A gloriously sunny Sunday afternoon in Rendall provided the perfect backdrop to this match, which kicked off the action in Group C. Western Isles were cast as the group's whipping-boys before the tournament began, while Bermuda, represented in Orkney by their under-23 side, were amongst the favourites to win the tournament.
Bermuda started the game on the front foot, and kept up the pressure on the Western Isles goal for most of the 90 minutes, but they were frustrated during the first half by poor finishing and fine defending. Joshua Joseph had their best chance after 10 minutes, when he got on the end of a low Camaje Easton-Smith cross 8 yards out, only to side-foot the ball wide with keeper Jack Maclennan's goal at his mercy.
Western Isles played on the counter and showed some good approach play, but were unable to fashion more than a weak shot or two, leaving the vocal Bermudan goalkeeper Nathaniel Swan virtually untested.
The Hebridean defence had an excellent first half, but their good work was undone two minutes into the second half when Joshua Joseph latched on to a through ball from midfield, steamed through a defence which had evaporated in front of him, touched the ball twice, and the second touch was enough for him to guide the ball to the left of Maclennan to give his side the lead.
Andrew Armstrong missed a good opportunity to extend Bermuda's lead moments later before Maclennan denied Joseph by rushing out and smothering the ball just before the forward made contact. Western Isles couldn't take advantage of a melée following a corner on the hour mark, which ended with an attacker unable to turn and shoot before Swan dived in to retrieve the ball just in front of his goal-line.
The underdogs got a couple of shots in shortly after that through the impressive Luke Morrison and Sam Mackay, who saw his shot saved. Before they could trouble the Bermudan goal again, their opponents doubled their lead with just under 20 minutes to go, and it came from a defensive mix-up. The ball was headed past the stranded Maclennan by one of his team-mates and hit the crossbar, but Keyni Mills was first to react, pouncing to turn and fire the ball past the diving Maclennan.
Stephen Mutch fashioned a chance for himself just outside the Bermudan box after twisting and turning to get into position, but his attempt to reduce the arrears was unsuccessful with the ball going well over the bar. After a duel with DI Maclennan sent an inviting cross into the box, but the unmarked Luke Mackay could only graze the ball with his forehead and the chance was lost.
Down the other end, Chance Eve, who had played well all game, had an injury-time opportunity to further increase his side's lead, but after going on a good run down the left and jinking his way into the box, he steered his shot inches over the bar. A Bermudan forward rounded Maclennan but couldn't steer a shot towards goal before Harry Bray got back to clear the ball.
A winning start to the tournament for the favourites, then, and manager Barry John Nusam was pleased enough with his team's performance after the game, saying that the Island Games was the first time that the current squad had been involved in a tournament, that they would be taking things game by game and hoped that his team would learn from being involved in the Games. They certainly looked to be a bright, ebullient and cohesive unit and will be a handful for any team they meet during the remainder of the competition.
Western Isles boss Eric MacLeod, meanwhile, said that he was delighted with the way his team had played, especially with their first-half performance. His defenders were excellent as a unit, and comfortably kept Bermuda at bay for long periods. The defeat virtually ensured that they would not be challenging for a place on the podium, but the team's display against one of the favourites to win Island Games gold would surely have given hope of a repeat performance against Ynys Môn on Monday.
WESTERN ISLES:
1 Jack MACLENNAN; 2 Donald MACLENNAN, 3 Harry BRAY, 4 Josh SMITH, 5 Eachainn MILLER, 6 Angus MACDONALD, 7 Samuel MACKAY, 8 Luke MORRISON, 10 Stephen MUTCH, 11 Michael JONES, 16 Robert JONES
BERMUDA:
12 Coleridge FABLER Jr.; 2 Andrew ARMSTRONG, 3 Brighton MORRISON, 5 Josj DUBLIN, 10 Joshua JOSEPH, 11 Hayden DILL, 13 Adrian TROTT, 14 Jace DONAWA, 15 Amir DILL, 16 La Zai OUTERBRIDGE, 20 Caleb McDOWALL
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Many thanks to the staff and volunteers at Rendall for their assistance and general good nature. They're a fine advert for the district, indeed. Thanks, too, to the match officials for their assistance.
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