Derek Broadley has refused to get carried away with Bermuda Under-23s recent displays against Trinidad and said the real test would come this summer when the same group of players represent Bermuda Hogges.

Bermuda's technical director believes Hogges' 16 matches in the USL's Professional Development League (PDL) will offer a truer reflection of how much improvement the Under-23s have made since the BFA set up the national academy 12 months ago.

Trinidad visited the Island last week and won 5-2 in the opening game but were held to a 1-1 draw in the final match.

"Let's not get over ourselves," Broadley said.

'We did okay at times in the first game and played better in the second game. The big test will be in the summer when we have 16 games in the PDL – that will give us another chance to take a step forward."

For Broadley, the most pleasing aspect of the Trinidad tour was the way the Under-23s fought back from a goal down and did not fold like a deck of cards, as has often been the case in the past with national teams and the Hogges.

He also pointed out that a high proportion of the squad had actually been under 20 years of age and said that accounted for why they sometimes struggled to match Trinidad physically.

"The most pleasing point from a coaches' standpoint was that we came back from a goal behind. Historically that is not been a Bermudian trait," he said.

"I think sometimes Bermuda has a policy of making everybody feel welcome all the time.

"Sometimes you need to make people feel uncomfortable. In the second game we were more competitive and physical. That was not deliberate and the coaches did not talk about that, the boys picked up on that themselves.

"I do not think the public realises just how young our side was. Nahki Wells, Reggie Lambe, Tahj Bell and Roger Lee are all under 20. People may say we were physically weak but that has to be taken into consideration.

"Obviously it will be nice to have the likes of Tyrell Burgess, Logan Alexander and Freddy Hall available in the bigger tournaments. Circumstances this time dictated they were not available."

In the build-up to the Trinidad double-header sports physio Craig Brown worked with the Under-23s and Broadley believes the national cricket team trainer can help improve Bermuda's physical edge.

"Having Craig Brown around certainly supported a lot of work we have been doing. He took some of the warm-ups and even introduced ice baths to the players. Craig will be submitting a proposal to us to show what he can offer. On a short-term basis he was just what we needed. I think we will be looking at getting him more involved across the national academy."

Since establishing the national academy at BFA Field, Broadley, youth director Devarr Boyles and Under-23 coach Scott Morton have been working to develop a uniquely Bermudian style of play.

And at times during Bermuda's matches against Trinidad, Broadley saw some signs of their vision coming to fruition and went on: "There is no secret we are trying to play with a flat back four, we want to play with a holding midfield player like Seion Darrell or Shawn Brown, then we are looking for our midfielders Reggie Lambe, Nahki Wells, Keishen Bean and Shayne Hollis to run with the ball and excite people.

"We had some good attacks and kept the ball well at times."

Broadley said the likely date for Bermuda's return trip to Trinidad would be April before the PDL season starts and at the end of the college term so their overseas-based players would be available.