Shaun Goater came on to a hero's reception during Manchester City's 1-0 home defeat by West Ham yesterday.

Last week the 33-year-old Bermudian made public his decision to leave the Blues at the end of the season, bringing to an end the Maine Road career of a City legend.

Restricted to cameo roles following the arrival of Robbie Fowler and the latter's subsequent partnership with Nicolas Anelka, Goater will seek pastures new in the summer.

Though he only played for three minutes during yesterday's Premiership match, coming on as an 87th minute substitute for Niclas Jensen, it was reported that a 'cauldron of noise' erupted as he entered the pitch.

Goater's last game in a City shirt will be the final Premiership match of the season against Southampton on May 11 - a game for which he has already been made captain.

Meanwhile, Bermuda's other English soccer professional, Kyle Lightbourne, lasted just 45 minutes of Macclesfield's Third Division clash at Boston United. Already safe from the threat of relegation, Macclesfield lost 2-0 at York Street.

Lightbourne was substituted at half-time along with team-mate Danny Whitaker, both described as 'tired looking' after a long season.

John Barry Nusum played a key role in the Atlanta Silverbacks' season opener but could not inspire them to a victory.

The Silverbacks opened their A-League account with a 2-2 draw on Saturday night against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at the Dekalb Memorial Stadium in Norcross, Georgia.

Bermudian striker Nusum scored the first goal and set up the second but the Silverbacks were pegged back at the final whistle.

The Silverbacks went a goal down in the fourth minute but pulled level when Nusum headed past Riverhounds' goalkeeper Joard Odera in the 25th minute.

They surged ahead when former Wolves player Nusum intercepted a pass in midfield. He ran 25-yards through the centre of the pitch before sending a deep pass to the feet of Luna Ramon. Ramon then passed to Byron Mitchell who set up Shakar Asad for the 65th minute strike.

However, five minutes later the Riverhounds were back on even terms when the Silverbacks were blown for a handball in the penalty area.

At the end of the 90 minutes there then followed two periods of sudden-death overtime, but neither team could find the winner and the match ended all square.

Meanwhile, fellow US-based pro Khano Smith made his debut in the Carolina Dynamo's 2-2 draw with the Long Island Rough Riders on Friday.

Though he did not get on the scoresheet, the promising striker came close to snatching a victory for his side at the death.