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Saturday, January 03, 2026
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FC Bascome Win Penalty Thriller to Claim U18 Crown
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FC Bascome 2 (5) Warwick Football Academy 2 (4)
FC Bascome have been crowned the Under-18 Charles Marshall champions after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Warwick Football Academy in a seesaw final at the Somerset Cricket Club.
In a clash between two of the island's premier youth development programmes, it took 120 minutes of high-intensity football and a nerve-shredding shootout to separate the sides, with Bascome eventually prevailing 5-4 from the spot after the match finished 2-2.
The first half was a cagey affair, typical of a major final, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm on the Somerset turf. Warwick Football Academy, known for their disciplined defensive structure, successfully nullified FC Bascome’s attacking threats for the opening 45 minutes. Despite several half-chances at either end, the sides went into the interval with the deadlock unbroken, leaving the capacity crowd waiting for a spark of inspiration.
That spark arrived ten minutes after the restart. In the 55th minute, FC Bascome were awarded a free-kick roughly 25 yards from goal—a distance that usually demands a cross, but Mosais Mills had other ideas.
Stepping up with confidence, Mills unleashed a spectacular curling effort that bypassed the Warwick wall. The ball looked destined for the top right-hand corner from the moment it left his boot. Despite a despairing, full-length dive from the Warwick goalkeeper, the sheer precision and power of the strike proved too much, as the ball nestled into the back of the net to spark wild celebrations on the Bascome bench.
The goal sparked a frantic period of play. Warwick Football Academy refused to buckle and found themselves level in the 66th minute, courtesy of a fortuitous own goal that caught the Bascome defence off guard.
However, parity lasted just two minutes. FC Bascome surged forward immediately, and Zachary McGuire found the back of the net in the 68th minute to restore the lead. It looked as though Bascome would hold on, but Warwick’s persistence was rewarded in the 84th minute when James Cooper struck to level the scores for a second time.
With neither side able to find a winner in the closing stages, the final was decided by kicks from the penalty mark. In a display of remarkable composure from both sets of youngsters, the shootout went deep into the order.
FC Bascome eventually held their nerve to win the shootout 5-4, securing a significant milestone for the club's youth ranks. While the game was defined by team resilience, Mosais Mills’ opening heroics and the clinical nature of the final penalties ensured the Charles Marshall trophy headed to the Bascome trophy cabinet.
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Monday, December 29, 2025
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Warwick & Bascome Secure Spots in Charles Marshall Final
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 The road to the Somerset Cricket Club is now clear after a decisive night of youth football at the PHC Stadium. On an evening defined by clinical finishing and defensive discipline, FC Bascome and Warwick Football Academy emerged victorious from their respective semi-finals to book their places in the Charles Marshall Cup Under-18 showpiece.
Somerset Trojans 0 FC Bascome 2
The opening fixture of the double-header saw FC Bascome produce a professional display to overcome a spirited Somerset Trojans side.
In a match where opportunities were at a premium, Bascome’s efficiency in front of goal proved to be the difference.
Jeon Wolfe provided the initial breakthrough with a well-taken strike, before Christian Piney doubled the advantage to secure a 2-0 win and ensure their progression to the final.
PHC Zebras 0 Warwick Football Academy 5
In the nightcap the Warwick Football Academy shutout the PHC Zebras 5 - 0.
If the first semi-final was a tactical affair, the nightcap was a statement of intent from Warwick Football Academy. Facing the PHC Zebras on their home turf, Warwick delivered a ruthless performance to claim a 5-0 victory.
The scoreboard reflected a total team effort, with the goals shared across the squad as Jayshun Headlam, D’Ari Coddington, Reza Ziri, and Amari Smith all found the back of the net. A difficult night for the Zebras was compounded further when an own goal added to the lopsided result.
The results set the stage for a highly anticipated final on Saturday, January 3rd. Both sides will travel to the Somerset Cricket Club for the New Year's showdown, with Warwick Football Academy looking to carry their goal-scoring momentum into the title match against a defensively sound FC Bascome unit.
