’s top contenders.
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Trott & Cardiff City Soar as Unbeaten Run Hits Twelve
IslandStats.com
Nathan Trott and his Cardiff City teammates extended their formidable unbeaten league run to 12 matches with a dominant 4-1 victory over AFC Wimbledon. The result cements Cardiff City’s momentum as they continue to climb the table, driven by a blend of clinical finishing and defensive resilience.
The visitors started brightly under the lights, creating several early chances to test the Cardiff backline. Callum Maycock seemed destined to score after latching onto a loose ball, but a goal-saving sliding block from Alex Robertson kept the Dons at bay. Alistair Smith followed up with a powerful effort from distance, but Trott was well-positioned to make a comfortable catch, recording another steady performance in a season already marked by 11 shutouts.
Cardiff steadily seized control, and their pressure told in the 22nd minute with a goal straight from the training ground. Alex Robertson’s clever corner was pulled back to Joel Colwill, whose crisp first-time strike flew into the net to give the hosts the lead.
The Bluebirds emerged for the second half with similar intent and quickly doubled their advantage. Ollie Tanner turned provider, picking out an unmarked Perry Ng, who headed home with ease. The relentless pace continued just minutes later as Ng returned the favor, finding Tanner on the half-turn; he struck first-time to beat the keeper at the near post and effectively end the contest.
With three minutes of normal time remaining, Cardiff added a fourth to put the result beyond any doubt. Substitute Callum Robinson threaded a pass to Omari Kellyman, who drove into the area and curled a composed finish into the far corner. The victory follows a string of impressive results, including a recent 3-1 win over Luton Town and a 3-0 shutout against Rotherham.
Meanwhile, it was a frustrating evening for Kane Crichlow, who remained an unused substitute as Chelmsford City were forced to settle for a point against Maidstone United. After Lyle Taylor’s second-half opener looked to have secured the win for the Clarets, Ruben Carvalho struck a dramatic equalizer in added time to ensure the spoils were shared.
Monday, February 16, 2026
Heavyweight Clashes Confirmed in FA Cup Semi-Final Draw
IslandStats.com
The road to the National Sports Center has been set after the Bermuda Football Association hosted the FA Challenge Cup Semi-Final draw inside the Clyde Best Centre of Excellence. With the island’s heavyweights all successfully navigating a weekend of quarter-final drama, the resulting fixtures promise a mouth-watering conclusion to the country's most prestigious knockout competition.
The draw, conducted has pitted league leaders PHC Zebras against the Devonshire Colts, while the cup holders North Village Rams face a daunting task against a rejuvenated St George's Colts.
The first semi-final sees the PHC Zebras continue their pursuit of a domestic double. The Zebras arrived in the last four following a miraculous "great escape" against the Boulevard Blazers, where two stoppage-time goals from Jaylon Bather secured a 4–3 victory.
They face a Devonshire Colts side that has proven to be the competition’s most resilient underdog. The Colts secured their Semi-final berth with a late 1–0 win over X-Road’s, courtesy of Chemarl Henry.
Recent History: The Zebras will start as heavy favourites, having dominated the recent head-to-head record. In their most recent Premier Division encounter in late 2025, PHC ran out comfortable 2 -0 winners.
The second Semi-Final is a true clash of the titans. The North Village Rams, the defending champions, were forced to dig deep into extra time to get past the Paget Lions, with Jai Bean’s hat-trick proving the difference.
They meet a St George's Colts side that looked the most impressive of the Quarter-Finalists, professionally dismantling the Devonshire Cougars 2–0. With Blaiz Hall and Leroy Lewis in clinical form, the East Enders will feel this is their best opportunity in years to reclaim the trophy.
Recent History: The North Village Rams will enter this match as huge favorites between these two sides based on matches already this season with North Village Rams winning twice.
The Bermuda Football Association has confirmed that the specific dates and venues for these high-stakes encounters will be released in the coming days. Traditionally, the semi-finals are hosted at neutral grounds to accommodate the large crowds expected for what are essentially two "final-calibre" matchups.
