Bermuda struck a winner in stoppage time to beat St Kitts and Nevis’ Under-20 team 4-3 in a friendly match yesterday in Charlestown, Nevis.

In the absence of English-based professionals Nahki Wells, Dale Eve, Reggie Lambe and Rai Simons, Bermuda gave a decent account of themselves as several fringe players were given the opportunity to impress head coach Andrew Bascome ahead of next month’s Caribbean Cup first-round qualifiers.

Forward Angelo Simmons opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the third minute before G’Vaune Amory equalised four minutes later after an error by Bermuda goalkeeper Mikkail Crockwell.

Tiah Hanley struck for the home side in the eleventh minute but Bermuda soon levelled through Simmons’s Dandy Town team-mate Dominique Williams on 15 minutes

Hanley scored again early in the second period to give St Kitts the lead but Bermuda showed good character to pull themselves back on level terms through substitute Seion Darrell in the 78th minute.

Bermuda found a winner from the penalty spot when captain Drewonde Bascome converted in the first minute of stoppage time.

Bascome’s side return to action against St Kitts’ senior team at the Warner Park Stadium in Basseterre tomorrow.

Bascome said he was satisfied with his side’s performance in the opening match of their trip.

“I was pleased with the result, although I was disappointed with some of our goalkeeping as we made two errors to gift St Kitts goals,” he said.

“In fairness to the players, we arrived last night [Thursday] and didn’t have long to prepare so I was glad we won so no one could use that as an excuse.

“We know it will be tougher on Sunday so we will get some rest, train tomorrow night [Saturday] at the stadium and then look for another win.”

Bascome singled out his son Drewonde and defender Killian Elkinson for special raise.

“I thought Drewonde did very well and showed a good range of passing,” Bascome said. “I also thought Killian had a very good game. He’s an intelligent player with excellent technical ability.”

St Kitts are 40 places above Bermuda in the Fifa world rankings in 118th position.

TEAMS

St Kitts Under-20s: R Belgrove, A Diaz, L David, S Boston, J Caines, N Browne, A Charles, D Brookes, J Gumbs, G Amory, S Cannonier, Y Harris, A Francis, D Phipps, J Isaac, L Jeffers, Y Saunders, YMitchum, T Warner, T Hanley

Bermuda (4-3-3): M Crockwell — M Hill, J Raynor, D Williams, W White — T Goater, J Donawa, D Bascome — L Simmons, I Coke, A Simmons. Substitutes: K Elkinson, J Minors, J Swan, D Johnson, N Griffiths, P Smith, S Darrell

Referee: D Parris