Bermuda 1 Antigua 1 Antigua win on away goals Gloom fell over the National Sports Centre last evening when referee Alexander Williams' final whistle signalled the end of Bermuda's short World Cup qualifying run.

The important away goal, which Bermuda failed to score in Antigua, came back to haunt them as the score draw favoured the visitors.

Captain Shannon Burgess scored what many hoped would stand as the winning penalty in the 61st minute, only to see a determined Antigua team equalise 13 minutes later through Derrick Edwards.

Then, Antigua held the trump card with Bermuda needing to win the match in order to advance. And though they upped the tempo as they fought for every ball, Antigua continued to play well too, keeping the pressure on the Bermuda defence.

Bermuda had some good chances as they went on the attack from the outset, seeking an early goal to ease the pressure. The team saw one change from the line-up in Antigua last weekend, with Kentoine Jennings dropped for striker John Barry Nusum who partnered Stephen Astwood up front, while Antigua made three changes.

Meshach Wade, who worked tirelessly throughout in midfield, went close to breaking the deadlock in the 11th minute when he shot wide from a half-cleared corner on the left.

Astwood went close on another occasion after being set up by Paul Cann while Antigua had a good chance themselves when Quentin Clarke's shot was tipped over the bar by 'keeper Dwayne Adams.

Bermuda had claims for a penalty ignored by the St. Lucia referee when Meshach Wade went down in the box after a challenge by the 'keeper as he tried to recover a ball which bounced away from him following a good diving save from a Nusum shot.

Tokia Russell saw his effort hit the crossbar in the closing minutes of the half and then a Wade free kick looked destined for the back of the net before 18-year-old 'keeper Janeil Simon brought off another good save.

Bermuda kept the Antigua defence on the back foot early in the second half as Astwood, himself just 18, shot straight at Simon after doing well to meet a cross from the left with two players surrounding him.

The home team made their first substitution in the 59th minute, bringing on their latest find, college student Colin Robinson, for Nusum. Robinson left Bermuda as a six-year-old and is a student at the University of North Carolina. The move appeared to pay off as Bermuda took the lead two minutes later when Ranja Christian clipped Astwood as he raced into the box, sending the youngster to the ground holding his head. Williams had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot and Burgess tucked the ball inside the 'keeper's right-hand post.

Bermuda made another change a minute later when Kentoine Jennings replaced the injured Karl Roberts, an injury that captain Burgess brought to the coaches' attention as Robinson was coming on.

A second Bermuda goal would have killed off Antigua and Paul Cann was involved in the two moves that almost brought it.

First he shot against the near post after racing into the Antigua box. Then, four minutes later Cann, at 33 the oldest member of the team and a surviving member from the last World Cup campaign, curled an inch-perfect cross to the feet of Robinson on the far side, but the first time snap shot was too high.

That would be Cann's last contribution as, surprisingly, he was taken off in the 72nd minute to be replaced by Kenny Mills to boos of disapproval.

Bermuda crash out From Page 25 Two minutes later Antigua scored the goal that ended Bermuda's dream as substitute Gayson Gregory crossed from the left for Edwards to score from close range.

Bermuda threw caution to the wind after that, even after briefly being reduced to 10 men when Devarr Boyles was taken off on a stretcher. The Antigua 'keeper also needed treatment for a knock after a challenge on Kentoine Jennings brought a corner.

But even seven minutes of stoppage time couldn't help Bermuda as Antigua hung on desperately.

In a last minute corner even goalkeeper Adams was in the Antigua half as a downward header by Jennings was tipped over the bar by Simon.

Several Bermuda players slumped to the pitch, distraught, when the final whistle was blown, while the Antiguans celebrated their advancement to the next round.

Bermuda: D.Adams; S.Burgess, C.Roberts, K.Roberts (K.Jennings 62 mins), T.Russell, D.Boyles, S.Lewis, P.Cann (K.Mills 72 mins), M.Wade, J.Nusum (C.Robinson 59 mins), S.Astwood.

Antigua: J.Simon; V.Gonsalves, V.Spencer, S.Phillip, N.Jeffers (V.Warner 66 mins), Q.Clark, V.Edwards, S.Anthony, D.Edwards, R.Christian, R.Isaac (G.Gregory 69 mins).

Referee: Alexander Williams; assistants -- Julius Gabriel, Wilson Faucher (all from St. Lucia).

Yellow card: Neil Jeffers (Antigua).

Men of match: Meshach Wade (Bermuda), Janeil Simon (Antigua).

Photos by Ras Mykkal Slide tackle: Antigua defender Vernon Spencer (left) stretches a leg to put Bermuda teenager John Barry Nusum off his stride during yesterday's World Cup clash.

Crying times: Bermuda players (from left) Clifford Roberts, Shannon Burgess and Tokia Russell console each other after the final whistle against Antigua signalled the team's exit from the World Cup qualifying campaign yesterday.