S. Rangers 5 Ham. Parish 0

What's worse than being trounced 5-0 in a championship final?

Answer: The fact that your team's name lends itself to catchy taunts.

Just ask Hamilton Parish players who endured such insult being added to the on-field injury inflicted by Southampton Rangers who romped to a crushing success in the First Division Shield final at the National Sports Centre yesterday.

Quips such as "Hamilton Perish" and "Sweet Peppers, not Hot Peppers" - the latter a reference to Parish's nickname - haunted the losers, forced to swallow the bitter reality that despite a solid season they had no silverware to show.

By stark contrast, Rangers celebrated adding the Shield to their league title which, ironically, they clinched by virtue of a superior goal difference over the same opponents last week.

"The guys did a great job. We showed the class team that we have been all year. It's been a satisfying season and this is a great result.

"The person I am most happy for is Gerald Simons who did a fantastic job. They had two chances to get back into the game and he kept them out. It's been a great team performance," declared Rangers coach Nick Jones, applauding the work of his goalie who was adjudged the Most Valuable Player.

In a match that unfolded before a vocal crowd, Rangers gained increasing ascendancy as time progressed. Both teams shook off early nerves and spread out a bit more across the well-manicured pitch as chances began to materialise.

In the 23rd minute, Parish were caught napping by Kamen Tucker's speed. The Rangers frontman was fed a terrific cross out on the right wing from Meshach Wade. Tucker sped down the line before cutting inside and driving a low, hard right-footer past Parish `keeper Dwayne Astwood at the near post to make it 1-0.

Rangers pressed for a second which they came close to getting twice within a few minutes of their first. In Parish's favour, Lorenzo Simmons and Irving Burgess combined for some worthwhile efforts through the middle and on the right side but the finishing wasn't there - and when it was so was Simons to deny their team.

The sending off of Parish captain Damon Edwards - for a professional foul on Kwame Tucker in the 38th minute - deepened Parish's woes and they paid for the one-man deficit twice before the half.

Wade, guilty of wasting some good opportunities early on, finally got it right in the 42nd minute when he stole the ball on the left wing about ten yards from goal. His back to the target, he turned left and ran across the face of the goal before drilling home a right-footer. That was 2-0 and it was 3-0 a minute later when Rangers skipper, Eugene Pitt, pounced on a corner.

Simons' brilliance again thwarted Parish's quest to rebound before the break, making a dogged save amid a goalmouth scramble.

The hard-working Dillas - Rangers' playmaker of the day - signalled the onslaught's continuation in the second half when he hit the left corner of the upright and crossbar in the first minute back on the field. Kamen Tucker also came close to breaching Astwood twice again while, between the other sticks, the impressive Simons made a blind parry from a Burgess blast that rocketed through a throng of players.

Wade duplicated his name on the scoresheet in the 65th minute, running onto a cross from Dillas on the left wing and pushing it under the advancing Astwood to make the score 4-0.

Despite the situation, Parish - to their credit - never stopped fighting and brought out the best in Rangers' resolute defenders Ryan Belboda and Pernell Brangman and, of course, Simons who made another point-blank save, this time from Leon Raynor.

The frustration was too much for Burgess who spoilt a sterling showing by being sent off for dissent in the 75th minute. A superb lob from Dillas, about 25 yards out, caught Astwood off his line and resulted in Rangers fifth goal in the 80th minute.

"We played hard. We knew we could beat Peppers. I told my players (to get to) at least 3-0 at the half and then the game could be won easily. It was good," said a jubilant Pitt, savouring a lap of honour.

Parish's coach Neil (Diamond) Robinson did not mince words.

"(There's) not much to say. The better team won today. We played our hearts out all season but (we have) nothing to show for it in the end."

Hamilton Parish: D.Astwood, J.Marshall, A.Baker (T.Caisey, 63 mins), D.Edwards, J.Dill, L.Simmons, L.Raynor, K.Darrell, C.Hill (D.Crockwell, 82 mins), S.Dill (D.Rogers, 71 mins), I.Burgess.

Southampton Rangers: G.Simons, O.Riley, P.Brangman, R.Belboda, O.Hart, Kamen Tucker (N.Smith, 78 mins), E.Pitt (K.Richardson, 71 mins), L.Seymour, M.Wade, H.Dillas, Kwame Tucker (R.Lowe, 63 mins).

Booked: Kwame Tucker, M.Wade, O.Hart (Rangers).

Sent off: D.Edwards (Parish, 38 mins); I.Burgess (Parish, 75 mins).

Men of the Match: G.Simons (Rangers); I.Burgess (Parish).

Referee: R.Knight.