New signings Ascento Russell, Jerry Webb and goalkeeper Randy Darrell all made important contributions as Southampton Rangers went to the top of the Coca Cola First Division with their second straight victory yesterday. The match was the only one to survive the day's heavy rain and for Rangers fans there was plenty to smile about as Russell made it four goals in two games with another double strike.

Webb opened his account with the third while Darrell denied Cougars a point four minutes from the end with the best save of the match from a scorcher by Philip Clarke that looked destined for the roof of the net.

Though the ground was slick, the field held up well to the rain and referee Cal Simons' decision to go ahead with the match -- even though the opening Second Division encounter between Paget and Social club was called off -- was never questioned.

After a period of adjusting to the conditions, the teams eventually settled down and it was Rangers who took the lead in the 22nd minute with a good move down the flank. Rohaan Simons' low cross from the right was parried by the diving Leon Place and Russell planted home the loose ball at the far post.

Cougars were let off when Place was drawn out of his penalty area to stop a Rangers raid and failed to clear the ball. Moments later defender Ryan Swan came within inches of conceding a penalty when, as the last defender, he brought down Simons on the edge of the box as he raced for goal.

Cougars mounted a fightback late in the half but it was Rangers who scored again in the 43rd minute when Russell took a pass from midfield and hit a low shot that skidded on the surface before sliding under the body of the diving Place.

Cougars finally pulled a goal back in the 52nd minute when Clarke nodded home a header from a narrow angle at the far post from a corner on the right.

Strike partner Clevie Campbell tried a shot soon after instead of passing to a better positioned Clarke. That wasted chance to tie the match was costly as Rangers went further ahead in the 67th minute.

Within a minute of his introduction, and with his first touch, Webb scored with a header from a Jason Raynor corner to virtually seal the points.

Webb, thinking the game had been called off, only showed up after a receiving a phone call from manager Clayton Swan. He arrived at the ground just before the half and joined the subs on the bench in the second half.

Campbell pulled Cougars to within one goal of Rangers when he converted a cross from Galvin Butterfield in the 85th minute, before Darrell's save to Clarke's shot a minute later denied them an equaliser.

Russell completed what he thought was his hat-trick two minutes from the end but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Southampton: R.Darrell; J.Raynor, S.Simmons, R.Belboda, E.Simmons (G.Simmons 82 mins), O.Jones, K.Tucker, P.Brangman; R.Simons (N.Smith 74 mins), A.Russell, D.Tucker (J.Webb 66 mins).

Dev.Cougars: L.Place; C.Smith, G.Butterfield, R.Swan, M.Dill, M.Houghton, W.Salaam, S.Coddington, C.Campbell, P.Clarke, T.Smith (D.Brangman 53 mins).

Referee: Cal Simons.

Men of the match: Pernell Brangman (Rangers), Steven Coddington (Cougars).

JERRY WEBB -- hit Rangers' third goal in yesterday's 3-2 victory over Devonshire Cougars.