Bermuda 1 Cayman Islands 0 Substitute Reggie Tucker headed in Otis Steede's free kick in the 73rd minute to give Bermuda their fourth victory in five games at BAA Field on Saturday night.

But if technical director Clyde Best had been delighted with his much-changed team's 3-1 victory over the small Caribbean nation last Thursday, it was a more pragmatic Best who greeted this lacklustre win.

"We have to look at it and say we didn't get beaten,'' said the Bermuda boss afterwards. "We got a result.

"It wasn't a great game. But we have played this team three times this year and won. We won't get better until we're playing every three days.

"It's difficult when you make a lot of changes. You can't fault the players.'' Best and coach Robert Calderon were again without the services of captain and central defensive rock Shannon Burgess, meaning that Meshach Wade slotted into the middle of the back three as he had done on Thursday night.

Otis Steede and Kenny Mills, members of the starting line-up two nights earlier, were left on the bench, replaced by Andrew Rahman and Ascento Russell respectively, while David Thomas came in on the left side of defence for Kimandi Binns.

And Timmy Figureido made way for Troy Hall in goal as Bermuda made full use of the squad available. While, as usual, Wade did a sterling job where he was asked to play, there was no doubt that the tireless runner's promptings from midfield were missed.

Ascento Russell tried to give Caymans goalkeeper Alfredo Whittaker an early test but his speculative shot from distance was not a threat.

Four minutes later, stand-in captain Devarr Boyles intercepted a ball in midfield, took it to the left and almost set up a chance for the incoming Keishon Smith, but his pass was just too close to Whittaker for the Devonshire Colts player to take advantage.

Carlos Welcome flashed a shot wide of Troy Hall's left-hand post before Gary Whittaker missed a good opportunity to put the visitors in the lead on 14 minutes after being put in the clear by Colin Rowe. Hall did well to smother his effort.

And Hall had Wade to thank four minutes later when the Vasco player cleared off his own goal-line from another Cayman attack.

Wade was in the right place at the right time again after 34 minutes when Hall went for a cross but didn't make it and he hacked the ball away from the danger area.

Some of the football on both sides was neat enough, but it lacked penetration, and when Tokia Russell went on a useful run on the right, his decision to take a long shot rather than create a better opening for himself or a team-mate reflected that.

But his namesake Ascento had Bermuda's best chance of the half after a clever ball by Paul Cann left him with only the goalkeeper to round. Whittaker was experienced enough, however, to force the striker wide and eventually he over-balanced as he tried to square the ball back with his left foot.

Russell gave way to Kenny Mills with a third of the game remaining as the home side looked to be more incisive.

But it was the energetic Caymans striker Eric Brown who missed the clearest chance of the night after 69 minutes, when defender Karl Roberts was caught out by a long ball. Roberts at least did enough to worry Brown, pursuing him into the penalty area, but the nippy Brown should still have got his shot on target.

A minute later, Best threw on Reggie Tucker and the veteran Elliott Jennings for Keishon Smith and Paul Cann and almost immediately it paid dividends.

Tokia Russell won a free kick level with the edge of the penalty area on the right and Otis Steede, a 21st minute substitute for the injured Thomas, swung over the perfect ball to the near post where Tucker, one of the smallest players on the pitch, met it with a powerful downward header to score.

Bermuda: T.Hall, K.Dill, D.Thomas (O.Steede 21 mins), K.Roberts, M.Wade, A.Rahman, D.Boyles, P.Cann (R.Tucker 69 mins), T.Russell, A.Russell (K.Mills 60 min), K.Smith (E.Jennings 69 mins).

Cayman Islands: A.Whittaker, G.Anderson, S.Myles, C.Rowe (N.Murray 70 mins), R.Thomas, F.Wilks, C.Welcome, L.Ramoon (A.Ramoon 85 mins), G.Whittaker, F.McKenzie, E.Brown Referee: Anthony Mouchette Men of the match: Meshach Wade (Bermuda); Gary Whittaker (Caymans