Goals in the second half by Donnie Charles and Dawud Tucker knocked the spirit out of Boulevard after they had looked capable of defeating the Coca Cola First Division joint leaders at Southampton Oval yesterday.

Until hard-working midfielder Charles opened Rangers' account in the 73rd minute, the visitors held a slight edge and had threatened to take the lead.

But time and time again good approach work was ruined by poor finishing.

And when Tucker's goal doubled the lead after 83 minutes, Boulevard could find no way back.

Inspired on the flanks by Tucker and Travis Wilkinson, in addition to Charles in midfield and Antwone Tucker at right full back, Rangers eventually ran out comfortable winners.

But Boulevard created enough chances earlier in the contest to have put the game out of their opponents' reach.

During a quiet first half they failed to make the best of an easy chance when striker Alfred Wolffe received a cross from Taura Caisey only to blast over from 14 yards.

Eight minutes later full back Dean Smith watched in agony as his thunderous drive from outside the box went right into the chest of goalkeeper Randy Darrell.

And it was Darrell who denied Boulevard again after 40 minutes when he dived to his right to save a fierce shot from Otis Steede.

In contrast Southampton's chances were few and far between, their best coming when skipper Sheridan Ming fired an angled shot into the side netting after 31 minutes.

Boulevard maintained their momentum for the first 20 minutes of the second half but the headaches continued up front where their attack consistently broke down following good approach work.

And once Southampton found their rhythm, the pattern changed with Tucker and Wilkinson tearing the defence wide open with forceful runs down the flanks and penetrating crosses.

After 72 minutes Tucker brilliantly went by two defenders only to see his drive from an angle graze off the bar. But a minute later Southampton got their reward with Charles striking home from close range after a blast from Vic Ball had rebounded off goalkeeper Lynn Tucker.

The second goal was a beauty on the counter attack with Tucker fighting off two challenges by defenders and drilling the ball home off the far post from 18 yards.

Southampton: R.Darrell; A.Tucker, P.Brangman, R.Belboda, S.Simmons; D.Charles, V.Ball, C.Simmons; D.Tucker, S.Ming (R.Brunson, 87 mins), T.Wilkinson (L.Bean, 85 mins).

Boulevard: L.Tucker; D.Smith (A.Brown, 42 mins), M.Trott, J.Warren, A.Caisey; K.Darrell, L.Stevens, D.Warren; O.Minors, A.Wolffe (R.Burchall, 55 mins), T.Caisey (V.Phillips, 78 mins).

Referee: Gary Cooke.

Men of the match: Dawud Tucker (Rangers); Otis Steede (Boulevard).

North Village 2 Wolves 1 Wolves took far too long to get into this game at Bernard Park yesterday, after North Village had pulled all the strings for the majority of the match.

But the visitors nearly snatched an equaliser eight minutes from time when striker Ellington Weldon found the net only to have the effort ruled out for handball.

That would have served as a tough blow for Village who always looked the better team but failed to turn their chances into goals. And those wasted opportunities allowed Wolves back into the game late in the second half.

Village broke the deadlock in the 31st minute when Elliott Jennings laid the ball into the path of Kaiwon Dill who drove home the first of his two goals.

The lead was deserved as Village looked the more fluent and had Wolves chasing shadows as they knocked the ball around confidently. Hewvonnie Brown in the Wolves goal was kept busy and he denied Village a second goal in the 36th minute when his one-handed save kept out a shot from Sergio Goater.

Wolves defender Tori Davis was booked for pulling back Dill late in the first half and from the free kick on the left corner of the box, Jennings' shot was touched against the post by Brown.

Wolves made a first half substitution, bringing on the experienced Dion Wainwright for Keemo Smith in the 39th minute. But it was Village who continued to control affairs, Dill adding the second goal in the 52nd minute.

A pass into the box by Daniel Jennings landed at the feet of Dill at the far post and he easily slotted the ball home.

Wolves' defence, with Nakia Smith and Leonard Hypolite in the middle, worked overtime as Village never let up. Minutes later Jennings had a good opportunity to extend the lead when he controlled a pass into the six yard box, but Brown had cut out the angle and Jennings' effort went wide.

Gradually Wolves began to penetrate at the other end and they found themselves back in contention in the 65th minute when substitute Wainwright fed Ellington Weldon inside the box. He kept the ball in front of him with his left foot and then drove a right-footed shot into the far bottom corner to beat Nyon Steede.

Both teams brought on subs after that as the game hung in the balance, with Peter Mahoney coming on for Daniel Jennings in the Village midfield and Jared Peniston replacing Nathan Webb for Wolves.

And both had chances to find the net, with Peniston seeing his shot tipped over the bar by Brown and Mahoney having the goal at his mercy in the last minute after being put clear. But with only Brown to beat he squared to Jamal Smith whose shot was saved one-handed by the 'keeper.

Village: N.Steede; M.Hansey, K.Dill, J.Thomas, R.Spence, D.Jennings (P.Mahoney 69 mins), S.Goater (N.Robinson 73 mins), J.Boyles, J.Jennings, E.Jennings, K.Dill (J.Smith 80 mins).

Wolves: H.Brown; T.Trott, L.Hypolite, N.Smith, T.Davis, A.Thomas, P.Sampson, M.Dill, K.Smith (D.Wainwright 39 mins), N.Webb (J.Peniston 68 mins), E.Weldon.

Referee: Anthony Mouchette.

Men of the match: Elliott Jennings (Village), Hewvonnie Brown (Wolves).

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