A 79th minute Meshach Wade penalty fired Bermuda to an impressive 2-1 win over Jamaica yesterday at the National Sports Centre.

Just ten minutes after striker Clevon Hill equalised for the home team - bravely risking life and limb to get his head to a Stephen Astwood pass as Jamaican ‘keeper Allien Whittaker charged in - referee Lyndon Raynor had no hesitation in pointing to the spot when workhorse Jared Peniston was sandwiched in the box.

A composed Wade made no mistake, firmly placing his shot to the right of a wrong-footed Whittaker to spark wild scenes of joy in the stands as Bermuda's national team opened up a new chapter on a solid footing.

“It's better than I expected,” said Bermuda coach Gary Darrell following his triumphant return to the helm. “As I stated prior to the match I was going to find out some things about this team at the same time that everyone else did.

“The guys hung in there and worked hard together. Obviously, there's still a lot of work to do but this was only our first match and even though we would have liked to have had more time to prepare this is still a great way to start.”

But while there were was jubilation in the home team dressing room, further down the hallway you could cut the tension with a knife, Jamaican coach Peter Gargill flatly refusing to comment on the outcome other than to lament that his team had been “robbed”.

In the end, however, Jamaica had no one else to blame but themselves for again failing to deliver the knockout blow when they had the opposition on the ropes.

The visitors Leon Strickland and Roland Dean - the latter opening the scoring early in the first half - repeatedly squandered opportunities that could have ended their festive tour - in which they won one, drew one and lost one - on more positive note.

Jamaica had rocked the host team back on their heels in only the second-minute.

After a Bermuda raid broke down deep in Jamaica's half, the visitors mounted a quick counterattack. Strickland provided the magic touch down Bermuda's right-side, snaking his way past two defenders before passing to the on-running Dean who managed to steer the ball past Dwayne (Streaker) Adams despite the ‘keeper getting a glove to the ball.

As an eerie hush began to descend upon the National Sports Centre, Jamaica began to take full command as Bermuda played like . . . well, players playing together for the first time.

The visitors should have been 2-0 up in the tenth minute when Dean broke free of the Bermuda defence but shot wide with only ‘keeper Adams to contend with. Moments later Adams had to rush off his line to deny Dean who was able to round the ‘keeper but in doing so pushed the ball out of touch.

In the 18th minute Bermuda finally let their intentions known when Rohaan Simons had a close-range shot deflected for a corner. From the resulting kick Wade had a shot cleared off the line.

Jamaica then almost scored on their very next possession as Adams was forced to race out of his box to challenge a charging Dean to a loose ball - the ‘keeper receiving a booking for his effort.

Then in a bizarre sequence of events, Adams saw the ball rebound off his arm, onto the head of an unsuspecting Dean and then onto an upright before the danger was snuffed out.

Jamaica's pressure continued with DeShield clearing a shot off the line and Adams did well to collect a firm 30 yard free-kick by Jamaican skipper Omar Daley.

After the break Peniston - who otherwise had an outstanding game - saw a shot from eight-yards pushed around the post.

Midway through the half, Bermuda's Jahnai Raynor injured his left ankle and was replaced by Kaiwon Dill. Shortly after Damon Edwards completely miskicked from two yards out with the goal at his mercy as the home crowd began to sense something was about to happen.

Hill gave them what they wanted, a 68th minute equaliser, thanks to a headed pass from Astwood and some heroics on the striker's behalf.

However, Bermuda's celebrations were muted when midfielder Chris Moulder was stretchered off after being involved in a tackle in the middle of the park.

But they were back on their feet again eleven minutes later when Wade slammed his penalty home.

Tempers began to flare late in the match, the two teams having to be separated when Bermuda substitute Johnny Ball fouled Dean in midfield. Play was halted for several minutes as team officials sought to restore order.

Late in the match Jamaica engineered a number of chances as they sought the equaliser and Peniston should have put an even better gloss on the scoreline when he failed to capitalise on a free header from six-yards out.

Prior to the kick-off, a special moment was reserved to commemorate the outstanding contributions of the late Dudley Eve. A plaque was then presented to the Jamaican delegation as Sports Minister Randy Horton and Bermuda Football Association officials greeted the players.

Bermuda: D.Adams, S.DeShield, T.Davis, M.Wade, D.Edwards, C.Moulder (J.Ball, 77 mins), C.Hill, J.Raynor (K.Dill, 62 mins), J.Peniston, S.Astwood, R.Simons.

Jamaica: A.Whittaker, W.Ellis, T.Sawyers, S.Stevens, O.Daley, K.Harris, W.Wolfe, D.Williams, F.Dawkins, L.Strickland (K.Stephenson, 81 mins), R.Dean (C.Nicholas).

Booked: J.Ball, D.Adams, S.DeShield (Bermuda); W.Wolfe (Jamaica).

Men of the match: M.Wade (Bermuda); O.Daley (Jamaica).

Referee: Lyndon Raynor.