Diminutive footballer Damon Ming couldn't have asked for a better way to celebrate his debut on the World Cup stage.

The 25 year-old Somerset Trojans midfielder - who enjoys attacking down both flanks - marked his first appearance in the prestigious competition in fine style, scoring in the sixth, 19th and 50th minutes for a well-deserved hat-trick during Bermuda's 13-0 demolition of Montserrat.

Ming, whose ultimate goal is to one day play professionally, rates Sunday's performance high on his list of personal achievements in senior football - both domestically and internationally.

"Words really cannot explain it . . . I was so excited to score at the international level. Even though it was against weak opposition it still meant a lot to me," he said.

"It was very good to score a hat-trick on my World Cup debut. Everybody (team-mates) was telling me to take my time after I missed a chance to get my hat-trick in the first half. They encouraged me to take my time and concentrate - and that is what I did in the second half.

"It does a lot for your confidence knowing that you can score at the national level. It just makes you feel that you can score more goals at the domestic level and hopefully this form can stay with me whether it be me scoring or providing goals. I just hope that I can help my team both domestically and internationally in the best way possible to get the desired results."

With spots in Bermuda's national team at a premium, Ming says it's vital to make the best of your chances whenever presented.

"I feel that with every game you have to prove yourself because there is competition for spots in the team and no one is guaranteed a spot. I have to go out there and do what I know I can do best," added the High Point University graduate.

Ming started playing locally as a five-year old with Devonshire Colts, moving on to Dandy Town for a brief stint before finally venturing further west to Silver City.

"After coming back from University (2002), I moved to Somerset because it's closer for me," he explained. "Dennis (Brown) is an extremely good coach and because we have so many younger players coming through the ranks, I have been asked to play a leadership role at the club and help them along.

"That is what I am trying to achieve this season and it seems to be working thus far with my game and also the team's game. And I can only get better at that level and also hope to get better at the national level."

The right-footed player also has other goals in mind.

"It is still a goal of mine to play in the professional ranks but being with my age and all, my main objective now is to help in any way possible the team Kenny Thompson has put together to achieve our goal to get to World Cup 2006," said Ming, who has banged in nine goals for Trojans this season.

"My target (goals) for the season is 15 goals and hopefully I can achieve that by the end of the season.

"I think I excel mainly on the flanks but I can also go in the middle if required. But I'd rather be on the flank where I can do most my damage with my speed."