North Village welcomed Southampton to the Dudley Eve Trophy competition last night, but it was none too pleasant as the Red Devils battered their opponents into oblivion with a 3-0 victory at BAA Field.

The rampant Red Devils, owners of a now seven game winning streak, displayed their obvious higher class in pouncing on a game, but less skilled Southampton crew early and then cruising to victory.

They did so on the tails of goals by Larance Durham, Sean Dill and a spectacular Leon Raynor blast that would rate as one of the year's best efforts.

However, the result was delivered with grave consequence as their starting line-up continued to be ravaged by injury, the list mounting by two last night. Already with the entire attack sidelined, including the likes of Elliott Jennings, Nakia Smith and Jamel Smith along with midfielders Sheldon Franks and Cal Dill, coach Wendell Baxter faces further dilemma as Durham and captain Damon Wade were forced out of the latest contest.

Durham appeared to be the worst off, falling awkwardly midway the second half and suffering an apparent dislocated left elbow that resulted in him being carried to hospital by ambulance, while Wade sprained his right ankle early in the same half and never returned.

Unlike the frigid climes Village began the match in a blaze, completely dominating Rangers from the opening whistle and laying siege to Darren Burchall's goalmouth.

Rahji Edness produced the first crack in the seventh minute, however was woefully lacking in placement and sent his open volley from 10 yards out of the grounds and into the adjacent street.

This error was immediately corrected by Durham, who justified his spot in the starting line-up by putting the Red devils ahead a minute later. Durham gained possession just inside the Rangers half shaded to the left and bullied his way past two defenders into the penalty area where his first effort was blocked, but the ball rebounded perfectly for the forward to hammer it home past a maze of defenders.

As Village slowed and became more content to rest on the advantage, Southampton finally began to show signs of entering the fray.

Veteran midfielder Olin Jones did most of the creating for Rangers, his smooth touches and vision serving to set up forwards only to have their every move effectively countered by the Village back four of Michael Hansey, Derek Bell, Kevin Grant and Wayne Augustus.

Rangers managed to hold their own into the second half, however, were finally laid to rest by two sudden strikes in the 60th and 63rd minute.

The former saw Raynor delight the sparse crowd with a thunderous drive that ripped the net chords and left goal-keeper Burchall a mere spectator. Raynor received a pass from Durham on the right side, pivot slightly before unleashing into the top right corner from 22 yards.

Moments later Dill earned a penalty after being tripped up by Randy Simmons as he closed in on the target on a break-away run. Dill rose to plant the spot kick in the low left corner, signalling the end for Rangers...at least on this night.

Southampton: D.Burchall; R.Belboda (C.Simmons 75 mins), R.Simmons, P.Brangman, J.Burgess; O.Jones, K.Simmons, J.Raynor, K.Tucker (T.Darrell 72 mins); C.Darrell, R.Simons (M.Higgs 83 mins).

North Village: D.Adams; K.Grant, D.Bell, M.Hansey, W.Augustus; K.Smith, L.Raynor, R.Edness, D.Wade (Q.Paynter 63 mins); L.Durham (M.White 72 mins), S.Dill.

Men of the match: Olin Jones (Southampton), Leon Raynor (North Village).

Referee: Dennis Wainwright.