Bermuda Hogges midfielder Kwame Steede has hailed his long-range goal against Wilmington Hammerheads as the best of his career.

Schemer Steede struck in the 49th minute with a sublime finish to send the Hogges on their way to a vital victory in the first home match of the season.

Spotting the Hammerheads goalkeeper off his line, Steede showed acute awareness and smacked a bouncing ball beyond the back tracking custodian from 40 yards out.

"By the time I knocked it around the last defender I saw the 'keeper was back tracking," said the Bermuda national team captain. "I knew the wind was with me and I knew the ball would carry.

"I saw the 'keeper off his line before the ball had bounced and thought 'I must have this, I've just got to stroke her.'

"Straight away I said to myself, 'this is going in, this is gone, this is gone!"

He may have been punished with a yellow card for taking his shirt off during his understandably exuberant celebrations, but Steede said he simply couldn't contain his emotions.

"I couldn't help taking my shirt off, I just couldn't help it," he smiled. "That goal was brilliance and not too many people can say they've scored like that.

"It's in the top three goals I've ever scored. In fact, she's probably the number one."

The Devonshire Cougars talisman said the team were determined to bounce back from their six-goal thrashing against Charlotte Eagles and believes their battling performance proves they have the stomach for a scrap.

"As the Hammerheads coach said in the newspaper, last week's scoreline didn't reflect the game and I knew we would come out and play better.

"We put the hard work in and it paid off for us. We showed everyone that we can scrap and we've got players like Stephen Astwood, Kofi Dill, Omar Shakir and Kevin Richards who are physical players.

"We were going against the wind in the first half and had to make it scrappy to benefit us and stop them finding any rhythm."

Last season saw the Hogges take ten games to record a victory and Steede admitted the three points had lifted the pressure off the players' shoulders.

"I feel there's a lot of pressure off us now because we went without a victory for so long last season. We have high expectations for this season and to get a win straight after a six-nil thrashing is really pleasing. It takes a lot of weight off our chests."