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Wednesday, May 06, 2026
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Treble Hopes Extinguished as Nolan & Bradford City Fall
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Aaliyah Nolan and her Bradford City Women’s teammates saw their dreams of a historic treble dashed following a dramatic semi-final exit in the NERWFL League Cup.
The Bantams travelled to Cockridge Lane to face Leeds Modernians Women with the weight of a monumental season on their shoulders. In a cagey encounter where neither side was willing to give an inch, the match finished 1–1 after regulation time.
Bermudian international Aaliyah Nolan was once again at the heart of the Bradford attack, providing the vital assist for her side's only goal of the game to keep their cup ambitions alive.
With the sides inseparable after 90 minutes, the tie moved to the clinical lottery of a penalty shootout. Nolan led from the front, stepping up to take the opening kick for Bradford City and converting with composure to give her side the early advantage.
However, the shootout took a turn as the Modernians found their rhythm. Despite Nolan’s successful effort, Bradford City eventually fell 4–3 on kicks from the penalty mark.
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Wednesday, May 06, 2026
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FC Motown Boost Ranks with Arrival of Bermudian Deroza
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USL League Two side FC Motown have secured a significant addition to their squad with the signing of Bermudian youth international Xahvi Deroza.
Deroza makes the move to the USL 2 Division on the back of a highly impressive freshman campaign at the University of New Hampshire. The midfielder became a mainstay for the Wildcats, appearing in 15 games and demonstrating the tactical maturity that has seen him marked as one of the region’s most promising prospects.
His impact in collegiate soccer was recognized earlier this year when he was named to the America East All-Rookie Team, a testament to his immediate adaptation to the high standards of the NCAA Division I level.
The signing represents a coup for Motown, who gain a player with valuable international experience. Deroza has been a regular fixture for the Bermuda Under-20 national team, further honing his skills on the continental stage.
He joins an FC Motown side looking to assert its dominance this summer, bringing a blend of technical ability and youthful energy to the roster. For Deroza, the stint in USL League Two offers a vital platform to maintain his competitive edge ahead of his sophomore year in New Hampshire.
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Sunday, May 03, 2026
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Bermuda Footballers & Coach USA & Iceland Round-Up
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The "Force" was not with Khano Smith and his Rhode Island FC side this weekend, as the Ocean State club saw their unbeaten home record in 2026 shattered on a high-stakes "Star Wars Night."
In front of a packed crowd at Centreville Bank Stadium, Rhode Island fell to a clinical Birmingham Legion FC in a 3-1 defeat. Despite the festive atmosphere, the hosts found themselves trailing early before Leo Afonso restored parity with a well-taken first-half equaliser. However, the visitors seized control after the interval, netting two unanswered goals to condemn Smith’s side to their first loss on home soil this season.
Across the Atlantic, there was similar heartbreak for Nia Christopher in the Icelandic top flight. Her FH Hafnarfjörður side appeared to be in control against Throttur W after Berglind Hlynsdottir fired them ahead just before half-time. However, the momentum shifted in the 58th minute when Sigridur Gudmunsdottir drew Throttur level. A tense finale followed, but it was Kayla Rollins who struck the decisive blow in the 84th minute to secure a 2-1 victory for the hosts, leaving Christopher and her teammates empty-handed.
In the National Women's Soccer League, Bermudian forward Mia Fishel helped Seattle Reign FC grind out a gritty point on the road. On a rain-lashed night at Shell Energy Stadium, the Reign were forced to display immense defensive resolve against a relentless Houston Dash. Despite weathering a wave of late pressure, Seattle held firm to ensure the spoils were shared in a 0-0 draw.
It was a quieter afternoon for Leilanni Nesbeth, who remained an unused substitute as her Chicago Stars fell to a 2-0 home defeat against the Portland Thorns FC. The Stars struggled to find their rhythm against the perennial contenders, leaving Nesbeth to watch from the sidelines as the Thorns clinical finishing proved the difference in the Windy City.
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Saturday, May 02, 2026
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Trott’s Cardiff Promoted as Well’s Luton Miss Out
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The curtain fell on a dramatic football season with contrasting fortunes for two of Bermuda’s leading international stars. While Nathan Trott celebrated a return to the Championship with Cardiff City, Nahki Wells and Luton Town were left to process the cruelest of exits from the promotion race.
At Field Mill, an action-packed nine-goal thriller saw Mansfield Town end the campaign on a high, beating Cardiff 5-4. Trott watched from the sidelines as the Bluebirds—already guaranteed second place and promotion behind champions Lincoln City—struggled to contain a rampant Stags side in the first half.
Mansfield raced into a 3-0 lead by the interval courtesy of a Ryan Sweeney header and a quickfire double from Lucas Akins. Although Isaak Davies pulled one back, Rhys Oates restored the cushion with a composed "dink" over the keeper. Cardiff refused to lie down; Omari Kellyman capitalised on a Liam Roberts error to make it 4-2, but Ollie Irow’s 80th-minute strike ultimately proved decisive. Late goals from Ronan Kpakio and Kellyman set up a grandstand finish, but the Championship-bound Bluebirds couldn't find an equaliser.
However, the real drama unfolded 200 miles away, where Nahki Wells and Luton Town experienced the ultimate final-day "hollow victory."
Luton recorded a superb away win, hauling themselves back from a half-time deficit in a match they absolutely had to win to keep their play-off dreams alive. But as the "Hatters" celebrated a late, late winner on the pitch, the news filtered through from elsewhere: Stevenage had scored a stoppage-time goal against Wigan.
The realization dawning on the Luton players was heartbreaking to witness. Despite an incredible run of nine wins in their last 12 games, Stevenage's late intervention condemned the Town to another season of League One football.
At the full-time whistle, the 3,000 travelling fans from Bedfordshire stayed to applaud a squad that had given everything. For Wells and his teammates, the victory felt as hollow as any they are ever likely to celebrate, falling just short of the top six by the narrowest of margins.
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Thursday, April 30, 2026
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'This is our year' - Nolan Celebrates Historic Promotion
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Fresh from firing Bradford City Women back to the national stage, Bermudian international Aaliyah Nolan says the club’s promotion was the result of a season-long "statement" of intent.
Nolan’s decisive first-half strike against Harrogate earlier this week did more than just win a football match; it secured the North East Regional Women’s Football League (NERWFL) Premier title and an immediate return to the FA Women’s National League Division One.
Reflecting on a campaign where the West Yorkshire side dropped just three points, Nolan revealed that the heartbreak of the previous year served as the primary catalyst for their success.
"As a team, from the first game, our sights were on promotion," Nolan told islandstats.com. "We were so close last season that this season we were going to show our fans that this is our year to be champions.
"We've worked all year for this moment, and to win with a statement and good performance under the lights proves the mentality we've had all year. To only drop three points all season is astonishing as a team and as a club."
For Nolan, the title marks a personal milestone in her career overseas. Having become a focal point of the Bantams' attack, she confirmed that the current campaign has been her most prolific since arriving in English football.
"Personally, I thought this season went great," she added. "Discussing this season with my coach, I’ve honestly really enjoyed it. From my teammates to the staff, everyone has supported me, and it has been wonderful—especially with my highest goal-scoring season overall since I’ve moved to England."
While the league trophy is safely in the cabinet at Horsfall, the work is not yet finished. Bradford City still have cup commitments on the horizon, and Nolan is determined to ensure the club finishes the year with further silverware.
"League season is finished," she said. "But we still have some cup games left to show why we are Champions."
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