Southampton Rangers 3

Somerset Trojans 2

Kemon Simmons scored Southampton Rangers’ winner directly from a free kick as they maintained their top-flight status for next season with victory over Somerset Trojans at Southampton Oval yesterday.

Janeiro Tucker, Keedai Astwood and Simmons struck for Rangers, while Antione Seaman and Geno Smith scored for Trojans.

Although both their relegation rivals, Wolves and St David won, Rangers achieved the victory they needed to avoid the drop.

“We are very pleased, ecstatic honestly, because we worked very hard in training coming into this match and got our just reward,” Maurice Lowe, the Southampton Rangers coach, said.

“None of the other [relegation] games mattered because we got the win and are staying up.

“Obviously the pleasure were have right now is that we maintained our status for next season. Now we can look toward the pre-season and working on a few things.

“We didn’t expect to be in this position. Your goals at the beginning of the season are about being competitive and trying to win things, but we got ourselves in this position. After being knocked out of cups our [survival] objectives became clearer.”

Tucker put the home side ahead after 18 minutes and Keedai Astwood doubled their advantage on 38 minutes.

Seaman pulled a goal back for Trojans first just before half-time, beating the offside trap with a late run into the Rangers area and finishing past Jason Smith, the Rangers goalkeeper.

Smith levelled the scores early in the second half, and with the celebrations from Trojans came signs of anxiety among the Rangers supporters. Rangers could thank Smith, their goalkeeper, in large part for their win after he pushed a rasping drive from Trae Harvey around his far post moments after his side had conceded. Hearts were also in mouths for Rangers when Sean Brangman, the Trojans attacker, headed past Smith with ten minutes left, only to be denied when the assistant referee’s flag went up for offside.

But Simmons assured Rangers’ win when he wrapped his left foot around the ball, sending it over Shaquille Bean, the Trojans goalkeeper, who was beaten by the flight of the ball.

n Despite defeating Flanagan’s Onions 2-0, thanks to goals from Domonique Lambert and Shakil Robinson at Lord’s, St David’s were relegated to the First Division.

Hamilton Parish clinched the final Dudley Eve Trophy spot for next season when they defeated PHC Zebras 4-2 at Wellington Oval.

Shakeen Albuoy netted twice for Parish with Kneiko Richardson and Shayne Hollis also scoring. Marco Piper and Cecoy Robinson replied for PHC.