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Friday, December 19, 2025
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Grant's Gillingham Bow Out after Stevenage Clinical Display
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Bermudian youth international Nayan Grant and his Gillingham FC Academy teammates were eliminated from the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday evening following a 2-0 defeat to Stevenage at MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
Despite a spirited performance in front of a home crowd of 303, the young Gills were unable to overcome a clinical first-half showing from the visitors.
The match began with Gillingham nearly taking an early lead when forward Sullivan Booth struck the bar in the eighth minute. However, Stevenage responded almost immediately. A cross-field pass exploited a gap in the Gills' final third, allowing Lenny Brown to loft a precise lob over goalkeeper Fletcher Hegarty to open the scoring.
Stevenage doubled their advantage five minutes before the interval when Samuel Ayolie drifted into space on the edge of the area and fired a powerful 18-yard strike into the back of the net.
Although Gillingham commanded possession following the interval and threw men forward in the closing stages, they were unable to break down a very stubborn and resilient defensive unit.
Joe Dunne’s side continued to probe but were limited to few clear-cut goalscoring opportunities as Stevenage comfortably saw the game out to progress to the next round.
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Thursday, December 18, 2025
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Bean-Fox & Fray Handed Blackburn Rovers Trial
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Bermudian Under-20 internationals Harlem Bean-Fox and Kennahz Fray have taken a significant step toward the professional game after beginning a week-long trial with EFL Championship side Blackburn Rovers.
The pair, who are both currently enrolled at the Future Pro Academy in England, joined the Rovers' youth ranks this week to showcase their talents in front of the club’s technical staff. Fray has integrated with the Under-18 and Under-21 squads, while Bean-Fox is set to follow a similar path as he looks to impress the Lancashire outfit.
The opportunity comes off the back of a stellar season for both players at Future Pro, where they have played a key role in the academy’s unbeaten run at the top of the Under-23 National Football Youth League.
Bean-Fox recently underscored his potential with a clinical goal in a 2-2 draw against i2i Football Academy, while Fray was on the scoresheet as Future Pro reached the last 16 of the English Association of Colleges National Cup.
Demir Vavan, the founder and managing director of Future Pro, noted that the trial is a "powerful reflection" of the standards being set at the academy.
"Seeing two Future Pro Academy players earn opportunities at an EFL Championship club is a testament to the pathways we are building. Both players have shown exceptional growth this season."
The trial could provide an immediate platform for the duo; Fray reportedly has the opportunity to feature for Blackburn’s Under-21s in a fixture against Dundee United if he catches the eye of the Rovers' coaching staff.
For Bean-Fox, the move to Blackburn follows a previous trial stint with Championship leaders Coventry City, highlighting the growing interest in Bermudian talent within the English second tier.
Should they succeed, they would join a growing list of Bermudians making their mark in the Championship, including Queens Park Rangers' Kalen Brunson, who made his professional debut earlier this season.
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Tuesday, December 16, 2025
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Jimenez Sidelined as Hibs Academy Claim Clinical Cup Win
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Hibernian Academy got their 2025/26 CAS Elite League Cup campaign off to a perfect start with a 2-0 victory over St Mirren, despite being without the services of Bermuda international Logan Jimenez.
Jimenez, a key figure in the Hibs youth setup, was forced to miss the opening clash through sickness, watching from the sidelines as his teammates navigated a tense encounter.
For much of the match, St Mirren proved a stubborn nut to crack, but the deadlock was finally broken in the 77th minute. Josh McDonald provided the moment of quality the hosts had been searching for, cutting inside to find the far corner with a fine curling strike.
As the visitors pushed for a late equalizer, Hibs put the result beyond doubt with the final action of the match. Deep into stoppage time, Dean Cleland was found in the area and lashed a powerful finish into the net to clinch the points.
The result provides a strong foundation for the Academy side as they look to progress in the competition, with Jimenez expected to return to the squad once he recovers from illness.
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