Despite offering a cultured challenge right to the very end, Southampton Rangers came out of this game at PHC Stadium on the short end and now appear destined to join St. David's in the drop to Second Division soccer next season.

Rangers must win their two remaining matches in order to survive while hoping Vasco lose to PHC and Boulevard.

Two early goals by Meshach Wade and Kenny Mills put PHC on a course where they were able to dominate Southampton during the first half of this game. Wade's goal was a beauty coming after just seven minutes when he jumped above the defence to firmly head home a cross from the left by Anthony Stovell.

Eight minutes later Kenny Mills masterfully dribbled by two defenders and then hammered home a fierce shot from an angle 15 yards out on the left.

The two goals tore Southampton apart. While PHC pushed powerfully forward and remained a constant threat, Southampton achieved very little up front and consequently PHC goal-keeper Ty Williams was not called upon to make any significant saves.

PHC were denied a third goal after 27 minutes when Mills hit the back post from a sharp angle just inside the box with Randy Darrell out of goal.

Southampton came into the game with momentum in the second half and it was former PHC forward Shawn Simons, who made some strong runs at the defence in the first half, who pulled one goal back for the visitors.

A long throw-in from full-back Ryan Belboda was eventually lobbed into the middle and the eager Simons was in position to volley the ball home from close range after 55 minutes.

PHC never panicked and were unfortunate not to re-establish a two-goal lead after 60 minutes when Mills got around centre-half Erskine Brangman and sent a cross in the middle only to see Stovell miskick from just a couple of yards.

Three minutes later Southampton, during one of many counter attacks, built a good attack down the left flank and the speedy Simons was through on a breakaway. But PHC skipper and centre-half Mike Dill came from nowhere to slide the ball away from Simons just after he entered the box.

The firm tackle from the side prompted Southampton to demand a penalty, but referee Esten Curtis ruled it to be a legal tackle.

After Swan and centre-half Dana Outerbridge sent long-range shots over goal, both teams finished off the game with some positive raids.

After 71 minutes Swan headed a Blenn Bean cross downward that goal-keeper Darrell fell to save at the last minute while Mills sent a hard 16 yarder directly at Darrell eight minutes later.

Southampton roared back and watched in agony as Williams dived to save an angled shot from Erskine Brangman who had moved up to spearhead the Southampton attack with precious little time left.

A minute from time substitute Lamar Seymour had his shot from close in blocked by the diving Williams and Dill was in position to clear the rebound before any further harm came.

PHC: T.Williams; N.Simons (D.Francis 72 min), M.Dill, D. Outerbridge, B.Bean; B.Simons, M.Wade, A.Stovell; K.Mills, S.Swan, R.Lightbourne (S.Ming 45 min).

Southampton: R.Darrell; J.Burgess (M.Higgs 45 min), E.Brangman, A.Stoneham, R.Belboda; P.Brangman, O.Jones, J.Rayner; E.Pitt, M.Brangman (L.Seymour 28 min), S.Simons.

Referee: Esten Curtis Men of the match: Mike Dill (PHC), Shawn Simons (Southampton).

EASY MATE -- PHC forward Kenny Mills (left), scorer of his team's second goal, finds himself in a tangle as he is caught from behind by Southampton's Erskine Brangman.