It was supposed to be the night when the Bermuda Hogges finally ignited and set their season alight.

But the detonator never went off to leave them resembling a damp firework without a match.

There is no doubt there is gunpowder within their ranks - but at present nowhere enough for a meaningful explosion to blast them from foot of the table.

Like so many times this season flashes of brilliance were evident, but all too fleeting, while potential mistakes continued to lurk menacingly always feeding the opposition with portions of goalscoring promise.

"Every goal we have scored this season we have had to work for," reasoned Shaun Goater.

"Yet the majority of goals we have conceded have come from a miss-kick, a poor clearance or a defensive mix-up.

"I wish teams would gift us goals like we do them. We had two chances to clear their goal and the ball still ended up in the back of the net."

It was billed as a proverbial six-pointer with Wilmington Hammerheads also lying in the lower echelons of the table.

And in fairness to the Hogges they came out the starting blocks like a team who believed this was their night, a team who believed they were occupying a false league position.

With the diminutive Damon Ming playing the Danny DeVito to Steven Astwood's Arnold Schwarzenegger, the strike twins had the look of a potent combination.

Ming's extra pace in particular gave the Hogges greater longitude to their play with the Hammerheads back-line looking clueless as how to combat his waspish movement.

Other than one hairy moment that saw Hammerheads striker Brian Cvilikas get on the end of a cross and hit the post, the Hogges were largely in the ascendancy.

But they failed to capitalise during this window of opportunity that was slammed firmly in their face in the 36-minute when Adam Williamson was the quickest to react during a goalmouth scramble following a blocked save by keeper Timmy Figureido.

From that point on the Hogges seemed to have the stuffing knocked out of them amidst the stark realisation a fifth successive defeat was in danger of becoming a reality.

If only they had taken more care and precision with their final ball and shots on sight then maybe the game could have had a happy ending.

The second-period saw the Hogges never really get going with the Hammerheads enjoying the superior possession and the better chances.

On 69 minutes Timmy Figureido justified his selection over Jason Williams with an excellent block to deny Michael Thompson when clean through on goal to the Hogges hopes alive.

But the Hammerheads then nearly extended their lead when Brian Bell struck the bar from an inswinging corner.

With the Hogges desperately looking for a way back into the game veteran marksman Shaun Goater was introduced for Damon Ming who was unable to reproduce his form of the first-half.

But not even the presence of Bermuda's most famous footballing son could inspire his teammates who couldn't hide their dejection as they trudged off the National Stadium.

It must be remembered this venture is still in its infancy and better times are ahead, but messers Goater, Lightbourne and Scope may have wished for a better return on the energy, effort and endeavour they have invested into Bermuda's first professional football club.