Southampton Rangers 2 Dandy Town 3

Dandy Town kept in the title race with a hard-fought win last night over Southampton Rangers at Goose Gosling Field in their game in hand.

Despite the blustery conditions, the two teams produced an exciting contest, with five well-taken goals as Town snatched all three points to move to within five points of leaders North Village.

Town broke the deadlock after just eight minutes when a cross from deep on the left by Clay Darrell was met with a first-time side-footed effort that defender Azende Furbert firmly placed past Shaquille Bean in the Rangers goal.

Rangers gradually settled and scored an equally good goal 12 minutes later to level the score when Kieshon Wilson netted the first of his two goals with a well-struck shot from 30 yards that smashed inside the near post despite the efforts of goalkeeper Treadwell Gibbons.

The wide open game produced another goal just before the half when Darrell volleyed a shot from the right side of the box that dipped inside the far post.

Town had two good efforts late in the half when Angelo Simmons saw his shot from 30 yards bounce in front of Bean before he managed to turned it around the post for a corner. Then, right at the half, Wilson blasted a shot against the near upright.

Town extended their lead early in the second half when Judah Chapman scored with a shot into the bottom corner.

However, Rangers battled back and kept it close when Wilson netted again in the 79th minute with a firm header from a Donte Brangman corner. Town hung on for the points as Rangers went close twice in the closing minutes.

In the First Division match, Flanagan’s Onions beat Wolves 2-0, with goals coming from Jecoa Thomas in the 40th minute and Vuk Panic in the 70th.

SCORERS

Southampton Rangers: Wilson 21, 79

Dandy Town: Furbert 9, Darrell 39, Chapman 56

TEAMS

Dandy Town (3-5-2): T Gibbons — A Furbert, S Darrell, J Bean-Lindo — E Blankendal, J Chapman (sub: N Smith, 90+3), O Wilson (sub: E Trott, 51min), J Furbert, J Amory — C Darrell, A Simmons. Substitutes not used: O Lowe, M Aden, A Martin, J Roser.

Southampton Rangers (3-5-2): S Bean — J Hill, R Sampson, K Harrison (sub: K Astwood, 69) —Q Maynard, D Brangman, K Davis, D Ming, S Hollis — J Bassett, K Wilson. Substitute not used: N Mello. Booked: J Wilson (coach), Sampson.

Referee: M Wyer.