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
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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.
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Bean’s Hat-Trick Heroics Spare North Village Blushes
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North Village Rams 3 Paget Lions 1
The North Village Rams kept their dreams of a successful title defence alive, but only after being pushed to the absolute limit by a resilient Paget Lions side at Bernard Park.
The FA Challenge Cup holders eventually secured their passage to the semi-finals with a 3–1 victory, though they required two goals in stoppage time to shake off their stubborn opponents.
In a match defined by tactical patience, the Rams finally broke the deadlock just before the interval. Jai Bean, who would go on to be the defining figure of the afternoon, found the back of the net in the 42nd minute to give the favourites a slender advantage at the break. For much of the second half, it appeared that a single goal would be enough to see the champions through, as they controlled possession and stifled the Lions' counter-attacking threats.
However, the Paget Lions refused to follow the script. With just eight minutes of regulation time remaining, Julian Carpenter capitalised on a lapse in the Rams' defence to fire home an equaliser. The dramatic 82nd-minute strike stunned the home support and invigorated the visitors.
The Rams took the lead in the 90th minute, Bean struck again to restore North Village’s lead and deflate the rising Paget momentum, with the Paget Lions going in search of the equalizer, Bean completed his hat-trick in the 12nd minute, of stoppage time.
The victory ensures the North Village Rams join the PHC Zebras in the hat for the semi-final draw, as they continue their march toward another potential triumph at the National Sports Centre. While the Lions will exit the competition with their heads held high, it is Bean’s clinical finishing that remains the story of the round, keeping the Rams' double hopes firmly on track.
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Trott & Lambe Win the Battle of the Bermudians
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The mid-February weather finally abated across the United Kingdom and Wales this weekend, clearing the deck for a significant day of "Bermuda Clashes" in the English football pyramid.
The headline act took place at the Cardiff City Stadium, where goalkeeper Nathan Trott and his Cardiff City teammates extended their remarkable unbeaten league run to 11 matches with a commanding 3–1 victory over Nahki Wells and Luton Town.
Cardiff started with blistering intent, taking the lead after just 11 minutes. Joel Colwill wove through a crowded Luton box before finding Turnbull, whose instinctive first-time effort flew into the far corner. The Hatters found a lifeline ten minutes later when they were awarded a penalty, which skipper Jordan Clark converted to level the scores.
The Bluebirds’ response was clinical. Two goals in five minutes effectively killed the contest. First, Colwill turned scorer after Tanner won possession high up the pitch, before Perry Ng added a spectacular third, unleashing a long-range strike into the top corner. Trott remained sharp in the Cardiff goal throughout the second half, notably tipping away a dangerous Shayden Morris cross to preserve the two-goal cushion.
The afternoon’s second major Bermudian head-to-head occurred in the Southern League Premier Central, where Reggie Lambe and Needham Market secured a convincing 3–0 win over Milan Butterfield and Halesowen Town.
In the same division, Zhani Burgess enjoyed a successful afternoon as Quorn AFC edged Bishop's Stortford 2–1 at the Stotto Stadium.
It was a day of contrasting results for Bermuda's overseas contingent:
Coleridge Fubler celebrated a 3–1 away win with Binfield FC against Fareham Town in the Isthmian League.
Kane Crichlow remained an unused substitute as Chelmsford City defeated Hampton & Richmond 3–1 in the National League South.
Harry Twite helped Lboro Students secure a hard-fought 2–2 draw with Corby Town in NPL Midlands action.
Willie Clemons and Leiston FC shared the points in a 1–1 draw with Sporting FC.
However, it was a difficult afternoon for Keziah Martin and Justin Donawa, as their Hereford FC side suffered a heavy 5–1 defeat at the hands of Southport at Haig Avenue.
The results leave Nathan Trott’s Cardiff as the big winners of the day, with the Bluebirds firmly established as the form team in the Championship as the promotion race intensifies.
