Bermuda Under-17 national coach Kenny Thompson yesterday downplayed his team's weekend success to just another step in their development.

Speaking in the wake of Sunday's dramatic 1-1 draw against Trinidad which sent the local team through to the next round of Under-17 World Cup qualifiers, Thompson said he was well aware of the mammoth task that still lay ahead - a tough home and away series against Cuba in the next round followed by another qualifying stage should they win that match.

And Thompson admitted his team would need to make a few adjustments if they were to be successful against the Cubans.

"It's all about development and when we enter these competitions we always keep an eye on the finals," said Thompson.

"We certainly would like to make it through to the finals but it's also important that we look at it from a developmental standpoint and that is being able to have the opportunity to play against Cuba which, no matter what happens, will only bode for well for the players' development."

He also re-affirmed Bermuda Football Association's pledge to youth soccer.

"It's a developmental programme with an eye to the future and that future is the optimum football performance of each player once they reach the senior level," explained Thompson.

"So anything prior to that in youth football is development. And a part of that development is obviously trying to teach players how to win - competition maturity is important. But another part of that development is for the players to gain valuable experience in difficult matches - even those that they lose."

Thompson said he had noticed a marked improvement in the team's overall performance from July's tournament also held at the National Sports Centre.

"When we look at the success of the team in this competition then it's important to look back to the summer tournament where we actually finished last among four teams and lost to all of them," he said.

"It was important in their overall development because it outlined what the game at that level is really about and that had a positive impact on their performance in training and preparation.

"Obviously the team will have to improve for the next round against Cuba - actually anyone who we play from this point forward will certainly be a tough opponent."

But for the moment, the coach said that he was proud of his team's recent achievement.

"I'm extremely proud of the team. I think that they played very well in all of the matches. We had the chance to seal it on Friday and didn't and we were given another chance and we were able to pull it off."

He also revealed the team's formula for success.

"I attributed our success to our possession game, patience and probing for penetrating opportunities at the right moments. That was the main difference.

"I thought that Guyana and Trinidad were very direct. They played a lot of long balls, which in a way favoured St. Lucia and allowed them to deal with the situations a lot more easier than when they played against us."

Thompson was, however, also quick to point out Friday's poor performance in front of goal which saw Bermuda suffer a 1-0 loss to Guyana. As a result, Bermuda had to rely on St. Lucia to beat Guyana on Sunday.

St. Lucia generously obliged, upsetting the favourites 3-2, to let Thompson's charges in with another shot.

Thompson said yesterday that Bermuda captain Kyle Outerbridge had played with a bothersome ankle injury and that defender Logan Alexander, injured during Sunday's match, was now resting after suffering a bruised shoulder which was initially thought to have been fractured.

"Kyle was actually struggling from the very beginning with an ankle injury. In fact, he had the same injury during the summer tournament," said Thompson.

The coach praised Sunday's goal hero Damon Swan for his unselfish play when asked to drop back and take up duties in the midfield.

"I was forced to bring Damon back because as a player he has vision and is very technical and can regulate the build- up and add a physical presence in midfield," said Thompson.

"I thought that Damon played very well and I was very proud of him because he prefers to play at the front and that's fine but he was asked to relinquish what he prefers to do for the benefit of the team and he carried it out as near perfect as anyone could have asked."