PHC continued their fine run while ensuring misery in the Southampton camp, as they routed the hosts 7-2 at the close confines of The Oval during yesterday's lone Premier Division encounter.

And for all the early season naysayers, the Zebras' performance -- which moved them to the top of the league -- quashed any conceived notions of them being one-season wonders more likely to plunge into the abyss than scale the heights.

Appearing to have fully recovered from the disappointment of being denied a work permit to play professionally in England, Stephen Astwood followed last week's hat-trick performance with another of superior quality.

Much to the chagrin of the home side, the striker emerged in irrepressible form, unloading a deadly arsenal of ball and physical skills that served to torture and torment whomever found themselves in the unfortunate position of trying to stop him.

Astwood scored two goals and laid on three others, including a most bizarre instance, where he induced Rangers' substitute Neville Grant to score in his own net. Fellow attacker Raynel Lightbourne -- the league's top poacher -- likewise registered two scores, with Kenny Mills and Corey Dowling netting the others for the victors.

Sheridan Ming and Craig Darrell both found the target for Southampton, but this was never going to be enough against the rampaging Zebras.

Astwood led the early charge, scoring the first from the penalty spot in the 12th minute after Lightbourne was ruthlessly brought down by Janeiro Tucker, who showed his inexperience at the defensive sweeper position after spending most of his top flight career in attack.

Lightbourne was returned the favour 11 minutes later when Astwood provided an opportunity for him to double the advantage, his cross from the left picking out the lean forward, who scored on the second attempt through a maze of legs and flailing body parts.

While PHC performed as a finely tuned machine from top to bottom, Rangers were now a dishevelled wreck ... disorganised in defence, a step slow in midfield, and woefully lacking up front.

Yet for all their ineptitude, Rangers found themselves back in contention as the half neared, a penalty call presenting Darrell the forum to pull his team back to within a goal.

However, Lightbourne restored the two goal lead in the 61st minute and three minutes later Mills got in on the scoring act, taking advantage of left-back Omari Hart.

Ming pulled another back for Southampton 10 minutes later, but Astwood planted more grief on the home side, once again abusing Hart to get in close and, after drawing goalkeeper Randy Darrell to the near post and seeing Grant desperately trying to recover, simply placed the ball in the defender's path, leaving him no option but to force the ball over the line.

Astwood and Dowling ended matters with two more pieces of quality finishing, capping a fine day for the defending league champs.

Zebras hit seven From Page 23 However, coach Sammy Swan refused to look to far ahead, noting how the season remains young.

"It's still a long ways to go and we have a lot of work to do, which is made hard by the fact that we don't have our own facility, but we have to be grateful to God and hope that things will work out in our favour,'' said Swan.

"We just want to get points right now, we're not worrying about the league or anything like that, we're just taking one game at a time.

"We're in good position and I'm grateful.'' Southampton: R.Darrell; J.Raynor, J.Tucker, S.Simmons, O.Hart; O.Riley (N.Grant 70 mins), S.Ming, T.Wilkinson; K.Tucker, C.Darrell, T.Flood (A.Tucker 64 mins).

PHC: C.Crockwell; C.Dowling, S.Lewis, R.Lewis, D.Francis; C.Furbert, A.Washington (D.Outerbridge 69 mins), O.Steede; S.Astwood, R.Lightbourne (M.Smith 63 mins), K.Mills (D.Wilson 72 mins).

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.

Men of the Match: Travis Wilkinson (Southampton); Stephen Astwood (PHC).

Yellow card: Temiko Flood (Southampton); McLee Smith, Stephen Astwood (PHC).