Sunday, February 15, 2026
St. George’s Colts & Devonshire Colts Book Semi-Final Spots
IslandStats.com
The line-up for the FA Challenge Cup semi-finals is now set following a dramatic afternoon of Quarter-Final action across the island. At the Wellington Oval, the St. George’s Colts secured their place in the final four with a disciplined 2–0 victory over the Devonshire Cougars, while the Devonshire Colts needed a late moment of magic to overcome X-Road’s at the Police Field.
St. George’s Colts & Devonshire Colts Book Semi-Final Spots
The line-up for the FA Challenge Cup semi-finals is now set following a dramatic afternoon of Quarter-Final action across the island. At the Wellington Oval, the St. George’s Colts secured their place in the final four with a disciplined 2–0 victory over the Devonshire Cougars, while the Devonshire Colts needed a late moment of magic to overcome X-Road’s at the Police Field.
St. George’s Colts 2 Devonshire Cougars 0
In the East End, the St. George’s Colts demonstrated clinical efficiency to dispatch a dangerous Cougars side. The home supporters were forced to wait until the closing stages of the first half for the breakthrough, which arrived in the 41st minute. Blaiz Hall capitalised on a lapse in the visitors' defence to fire home, giving the Colts a slender lead at the interval.
The second half followed a similar pattern of tactical discipline from the hosts. As the Cougars pushed forward in search of an equaliser, they left gaps at the back that the St. George’s frontline were eager to exploit. The decisive blow arrived in the 76th minute when Leroy Lewis doubled the advantage, effectively ending the contest and ensuring the East Enders remain in the hunt for major silverware.
Devonshire Colts 1 X-Road’s 0
While the victory was more straightforward for St. George’s, the Devonshire Colts were made to work significantly harder for their progression. Their clash with X-Road’s at the Police Field was a classic cup encounter defined by defensive resilience and missed opportunities.
For much of the ninety minutes, it appeared that the match was destined for extra time. Both goalkeepers were kept busy throughout a frantic first half, yet neither side could find the clinical touch required to break the deadlock. The stalemate continued deep into the second period, with both teams increasingly wary of making a fatal mistake as the shadows lengthened over the pitch.
The breakthrough finally arrived just four minutes from the end of regulation time. In the 86th minute, Charmal Henry found space in the box to find the back of the net, sparking jubilant celebrations among the Devonshire faithful. It was a cruel blow for an X-Road’s side that had defended gallantly throughout, but the Colts’ persistence ultimately paid off as they join St. George’s, the PHC Zebras, and the North Village Rams in the hat for the semi-final draw.
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Goater’s Villa Falter & Nolan Strikes for Bradford City
IslandStats.com
Tottenham Hotspur emerged victorious from a sensational ten-goal encounter as they dismantled Shaun Goater’s Aston Villa in the Women’s Super League. In a match that defied defensive logic, Villa suffered a heavy 7–3 defeat on home soil, a result that leaves them stagnant in eighth place in the table.
The North London side were relentless from the first whistle, exploiting gaps in a Villa backline that has struggled for consistency throughout the campaign. For Goater, the legendary Bermudian forward now serving as an assistant coach at Villa Park, the afternoon provided a stark reminder of the clinical standards required at the summit of the women's game. Despite flashes of attacking promise, Villa were unable to live with Spurs’ transition speed, as the visitors racked up their highest scoring tally of the season.
The result leaves Villa looking over their shoulder, with the gap between the mid-table and the European qualification spots beginning to widen. With several key fixtures on the horizon, Goater and the coaching staff will be desperate to address the defensive frailties that allowed seven goals to slip through in front of their home support.
While things were difficult for Goater in the top flight, fellow Bermudian international Aaliyah Nolan enjoyed a far more productive afternoon in the County Cup.
Representing Bradford City Women, Nolan was instrumental as her side dominated Knaresborough in an 8–1 victory at the Horsfall Stadium. The Bermudian forward, who has been in scintillating form since the start of the season, found the back of the net to continue her prolific streak.
Nolan’s goal-scoring contribution was a highlight of a dominant team performance that saw Bradford cruise into the next round. Having already notched multiple hat-tricks and match-winning performances in the league this season, Nolan’s presence in the County Cup squad proved to be the difference-maker against a stubborn Knaresborough side.
The victory maintains Bradford City’s momentum as they look to secure silverware on multiple fronts, with Nolan firmly established as the focal point of their attacking threat.
