Rangers beat the drop with win over Hornets
Dandy Town 2Southampton Rangers 4Southampton Rangers confirmed their top-flight status for next season with this comfortable win over defending champions Dandy Town at St. John’s Field, with the loss ending the hosts’ chances of winning the title.A brace from Dennis Russell and solo efforts from substitutes Keishon Wilson and Morricko Iris paced the visitors to the win, while Seion Darrell and Jared Peniston struck for Town.Having a two-point cushion over Somerset Eagles with two games left, Rangers didn’t want to go into the last match day needing a result.Their win, coupled with an Eagles loss, ensured the side’s place in the Premier Division for another year.“It feels wonderful to get the win, we knew it was do or die time in terms of where we are in the league and we didn’t want to rely on anyone else, so I’m proud of the guys today to come out here and get the victory,” said skipper Jermaine Dill.“It is great news to hear that Eagles lost, we are still in the FA Cup and we didn’t want to take that down to the First Division if we are to win the title, so it is important that we stay up.”Russell got Rangers off to a perfect start after only eight minutes when he bundled home a Travis Wilkinson corner and was back at it five minutes later when he doubled the lead with a pin-point header.Town looked jaded from their CFU Club Championship first leg last Thursday and never looked comfortable playing another game in such quick succession. They were given a lifeline, however, when Darrell curled his free-kick up and over the wall, beating Rangers ‘keeper Sean Perinchief at the near post in the 38th minute.With both sides knowing the next goal would be crucial, it would be Wilson who would step up and swing the match firmly in his side’s favour in the 66th with his first touch of the ball.It was good work from Rangers that saw Iris put the debutant in on goal and Wilson made no mistake from close range to restore his side’s two-goal advantage. Iris would then complete the win in the 82nd when he completed a magnificent passage of play from the visitors that saw Russell lay off to Dill who dummied the ball for Iris who made no mistake.Town would get a late consolation goal from the penalty spot from Peniston after Kemon Simmons brought down Damon Ming in injury time.Dandy Town: T Gibbons, F Frankson, G Dyer, J Butterfield, T Daniels, L Dill(S Tuzo, 59), J Peniston, D Ming, W Place (H Wolfe, 57), S Darrell, R BeachSubs not used: R Wells, D Chambers, L Tucker, T MandersYellow card: F FranksonGoals: Darrell, 38, Peniston, 90Southampton Rangers: S Perinchief, M Williams, K Symonds, D Charles, K Simmons, J Charles, T Wilkinson, Y Bean (K Wilson, 65), J Dill, A Burrows (M Iris, 61), D RussellSubs not used: J Caisey, E Albuoy, E StonehamYellow cards: D Charles, K SimmonsGoals: Russell ,8, 15, K Wilson, 66, M Iris, 82Referee: R CannMan of the Match: T Wilkinson (Rangers)