Videos: Island Games Day Six Wrap-Up
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Bermuda enjoyed another spectacular day at the Island Games in Orkney after the men’s under-23 and women’s football teams both secured gold medals today [July 18].
The men’s team defeated Ynys Mon 3-1 thanks to goals from Jace Donawa, Mason Christian and Andrew Armstrong.
Christian hailed the “special group” and said he was thrilled their hard work paid off in Orkney.
“I’m so happy to get the gold medal for Bermuda,” he said. “I have to give glory to my team-mates for setting me up so I could be successful [by scoring].
Armstrong echoed his team-mates sentiments.
“We’re a young team and proved ourselves by stepping up and winning gold for Bermuda,” he said. “Scoring a goal is always special, but it was a team effort.”
Goalkeeper Coleridge Fubler added: “From day one, we said we would win gold. We had to dig deep – we call ourselves ‘Vibes FC!’
“This group is very together and has a great bond.”
Meanwhile, the women’s team retained the title they won two years ago in Guernsey after beating the Isle of Man 4-2 on penalties after the game ended 0-0 after regulation time.
Khyla Brangman scored a late equaliser in extra time from the penalty spot for Bermuda after they conceded midway through the second period.
It was Jaden Masters who stepped up convert the winning penalty to send her team-mates into raptures.
Goalkeeper Za’Khari Turner’s team-mates sang her name after the game in recognition of her heroics, including a penalty save and goal during the shootout.
“It feels so good,” Turner said. “The girls have worked so hard to make history again – winning back-to-back [titles].
“We’ve put blood, sweat and tears into this.”
Koa Goodchild, the team’s captain, said she was proud of her side’s never-say-die spirit after fighting back from one goal down during extra-time.
“I feel so proud – we pushed until the end and defended our title. We did it!” she said.
“It means everything to win gold again. Everyone is so emotional. I must give credit to coach Naquita [Robinson] and her staff – they put so much hard work in.”
Gayle Lindsay finished an impressive sixth in the women’s half-marathon in 1hr 25min 22sec; meanwhile, in the men’s race, Sean Trott placed nineteenth in 1:17:41. Phillip Woollins finished 31st in 1:23:40.
Bermuda will return home with five medals: two gold, two silver [Taylor Carrick, men’s singles squash, Jake Brislane, men’s 5,000 metres] and one bronze [Sienna Mosquera, women’s golf].
