Youth team coach Mark Trott launched a stinging attack on the Bermuda public after his side slipped to defeat against a domminant and impressive Rangers side at BAA Field last night.

Trott, visibly upset, said the constant sniping and criticism of the crowd affected his players, whose average age is just 15.

"When they come to the games they have to realise there can't be a million coaches,'' he said. "There's no appreciation of the good things the players do.

"They don't realise how the constant criticism affects them. The guys come in at half time asking why people are getting on their case.'' In fairness, Trott's anger could not be put down simply to an unsuccessful night which ended Bermuda's hopes of contesting the International Youth Tournament final on Friday.

Last week, before the competition got under way, he appealed for supporters to get behind the team and show understanding that players will make mistakes at this level.

But it seemed his plea fell on deaf ears.

Trott, at least, showed he would not be swayed by one poor performance, keeping faith with Zane Hendrickson between the posts following the young goalkeeper's sticky night against the US the previous evening.

And Hendrickson, who was again kept busy, repaid some of that confidence with one marvellous save just before the interval. A mix-up between Kirk Mundy and Georon Trott, who both went for the same ball, allowed Darryl Duffy in, but Hendrickson was swiftly off his line to dive at the Rangers' forwards feet, suffering an injury in the process.

It was a crucial stop because just two minutes earlier the Scots had taken a two-goal lead -- Gary Brown volleying in low to Hendrickson's right from 15 yards. A further score then would have put the hosts well and truly out of the game.

Bermuda, who needed to win to stand a chance of joining Barbados in the final, had had the worst possible start -- and at the time Hendrickson must have thought there was little else that could go wrong for him.

With barely 60 seconds on the clock, he was forced to race from his goal to clear a short back pass, but his clearance smacked against the onrushing Duffy, ballooned high into the air and disconcertingly towards goal. Duffy continued the chase, was first to the ball and touched it home.

Credit Duffy for his persistence, but it was a freak goal and it knocked the stuffing out of the Islanders, while giving Rangers the cushion to show their class.

The Scottish Premier Leaguers were slow starters in the competition, failing to come to terms with the heat and humidity in their opener against Barbados, but they have steadily improved, beating the US comprehensively on Monday, and following it up with what was their best performance to date last night.

Iain Russell looked their best player again giving Nadir Wade a testing night on the left of Bermuda's back three, but 13-year-old Duffy, considered by coach John Chalmers to have a bright future, ran him a close second.

Barbados 3 US 3 Barbados booked a second meeting with Glasgow Rangers in Friday's International Youth Tournament final with this point against the US, but the American team showed their fighting spirit with two late goals.

Pacy Barbadian striker Riviere Williams grabbed his second brace of the tournament to put his side two in front before Jon Pagano reduced the arrears.

Substitute Dwayne Headley restored their two goal advantage but Sam Suflita proved to be the ace in the US pack, coming off the bench to score twice and ensure his side did not slip to a second defeat.