Southampton Rangers 1Dandy Town 0Dennis Russell jumped off the bench to score the only goal of the game as Southampton Rangers stunned defending champions Dandy Town at Southampton Oval on the opening day of the league campaign.But Russell’s goal in the 76th minute was one of only a few moments of excitement in a match that for long periods lacked imagination with both clubs guilty of wasteful possession.“It’s always important to get the results in the opening set of games and today it was good to get the win and personally to score the goal,” said Russell.“We have to show what we are worth and especially at home where we have to be positive and not let teams come here and bully us.“You have to protect your home and that’s what we are out to do.”Neither side produced a clear cut chance until the second half, with Hornets pair Aquino Grant and Damon Ming working together to put Angelo Simmons through, although Rangers ‘keeper Jason Smith parried away the shot.Smith was in action again midway through the second half when he had to pluck a Fabian Frankson shot out of the air as he looked for an onrushing Grant at the back post.A substitute moments before he would score the only goal of the game, it was Russell who was the recipient of a telling cross from Jahni Bean from the left and made no mistake in beating Treadwell Gibbons from close range with his header.Town made a double substitution, bringing on Seion Darrell and youngster Daeshun Butterfield for Ming and Grant, but neither would have any major impact on the result as the champions went in search of the elusive equaliser.Simmons had one last chance to squeeze a point out of a match his side didn’t deserve to win but his shot deflected off defender Jahma Charles and onto the post before being cleared to safety.It was a just result given the hard work and application the hosts put into their performance, not allowing their more fancied rivals any breathing room or time on the ball.“It wasn’t the result we were looking for but credit to them because they came to play and showed a lot of character,” said Town skipper Ming.“It is hard to comment on the game but the referees didn’t help themselves in the way they officiated the game, but we have to move on from this.“We aren’t looking into the result too much. Last year we lost our first game and won the league so we just need to refocus and get the job done in our next game.”Southampton Rangers: J Smith, K Simmons, M Ferreira, J Charles, E Stoneham (D Russell, 58), Y Bean (V Perinchief, 70), J Tucker, M Burch, C Woolridge (J Bean, 45), T Wilkinson, S AstwoodSubstitutes not used: R Simons, D Russell, J Bean, J HillGoals: D Russell, 76Yellow card: M FerreiraDandy Town: T Gibbons, K Tucker, A Lowe, K Lathan, A Gibbons, K Webb, F Frankson, L Tucker(S Tuzo, 61), A Simmons, A Grant(S Darrell, 77), D Ming (D Butterfield, 77)Substitutes not used: B Minors, A Rocker, D Johnson, T WebbYellow card: F FranksonReferee: A FrancisMan of the Match: M Burch