win in Barbados when they bounced back from an opening 7-0 loss to Chile to beat Mexico 1-0 with a goal in the dying minutes from captain Megan Spurling on Friday night.

The local youngsters produced a fine display of teamwork after the coaches chose to start with a more attacking line-up, using three forwards in Spurling, Erica Frith and Hannah Ellison. Spurling's 68th minute goal settled the match.

Bermuda started brightly, earning a penalty corner in the first minute and applying pressure on Mexico's defence.

But the tide quickly turned as Mexico took control for the next quarter of an hour, although thanks to some solid defending from sweeper Lisete Moniz and Claire Dornington, they never managed a shot on goal.

The first half ended with a series of six penalty corners to Mexico which were all easily dealt with by the Bermuda defence. Jessica Sousa gave Bermuda their first shot on goal in the 20th minute which was saved by the Mexico goalkeeper.

Bermuda came out in the second half in attacking mode and almost scored through Caroline Bissell from a well-worked penalty corner.

As the game flowed from end to end, the weather deteriorated. And Bermuda's fortunes dipped when Caroline Black was given a yellow card and suspended.

Two minutes later the match was delayed because of a waterlogged pitch.

Resuming for the last 17 minutes with 10 players, Bermuda played solid defensively.

With 10 minutes left, Spurling ran 60 yards to beat the 'keeper but failed to find the net. Worse was to come as in the 64th minute Dornington was yellow-carded and suspended, although Black returned a minute later as Bermuda continued to fight.

Black then delivered a free hit to Spurling who beat three defenders and rounded the 'keeper before firing into the net with just two minutes left.

The victory ensures Bermuda will reach the classification round, just as they did in the 1997 championships.

After a rest day on Saturday, the team were due back in action late yesterday against Trinidad. Their final group match is against world champions Argentina on Wednesday.

Other results on Friday saw Chile beat Trinidad and Tobago 1-0 and the United States hammer host country Barbados 5-0.