Technical director Derek Broadley believes the Clyde Best Youth Tournament provided an important benchmark of how Bermuda's young footballers compare against those from top European and American academies.

In last night's competition curtain call at the National Sports Centre, Bermuda B pulled off an impressive draw against overall winners FC Sochaux, while Bermuda A slipped to a 4-3 defeat against Colorado Rapids, despite dominating for much of the match.

Fulham trialist Zeiko Lewis, Dante Brangman and Jaquan Smith found the net against Rapids, whose senior side play in the MLS.

And Broadley has now called for players, coaches, clubs and parents to embrace and support the national development programme as Bermuda Football Association strive to close the gap on academies from both sides of the Atlantic.

"This tournament has provided us with a sense of realism of where we are at," said Broadley. "As expected FC Sochaux showed they are the real deal and Rapids are an established academy in America.

"Compared to the top European academies we are well behind, but compared to America we are almost there.

"FC Sochaux's players train five times a-week after school and if you're serious about improving the level of football on the Island that's what you have to do.

"Our programme has only just started and we need the players, coaches, clubs and parents to fully embrace it."

The strengths and deficiencies that exist at all levels of Bermudian football were clearly evident during the Under-15 tournament, no more so than in Bermuda A's defeat against Rapids.

Scott Moreton's side showed plenty of attacking brio and three times took the lead but continually undermined their entertaining play by gift wrapping goals for their opponents

Encouragingly, however, Devarr Boyles' Bermuda B gave a performance full of determination and spirit to frustrate the more experienced FC Sochaux and drew praise from former West Ham striker Clyde Best.

"FC Sochaux are one of the best academy teams in France so to get a draw against them is a great achievement by our players and should give our players a lot of confidence."

In Saturday night's matches Bermuda A lost to FC Sochaux 5-0, while Bermuda B suffered a 3-1 defeat against Colorado Rapids.