Devonshire Colts blew the chance to extend their lead at the top of the Coca Cola First Division to seven points when they played to a stalemate with Southampton Rangers last night in this rescheduled match at BAA Field.

Even referee Gary Cooke's many bookings failed to separate the teams as each team had three players cautioned; Vic Ball, Shannon Burgess and Aljame Zuill for Colts and Erskine Brangman, Herbie Dillas and Olin Jones for Rangers.

Both teams had chances to break the deadlock, with Rangers coming closest in the opening 15 minutes when a header from Alfred Wolffe hit the bar. After that Herbie Dillas wasted a couple of freekicks outside the penalty area, one going low and just wide and the other over the top.

The fact that both teams were missing a key striker might have contributed to the outcome, as Colts were without Ellington Weldon while Ascento Russell was out of the Rangers team.

The early stages of the second half looked encouraging for the league leaders as Sekai Waldron's cross from the right was tipped onto the top of the crossbar by Randy Darrell.

Colts were more into the game and they tried to keep the momemntum going by bringing on Keimon Lawrence in the 54th minute to further boost their attack.

After bringing on Tillman Darrell for the injured Nashon Smith late in the first half, Rangers played their last trump cards in the closing minutes of the match when they made a double substitution. On came Brenton Harris and Nashon Burrows for Kwame Tucker and Rohaan Simons but a scoreless draw always looked the likely outcome.

Dillas, whose goal gave Rangers a 1-0 lead on Sunday before heavy rain forced the match to be abandoned in the first half, had a good chance to seal victory for Rangers deep into injury time. He stretched out his leg to connect with a ball into the box but the effort was put well over the bar.

With five league matches remaining, Colts lead second-placed Dandy Town by five points though Town have a game in hand. At the other end of the table, Rangers moved ahead of Devonshire Cougars on goal difference and into seventh place.

Colts: T.Hall; Jermel Belboda, S.Burgess, M.Hollis, Jermaine Belboda, V.Ball, S.Waldron (A.Zuill 78min), K.Burchall, J.Smauels, M.Ray, R.Jones (K.Lawrence 54min).

Southampton: R.Darrell; E.Pitt, E.Brangman, P.Brangman, N.Grant, O.Jones, K.Tucker (B.Harris 86min), A.Wolffe, N.Smith (T.Darrell 41min), R.Simons (N.Burrows 86min), H.Dillas.

Referee: Gary Cooke Men of match: Makonnen Hollis (Colts), Erskine Brangman (Southampton).