Bermuda lost 4-0 at Chelsea's reserves yesterday at the Premier League club's state-of-the-art training facility in London.

The Island's best footballers rubbed shoulders with the best up and coming young players in the game.

"The match was a closely contested affair," said Technical Director Derek Broadley. "They almost went 1-0 up in the first 30 seconds, and we had a way into the match with the scores deadlocked, but missed a penalty.

"Timmy (Figuerido) made some good saves to keep our side in the match and overall we put on a good display."

Two goals by Argentina Under-21 striker Franco Di Santo and one each by Portuguese Under-19 player Fabio Ferreira and England's Jimmy Smith gave Chelsea a comfortable victory.

Yet they didn't have things their own way in the match by any stretch of the imagination, with the Islanders missing a penalty early in the game.

Bermuda went out in a 4-5-1 formation with Keishen Bean the lone striker.

Chelsea almost scored in the opening minute, which would have tested the mental strength of the Island's best.

Bermuda also had a chance to take the lead with a penalty, but Omar Shakir pushed his chance wide of the mark.

Chelsea took the lead after 20 minutes in a nip and tuck battle through the first half.

The same went for the second half until the hour mark, with the hosts slowly starting to take the initiative and more possession of the ball.

"The match was what the side needed, to play quality opposition," continued Broadley. "We had chances of our own besides the penalty, creating one-one's with their goalkeeper.

"We must take our chances and we will be in good stead."

Bermuda defender Kevin Richards thought that the scoreline flattered their hosts.

"It was a good match from our point of view, " said Richards. "The score doesn't reflect the way in which the match went, we had our chances to give them a run for their money, but we didn't take our chances.

"We have improved over the last few months, getting exposure with the matches we are playing."

And Richards is confident the side can only improve the more games that they play together. "The team needs to get games under our belt in order to play as a unit as we all come from different clubs. We can only go forward from here."

Bermuda: Timmy Figuerido, Marquel Waldron, Kevin Richards, Omar Shakir, Antonio Lowe, Meshach Wade, Jemeiko Jennings, Damon Ming, Kwame Steede, Domico Coddington, Keishen Bean