Southampton Ranger 3 Somerset Trojans 3

Southampton Rangers came-from-behind twice to earn their first point of the season, this against Somerset Trojans in their Premier Division match at Southampton Oval yesterday.

The Rangers dominated the opening exchanges, opening the scoring inside five minutes.

The goal came when a ball was played into space for Tayo Smith, who fizzed a ball into striker Dion Stovell, who held off his defender and fed an unmarked Jahni Bean, who placed his shot past Nkenge Durham.

The visitors found their way back ten minutes later when Khiari Sharrieff-Hayward found Damon Ming, who was bundled over by Rangers captain Travis Wilkinson.

Referee Antoine Augustus quickly pointed to the spot before Damon Swan slotted home the resulting spot-kick at the near post.

Five minutes later, Trojans took their first lead of the contest.

Attacking midfielder Justin Corday was found in a dangerous area just outside the box, and he slipped Tevahn Tyrell in for the former Bermuda striker to finish past goalkeeper Sean Perinchief.

However, midway through the first half, the home side got back on level terms.

A quick passing sequence through midfield, let to Wilkinson picking up possession in a dangerous position. Wilkinson then fed Stovell who dribbled his way past a few defenders before firing past goalkeeper Durham.

The visitors went ahead for a second time eight minutes later, winning the ball high up the pitch after Rangers failed to play out from the back.

Damon Swan was found in space just inside the opposition half, and clipped a pass through for Jeze Butterfield to place his effort past Perinchief.

Once again, the home side responded just before half-time. A lovely quick exchange between Bean and Stovell ended with the striker being bundled over by Trevin Ming inside the box.

Skipper Wilkinson finished calmly from the spot to again level the contest.

The home side, despite holding on to parity at the half, went down to ten men minutes after the restart.

Wilkinson would be shown a second yellow for a clumsy challenge on Swan and dissent, with the offense taking place just outside his team’s penalty area.

Trojans created the best chance of the second-half to steal all three points, but neither Jahkari Furbert or Kahmori Brangman showed the conviction to take advantage of a loose ball inside the penalty area.

Coach Jomar Wilkinson was disappointed with the team’s approach in attack.

“I wasn’t pleased with the team’s composure in the final third,” said Wilkinson, the former Rangers coach.

He also lamented his team’s inability to take advantage of their numerical advantage.

“When they went down a man, we played more as individuals,” he said. “We failed to move the opposition around when we had the numerical advantage.”

SCORERS

Southampton Rangers: Bean 3, Stovell 24, Wilkinson 39 pen

Somerset Trojans: Swan 13 pen, Tyrell 18, Butterfield 32

TEAMS

Southampton Rangers (4-4-1-1): S Perinchief 4 – T Smith 5 (sub: M Basden 46 5), K Simmons 4, K Tucker 4, J Hill 5 – A Triana 5, A Rocker 5, T Wilkinson 3, K Wilson 4 – J Bean 6 – D Stovell 6. Substitutes not used: L Scott, R Lowe, R Simmons, Y Bean Booked: Stovell, Wilkinson Sent off: Wilkinson

Somerset Trojans (3-4-3): N Durham 5 – T Ming 4, M Joell 4, M Tankard 4 – K Sharieff-Hayward 4 (sub: J Ratteray-Smith 37 4), D Ming 4, J Corday 6 (sub: J Furbert 62 4), D Brangman 5 – J Butterfield 6 (sub: K Brangman 62 4), D Swan 5 (sub: L Burgess 54 3), T Tyrell 5 (sub: N Smith 54 4) Substitutes not used: N Rego, H Eve; Booked: T Ming

Referee: A Augustus