suited to the Canadians, they preserved their proud unbeaten home record in the World Cup.

The result was not enough to lift Bermuda off the bottom of the four-team group despite Jamaica's 2-1 loss in El Salvador, but the gutsy performance would have been pleasing to the small crowd of just over 1,000 that braved the cold and blustery conditions to support the team right to the end of their campaign.

Bermuda, starting without top scorer Shawn Goater who was dropped for disciplinary reasons after missing a team photo session the day before, showed plenty of commitment and character.

Noticeable right from the outset was the close attention central defenders Shawn Smith and Kentoine Jennings paid to Alex Bunbury, the man who capitalised on some loose marking in Canada to score a hat-trick in the 4-2 win over Bermuda last month.

"I guess that was their plan,'' said Bunbury who is soon to sign for English First Division team West Ham United. "I couldn't get loose. I battled hard but with two men on me all the time I couldn't do much.'' But while Bunbury was given little room, the better of the few Canada chances fell to his front partner John Catliff who wasted them.

Unlike in Canada -- or even El Salvador or Jamaica -- Bermuda were on even par with their opponents during the early stages and gave the Canada defence a fright in the eighth minute when Albert Smith's long ball down the left flank for full-back Neil Paynter resulted in Paynter's cross shot just going wide of the far post.

Sammy Swan, playing as striker in the absence of Goater, was given little room in and around the Canada penalty box by their central defenders, captain Colin Miller and Randy Samuel. Still, there was plenty to be optimistic about as David Bascome, Elliott Jennings and Albert Smith battled hard to get things going in midfield.

"We talked about the fact that we've been giving up early goals in the last few games and that we've dug ourselves in holes and didn't come out of them,'' said coach Gary Darrell afterwards.

"It's nice to finish with a good performance. I'm glad it was an above par performance for everybody, it was what we needed. One of the reasons we played better was because the defence was solid. We never looked like giving up a goal.'' One of Canada's best chances in the first half fell to Catliff in the 25th minute when he got free of his marker at the far post to collect a cross from the right from full-back Frank Yallop and drove in a shot that goalkeeper Adams blocked with his legs before Dave Norman put the rebound over the bar.

American referee Ed Cummings used his yellow card just once, to book David Bascome for a 28th-minute foul on midfielder Nick Dasevic.

Canada went close again to finding the net in the 31st minute when a cross along the goal-line by Catliff saw Adams fail to slap the ball over the bar and it went ontouched across goal.

Canada kept the upper hand early in the second half despite a strong wind in their faces. Catliff had a shot punched away by Adams before Dale Mitchell shot straight at Adams when well placed.

Dasevic got in on the action by putting a low shot wide of the far post -- all in the first seven minutes of the second half.

Bermuda did not win their first corner until the 55th minute and 'keeper Paul Dolan showed his strength in the air by collecting Albert Smith's cross from the right. Goater was warming up by then and came on to replace Sammy Swan in the 55th minute to give the team a boost in attack.

"I thought the lads were doing well but the only thing lacking was the finishing punch,'' said Goater who was hoping to add to his seven World Cup goals.

"The standard was already high and they showed plenty of guts and determination to defend that home record.'' Bermuda didn't have any clear-cut chances as Paynter drove a shot past the near post after Lightbourne and Jennings combined on the left in the 65th minute.

Both teams kept attacking right to the end as Canada substitute Paul Peschisolido put a cross into the side netting in the 80th minute before at the other end Albert Smith, stepping up his game after the Bermuda substitution, shot straight at Dolan from long range.

Canada responded with sub Carl Valentine putting a free shot wide of the far post after Adams had narrowed the angle.

Canada now join group winners El Salvador in the thrird round, which also contains Mexico and Honduras from Group A.

"We achieved what we set out to do and got into the (third) round,'' said coach Bob Leonarduzzi.

"Today's game cannot really compare to what we'll have to do in the next round. Full credit to Bermuda. There was nothing in it for them but they kept plugging away. But to be honest they never looked like scoring.'' Bermuda: D.Adams; M.Wade, S.Smith, K.Jennings, N.Paynter; E.Jennings, D.Bascome, A.Smith; P.Cann, S.Swan (S.Goater, 58 mins), K.Lightbourne. Subs not used: Carlyle Crockwell, Lloyd Christopher, Kevin Grant, Philip Clarke.

Canada: P.Dolan; F.Yallop, M.Sweeney, C.Miller, R.Samuel; N.Dasevic, L.Hooper, D.Mitchell, A.Bunbury, J.Catliff (C.Valentine, 76 mins), D.Norman (P.Peschisolido, 64 mins).

Referee: Ed Cummings.

Linesmen: Arthur Reed, George Savic.

Men of the match: David Bascome (Bermuda); Colin Miller (Canada).

ON THE ATTACK -- Canada midfielder Lyndon Hooper breaks free from the stranded Shawn Smith as he looks for an opening on the edge of the penalty box.

HIGH FIVES -- Bermuda defender Kentoine Jennings, who scored two World Cup goals this year, fails in this bid to add a third as Canada goalkeeper Paul Dolan shows a clean pair of gloves during this second-half corner.