Ireland Rangers stepped up their challenge for a First Division play-off spot with this comfortable victory at White Hill yesterday after a host of missed chances contributed to Paget's demise.

The victory not only halted Paget's spirited run of late but lifted Rangers into second place as they moved ahead of their opponents with a superior goal difference.

Jonathan Bean scored twice for Rangers while the other goal came from Henry Santucci. Bean fired Rangers ahead with a scorcher from 16 yards after 25 minutes, but then Rangers were forced to sweat it out for most of the first half as Paget upped the tempo. However, front players Dennis Russell, Jahvon Mallory and Jermayn Pond all missed a hatful of chances.

Rangers hit back in the second half and took a 2-0 lead after 48 minutes with Santucci finishing from close range. Then Bean put them further ahead with another goal from just inside the penalty box after 63 minutes.

S.Eagles 5 Ham Parish 2 Lamaul Crofton scored a hat-trick to lead Eagles to this come-from-behind victory at White Hill.

From Page 25 Parish stunned the home team with two early goals by Leon Raynor after nine minutes and Donovon Thompson after 14 minutes, but Eagles clawed their way back and drew level by the half on goals by Rodre Wilson and Crofton.

The second half saw Eagles stamp their full authority on the game. Crofton got his second after 57 minutes, Stephen Burrows made it 4-2 after 70 minutes and Crofton got the fifth five minutes later.

Prospect 3 Boulevard 6 Boulevard ended a seven game winless streak, recording a convincing victory at Police Field.

Whipping boys for most of the season, the Blazers unleashed their frustration on the men in blue, scoring four times without reply in the first half and adding two more in the second for good measure.

Tekyi Walker and Ross Parsons each netted twice for Boulevard, while Jahmal Samuels added one.

Prospect replied after the break through Clifford Roberts, John Richmond and a Robert Wilson own goal.

Boulevard still remain at the foot of the tables with five points, but are now within a point of Prospect, and just two adrift of eighth placed Social Club.

St.David's 5 Social Club 1 St. David's kept within striking distance of a play-off challenge by beating a fading Social Club by four goals at Lord's. O.J. Minors led the east enders by scoring twice while single goals came from Kevin Bean, Dejuan Paynter and substitute Lionel Cann. Stormy Wilson netted for the losers.

Ballet perhaps? Dwight Basden (left) of Somerset and Dandy Town's Devon Binns strike an odd pose as they challenge for the ball during Town's 3-1 victory.