Dandy Town 1 Southampton Rangers 2

The ‘bubbly' is still on ice!

Ten-man Southampton Rangers yesterday achieved what no other team had all season, defeating Premier Division front-runners Dandy Town - at St. John's Road at that - and placing the title race on a knife edge with a decisive make-up match remaining.

Town's shocking 2-1 loss means that to be crowned champions they must beat Somerset Eagles in one of the top flight's two final encounters for 2003-04; a fixture that's been called off twice already.

It's a clash which Devonshire Cougars - now done with league action - will watch with an abundance of nerves as they lead Town by two points atop the standings (30 to 28) and anything but a Town victory will send the trophy to the Den.

However, before all that, Town must put yesterday's demons to rest.

Judging by the pre-game atmosphere - not to forget the home team's devastating form - few would probably have bet against Town who would have clinched the title had they won.

Captain Lionel Furbert and company were dressed well ahead of time and took to the far end of the ground for their warm-up while, by contrast, opposing players were still arriving five minutes before kick-off as Rangers management scrambled to determine their starting line-up; making numerous changes on the team sheet.

Once the whistle was blown though, a transformation unfolded with Rangers immediately looking the more settled. That confidence was sent soaring in the sixth minute when Janeiro Tucker exacted the ultimate price for his former team-mates' defensive blunder to send Rangers ahead 1-0.

A free kick from just inside the half sneaked through a phalanx of Town players and the lethal Tucker banged the ball home from point-blank range. It was just the beginning of a stellar showing for the dreadlocked forward who would prove to be Town's arch-enemy number one!

Stung by that early concession, the Hornets pressed for an equaliser with Khano Smith and Jared Peniston firing over the crossbar while Reggie Tucker's header fell safely to Rangers goalie Dwayne (Streaker) Adams.

At the other end, Tucker was really proving a menace as his overhead kick, from close range, forced Cymande Davis to tip over the bar. Town playmaker Carlos Smith then spared his team further blushes by clearing off the line in a goalmouth battle.

In the 18th minute, Smith found himself in a more familiar situation - and in perfect position - as his namesake Khano sent an excellent lob to him midway in Rangers' half to the left of goal. Smith, in typically clinical fashion, motored forward and slotted his shot past the oncoming Adams.

The score remained locked at the break but not without controversy. Rangers felt hard done by in the 36th minute when a crisp Rohaan Simons strike was waved off as ‘no goal'; the linesman adjudging the ball, which bounced down off the crossbar, had not crossed the line.

Town - appearing far from the smooth, unbeaten unit that had steamrolled almost all comers this year - failed to capitalise on that reprieve which again materialised from a lapse in defence.

In the 52nd minute, a trio of Town players allowed Tucker to receive the ball between them and he punched it past Davis' left hand from close range for a 2-1 advantage.

Town's misery was nearly worsened when Tucker, again inside the area, managed a shot a few minutes later despite being off-balance. Fortunately for Town his effort eluded the right post.

Desperate for even a share of the points, the Hornets went on the offensive but everything they tried failed. The magic that had been with them all season was nowhere to be found; not even via the much-vaunted Smith-and-Smith combination (Khano and Carlos) who linked up for some of Town's more enterprising moves.

The expulsion of Rangers' Travis Wilkinson in the 73rd minute did not help Town as an inspired Meshach Wade led the visitors' back line in keeping their rivals at bay.

“Rangers put a hurting on you,” taunted Rangers player Eugene Pitt, absorbing the game's final minutes from the sidelines after his substitution.

In anticipation of spoiling Town's celebrations, others declared “the partying is off for today” - and so it was as referee Tony Mouchette raised the whistle to his lips.

“We've worked hard. We were just looking to stay up in our first season back in the Premier Division but we know we can beat anybody,” declared a jubilant Tucker.

“I think with this victory we finish fourth which is a good position for our first time back.”

As for his double strike the marksman said he had resolved to show off at his old hunting ground.

“That was my intention. To show them I can play. They didn't want to play me too much (when I was at Town),” he added.

Town coach Devarr Boyles acknowledged his players were “too relaxed” before the match, noting they “have it all to play for against Eagles”.

Dandy Town: C.Davis, K.Mundy, M.Lowe, R.Swan (K.Butterfield, 33mins), L.Furbert, K.Hurdle, R.Tucker (L.Dill, 78 mins), C.Smith, J.Peniston, K.Smith, S.Tuzo.

Southampton Rangers: D.Adams, M.Wade, O.Hart, P.Brangman, R.Simons, T.Wilkinson, J.Dill (K.Tucker, 76 mins), O.Steede, N.Grant, J.Tucker, E.Pitt (R.Simmons, 65 mins).

Sent off: T.Wilkinson (Southampton, 73 mins).

Booked: R.Simons, J.Tucker, K.Tucker (Southampton).

Men of the Match: K.Smith (Dandy Town); M.Wade (Southampton).

Referee: T.Mouchette.