Southampton Rangers, without a point all season, turned the Coca Cola First Division table on its head with this victory over previously unbeaten leaders Vasco at Southampton Oval yesterday.

And if the win itself was a major upset, equally surprising was the fact that it was achieved with a measure of comfort over the lacklustre visitors. It must also be said that Vasco, playing a third game in six days, contributed in no small degree to their own downfall -- centre back Earl Richardson turning the ball into his own net for Rangers' opener and substitute Dwight Basden contriving to get himself sent off quite needlessly within 14 minutes of being introduced to the action.

It was enough to leave coach John Rebello sitting in contemplative silence on the bench for some minutes after the game had ended.

In contrast, the Rangers team celebrated as if they had won the league rather than just their first game.

The home side, perhaps buoyed by their gutsy showing in the pulsating 4-3 defeat at Boulevard a week ago, started strongly, Sheridan Ming going close with an angled shot.

Then Rohaan Simons burst through to the edge of the box, where his threat was snuffed out by Vasco's Trevor Dickenson, whose cynical trip earned him an entry in referee Stuart Crockwell's notebook.

Moments later, in the 16th minute, Rangers took the lead. Janeiro Tucker, playing only his second game following knee surgery in the summer, picked up the ball just inside his own half and made a surging run deep into Vasco territory. His ball inside the full back was perfectly measured for Simons to run onto and the unfortunate Richardson, under pressure from Ming, got the final touch to Simons' square ball.

Rangers went further ahead on the half-hour in controversial circumstances.

The linesman had raised his flag to signal three of the home side's players in offside positions as the ball was played through but Simons, running from an onside position, was allowed to continue by the referee and he waltzed in on goal unhindered to joyously unleash a powerful shot past Tim Figueiredo.

Vasco did try to step up the pace after the interval, forcing a succession of corners, but they only looked like pulling a goal back when Pernell Brangman was caught dithering 10 yards outside his own area. Vasco sub Basden disposessed him but with only the keeper to beat, chipped the ball a yard over. Whether that miss was playing on his mind is a matter of speculation but moments later, in the 76th minute, he got his marching orders in a bizarre incident. He had been tripped just outside the area by Eugene Pitt, an action which brought the Rangers defender a yellow card. But rather than simply accepting the free kick, Basden started to lambast the referee who, not surprisingly, took his name. Even then he did not let up and his abuse of the official continued until Crockwell had no option but to order his departure.

Five minutes from time Kwame Tucker, the Rangers number seven, also saw red.

Booked stupidly in the first half for deliberate handball, he exchanged blows with Kentoine Jennings who was himself booked for his angry reaction to Tucker's foul.

Southampton Rangers: R.Darrell, J.Raynor, E.Pitt, P.Brangman, R.Belboda, J.Tucker, C.Simmons, S.Ming, K.Tucker, A.Wolfe (S.Michael 82 mins), R.Simons Vasco: T.Figueiredo, T.Dickenson, M.Wade, K.Jennings, E.Richardson, S.Gibbons, O.Steede, S.Mendes (D.Basden 62 mins), K.Jennings, C.Smith, S.Swan (P.Towlson 62 mins) Referee: Stuart Crockwell Men of the match: R.Simons (Rangers); O.Steede (Vasco)