Everton on a penalty kick in the last seconds of the game yesterday. It was their third game in the Northern Ireland Milk Cup.

On Monday, the team were beaten 8-2 by Glasgow Rangers and on Tuesday drew with Dundonald 1-1.

Yesterday, starting slowly, Bermuda looked to be awestruck by the Premier League team's size and aggression, but as the game continued the players' confidence and determination mushroomed.

Keemo Smith and Damon Ming were efffective in creating panic in the Everton defence and before long Ming had put Bermuda ahead 1-0.

Ten minutes later a mistake allowed Everton to grab the equaliser. But Bermuda stormed back from the error when Ming passed three Everton defenders for his second goal of the game to hand Bermuda a 2-1 half-time lead.

Everton tied the score early in the second half on a free kick with Bermuda's defence pleading for an offside call.

The game grew into a titanic struggle and at this point a draw would have been considered a satisfying result. In the last seconds, however, a powerful shot from an Everton forward was deflected by goalkeeper Thomas Smith onto the shoulder of another Bermudian defender. The referee first awarded a corner but after protests by Everton players he consulted his linesman and then awarded a penalty.

The decision was greeted with derision from the local crowd who have taken the Bermudians to heart. The team have made many friends and a local newspaper story yesterday even described tour manager Carlton (Pepe) Dill as a "wonderfully enthusiastic character''.

Everton then scored and the whistle blew to end the game.

At press time, Bermuda's opponents for today had not yet been drawn.