Bermuda clinched double gold in football at the Island Games in Orkney yesterday to take the overall medal haul to five.

It was the second time that Bermuda has achieved such a feat, having done so on home soil in 2013.

The women defeated Isle of Man 4-2 on penalties to retain the title they won in Guernsey two years ago, the third occasion they have stood on top of the podium.

Not to be outdone, the men’s under-23 side overcame Ynys Môn 3-1 to make up for finishing fourth in 2023.

Naquita Robinson, the women’s coach, spoke with pride about her team’s accomplishment.

“It’s absolutely amazing, I am so proud of these young ladies,” she said.

“Before the match started, I expressed to the girls how proud I was of them for getting through such a gruelling week.

The teams were deadlocked 1-1 after extra time for the match to be decided from 12 yards. Khyla Brangman, Koa Goodchild, goalkeeper Zakhari Turner and Jaden Masters converted their kicks, with Turner also making a save and watching another effort go wide of her right-hand post.

After a goalless 90 minutes, Isle of Man broke the deadlock in the 112th minute when they took advantage of a rare defensive blunder from the Bermudian rearguard. Bermuda did not give up and won a penalty when Trinae Edwards was impeded a minute before the end, with Brangman showing some composure under pressure to hit the target for the encounter to be settled in the shoot-out.

“Regardless of the outcome, we defied the odds,” Robinson said. “When Isle of Man scored, I remained calm because I knew they would dig deep and grind out the result.

“What carried us through was their will to fight through the pain. They grew into the game and always believed in each other throughout the tournament.

“The girls didn't crack under pressure and trusted the process. To concede a goal with five minutes to go in the manner they did, many teams would have dropped their heads, but the team kept fighting.”

First-half goals from Jace Donawa and Mason Christopher put Bermuda Under-23 in the driver’s seat in the men’s final. After Ynys Môn scored and were looking to get an equaliser, substitute Andrew Armstrong ensured that the gold was heading to these shores when he added a third in stoppage time.

John Barry Nusum, the coach, spoke of how the earlier win by the women gave his players all the needed the impetus.

“The women’s match showed their fight and determination to win it,” the coach said.

“We knew that we had to have the same energy, and started the game in that same fashion. We have been playing from behind, but it was good to go up for a change.

“We haven’t even thought of 2023. That was a good team, but this is a totally different group that’s going on their different journey. We are happy with the win and the character that has been shown throughout the tournament from these men.”