Jomar Wilkinson, the Southampton Rangers coach, is confident that promotion is virtually secure after his team beat Hamilton Parish 1-0 to open a ten-point gap between themselves and their opponents in third place.

Rangers, who missed out on promotion last season, despite going unbeaten in the league, are yet to suffer defeat again, but this time Wilkinson is positive things will turn out differently at the end of the season.

Parish, who lost to Wolves last weekend, needed a win to stay within reach of at least second-place Somerset Eagles. In the end their loss, combined with the 2-1 win for Somerset Eagles over St George’s, leaves Rangers and Eagles the firm favourites for promotion.

Jarazinho Bassett scored the game’s only goal in the nineteenth minute, with Parish having strong calls for a penalty denied after Shayne Hollis went down in the box from a challenge just before the half.

Rangers had a few chances late on to cushion the lead before holding on for their tenth win in 11 outings to remain five points ahead of Eagles.

“We knew the importance of today, playing another [promotion] contender we needed to come away with a victory,” Wilkinson said. “Today somewhat secures our promotion spot; we’re ten points ahead of the third-place team, so we have taken a step closer to promotion.

“I was proud of my team’s performance today, especially defensively, they got stuck in and didn’t give away too many chances.

“We have still have to have a bit more composure late in the game and to see games out. The main thing was getting the three points today, no matter what it took we wanted to get the points at home.

“I’m proud of these guys; we’ve come a long way in two years and it’s time to reward ourselves with promotion.”

Eagles had to come from behind to take the points against St George’s after Micah Mendes gave the visiting side a 21st-minute lead at White Hill Field. Tahj Wade equalised in the 61st minute before Leo Burgess converted the winner in the 75th minute to move Eagles five points ahead of Parish with a game in hand.

Devonshire Colts joined St George’s on 17 points after their 4-2 win over Wolves thanks to a Chemari Henry hat-trick at Police Field. He scored in the fifteenth, 21st and 85th minutes, while Daniel Ball got the other goal in the seventeenth.

Wolves made it close at 3-2 late in the game when Lamelle Paynter and Hope Burrows scored in the 77th and 81st minutes. Henry made certain of the win with his third goal five minutes from the end.

Flanagan’s Onions picked up their first win since beating Vasco 1-0 on September 15 when they beat the same team 8-0 yesterday. Treshun Smith scored four times, in the fifth, 76th, 87th and 89th minutes.

Paul Smith and Mukale Williams scored in the 34th and 54th minutes before Daniel Lehner, on the hour mark, and Jah-von Morgan in the 80th added further goals in Onions’ biggest win of the season.

On Saturday, Young Men’s Social Club beat Ireland Rangers 6-1 with Nique Armstrong scoring a hat-trick. He gave Social Club an early 2-0 lead with goals in the first and ninth minutes.

He completed his hat-trick in the 69th while Makai Young scored two goals, in the 27th and 90th, and Dahlano Simons the other goal in the 55th minute. Rushaun Seaman scored the lone goal for Ireland Rangers in the seventh minute.