Southampton Rgrs 1 Holders Devonshire Colts kept their Friendship Trophy hopes afloat with two late goals to finally sink a bouyant Southampton Rangers at a flooded Somerset Cricket Club last night.

Goals in the 81st and 88th minutes by substitute Clevon Hill and Alzame Zuill respectively were just about reward for a dominant second 45 minutes.

But Rangers, currently anchored close to the bottom of the league, belied their form with an impressive first half in which they took an early lead through Sheridan Ming and a battling second period in which goalkeeper Randy Darrell was outstanding.

The game was barely three minutes old when Darrell brought referee Anthony Mouchette's attention to a gap in the netting in his goal.

A nine minute delay ensued as Mouchette tried to make running repairs while sitting on Darrell's shoulders and, when that failed, a trusty stepladder was called for to help complete the job.

With just ten minutes on the clock, Ming struck. The Rangers forward found himself in space 16 yards out while the Colts' defence waited for a flag that never came. Ming calmly lobbed the ball over Troy Hall.

Colts should have been level ten minutes later. Tito Smith intercepted a pass just outside his own area and with several Rangers men committed forward, speedily released Marvin Belboda with a solidly struck ball to the half way line. Belboda let the ball run and with his first touch picked out Zuill in the centre. The Colts' striker was one on one with the goalkeeper but he scuffed his shot against the post.

Rangers continued to play some neat one-touch football without seriously troubling Hall but they almost conceded an equaliser in bizarre fashion just before the break when Darrell was harshly deemed to have fouled Zuill as he came out to punch clear.

Captain Shannon Burgess stepped up to take the resultant spot kick and confidently swept it home.

Referee Mouchette had presumably spotted some encroachment and ordered that the kick be taken again. This time Darrell dived on top of Burgess's effort as the Colts man aimed for the same side of the goal.

The second half began in a torrential downpour, but both sides continued to try playing adventurous football.

Belboda and Zuill were a constant threat, and the former was only thwarted by the conditions when he received the ball in space on the edge of the area, but failed to navigate his way through an enormous puddle. Darrell then made excellent saves from Zuill and Tito Smith in quick succession.

Herbie Dillas hit a rising shot just wide, but Colts stepped up the pressure in the closing stages and were finally rewarded when the grounded Hill scooped the ball past Darrell.

Zuill completed the recovery by pushing home through a mass of prone players after a corner had been flicked on by Hill.

Tamsal Webb scored twice as Hamilton Parish beat Somerset Eagles 4-2 in the Shield match. Alvin Baker and Corey Hill got the others while Steven Rumley and Trevor Bailey replied for the Eagles.