A wounded Harrisburg City Islanders took their frustration out on Bermuda's Under-23 national team by putting six goals past them, writes Stephen Wright.

Still reeling from their surprise defeat against Bermuda Hogges the previous night, Islanders started with their big-hitters against the newly created Under-23s with coach Bill Becher demanding a positive response from his players.

But despite the one-sided scoreline, Bermuda technical director Derek Broadley insisted he was buoyed by the Under-23's display against far more experienced opposition in the first of their seven game series against USL-D2 teams.

The format for these encounters sees the Bermuda team play their opposition over three 30-minute periods.

On Saturday night at BFA Field, Broadley and youth director Devarr Boyles changed their starting line-up three times, with Harrisburg winning each period 2-0.

Considering the teams essentially played three mini-matches Broadley believes the overall scoreline was slightly misleading and reckoned his side more than held their own during various stages of the training game.

"I guess Harrisburg wanted to respond after losing to the Hogges and other than the 'keeper they started with their strongest team," Broadley said.

"I think professional pride came into play and they wanted to make a point and their coach got the response he was looking for.

"But once they realised they were better than us they brought on their second string and the session started to resemble what it was intended to be for us."

Boulevard Blazers trio Angelo Simons, Takeyhi Walker and Jason Davis drew praise from Broadley who evaluated Islanders' strengths and weaknesses during a scouting mission at the National Sports Centre on Friday evening.

Also in attendance during Hogges' impressive win was Boyles and the majority of the Under-23 squad to support the semi-professional outfit in a show of 'one football family' unity.

"Both myself and Devarr took notes during the Hogges game as it's important we get into the habit of preparing for games properly and not just turning up blind," he said.

"The Hogges have also given us tickets for our players and I was pleased to see most of our squad at their game. As well as supporting the Hogges I want the players to watch the game tactically." He added: "As for the players who impressed for us against Islanders, I thought Jason Davis had a good game for us, Angelo Simmons was lively and Takeyhi Walkers was excellent."

"It was a great experience for our players and it's important to remember a number of them are still teenagers such Casey Castle and Roger Lee. Results aren't key for us at this stage."

Broadley has hailed Hogges' triumph over Islanders as a "tactical victory" and had shared his thoughts on the game with club president Shaun Goater and coach Kyle Lightbourne following the win.

"I thought the Bermuda Hogges got their tactics spot on and denied Islanders space in behind them and I thought the back five looked very sound," he said.

"I'm sure the Hogges are benefitting from training at BFA Field which is a great facility for us and is being used by the national academy pretty much every night."

n Bermuda Under-23s face Richmond Kickers at the FIFA-funded –$1.3 million training base next Sunday night.