Bermuda 1

St.Kitts and Nevis 2

Keith Tucker's young pupils failed their first mock examination but did learn a fundamental lesson - miss your chances and you will be punished.

Schoolboy defending gifted St.Kitts and Nevis a two-goal lead through Jevon Francis and Ian Lake, and while substitute Jason Davis' netted late on, it was not enough to prevent Tucker opening his reign with defeat.

While St.Kitts were more composed in possession it was Bermuda who created - but squandered - the superior chances, exposing themselves as students who 'must do better' when it comes to 'finishing school'.

It would not have been the scoreline Tucker envisioned for his first game, but as the new coach pointed out before proceedings, the performance would always take precedence in his priorities.

And there will be plenty of positives for him to mull over before these team's resume hostilities tomorrow, because for periods of the first half, Bermuda had an attacking verve about them, moving the ball with conviction and purpose, creating a trio of guilt edge chances.

Lashun Dill was the first culprit, with the leggy winger taking far too long to pull the trigger, choosing instead to round the keeper before running out of time and space. Bermuda then survived a scare when Francis hammered a shot from distance that cannoned off the crossbar before skipper Kwame Steede inexplicably ballooned a close range shot over St.Kitts' bar following a superb pull back by the busy Dill.

Steede's profligacy proved to be a pivotal point. Bermuda paid dearly as defender Darius Cox proceeded to making a real hash from the returning punt, allowing Francis to race through clear on goal and poke home on 25-minutes.

But the home side continued to create chances with debutant 17-year-old Nahki Wells spreading play confidently from midfield, making the step up to the international stage with consummate ease.

Alongside him fellow teenager Reggie Lambe, although deployed deeper than he might prefer, showed touches of class and crafted a wonderful chance for Wells after a bursting run through the middle.

Wells made an intelligent run beyond lone striker Astwood and collected Lambe's through ball but took it too wide rounding the keeper, giving himself an impossible angle to finish from.

At the other end Bermuda's defence was causing hearts to flutter and on 38-minutes St.Kitts' doubled their lead when an unchallenged Ian Lake headed home from a corner-kick.

The second-half saw Tucker reel the changes, Darrell, Waldron, and the unfortunate Wells and Dill making way for the oncoming quartet. As part of the shuffle Kevin Richards moved to centre-half where he made a telling difference to the defensive unit.

Suddenly Bermuda looked, well, almost solid, with chief foreman Richards organising his back-line impressively in the absence of the sorely missed Omar Shakir.

Admittedly, St.Kitts no longer needed to chase the game, and other than a superb reflex save from Williams they rarely troubled Richards and co.

Tucker's men continued to probe as the match became scrappier, with Kwame Steede stinging 'keeper Benjamin's gloves with a left-foot volley from inside the area. And they got their just rewards when substitute Jason Davis linked up well with Damon Ming before exquisitely finishing low into the far corner on 86 minutes.

* * *

Bermuda

J.Williams K.Richards M.Waldron (J.Butterfield 45) D.Cox S.Darrell (J.Ball 45) K.Steede R.Lambe (A.Zuill 62) N.Wells (J.Davis 45) S.Astwood L.Dill (C.Robinson 45) D.Ming

St.Kitts and Nevis

K.Benjamin K.Richards J.Jeffers R.Wigley (S.Charles 55 ) I.Byron (J.Matthew 85) G.Williams A.Nurs O.Mitchum (E. O'Laughlin 40) A.Harris I.Lake J.Francis (I.Ponteen 85)

Men of the Match

K.Richards (Bermuda)

J.Francis (St.Kitts and Nevis)

Referee

A.Mauchette