Rangers and St George’s share the spoils
Southampton 2 St George’s 2A second Southampton Rangers equaliser four minutes from time dealt a massive blow to the survival hopes of St George’s Colts at Southampton Oval.The east enders had regained the lead five minutes earlier for what looked like being only their third win in the league this season, but anxiety in defence cost them victory when Janeiro Tucker poked home a loose ball from two yards in the 86th minute after goalkeeper Mishael Paynter made a diving save but Tucker was quick to pounce on the rebound to score easily.Two goalkeeping errors by Jason Smith handed St George’s their goals as Jahron Dickinson netted twice. He opened the scoring in the 11th minute when a long ball into the Rangers box from a free kick in the St George’s half saw the advancing Smith miss the ball as Dickinson challenged and he had the simple task of scoring from inside the six-yard box.Smith was also the guilty party when St George’s were awarded a penalty in the 81st minute which Dickinson converted. However, between the goals, Rangers created enough good chances of their own to have earned all three points as Paynter in the St George’s goal made some key saves, particularly in the first half.Two minutes after Dickinson’s opener, Jarreau Hayward volleyed well over the top from a good position after Dickinson headed the ball down for him outside the box. Gradually Rangers began to settle and threatened minutes later when a corner on the left was slapped down by Paynter and Milton Ferreira drove over the top from 15 yards.Soon after Paynter produced a good save to a Dennis Russell free kick which he tipped over the bar. Paynter made two more saves in quick succession as Rangers kept on the pressure and they were finally rewarded in the 32nd minute when Russell found the back of the net when he met a cross at the far post and drove in a low shot.Rangers still held a slight upper hand early in the second half as a Russell free kick was saved by the diving Paynter. As the weather deteriorated so did the game before St George’s regained the lead when Smith collected a cross into the box but left his leg extended and caught Jarizinho Bassett in the midsection as referee Anthony Mouchette awarded a penalty which Dickinson converted.Failure to hold onto their lead enabled Rangers to grabbed a late equaliser which left the visitors deep in relegation trouble.Southampton: J Smith, S Perinchief, K Simmons, M Burch, J Charles (J Hill 35), R Lowe (E. Stoneham 76), M Ferreira (D Pearman 57), J Tucker, T Russell, K Astwood, D RussellGoals: D Russell (32), J Tucker (86).St. George’s: M Paynter, M Hodsoll (M Tucker 77), P Anderson, D Signor, E Signor, C Durham, J Bassett, J Carlington (K Williams 68), J Daniels (J Darrell 68min), J Dickinson, J HaywardGoals: J Dickinson (11, 81).Yellow card: P Anderson.Referee: A MouchetteMan of the match: J Dickinson (St George’s).
