Southampton Rangers learned the hard way just how big a miss inspirational midfielder Meshach Wade is going to be this season.

Playing in only his second match for new club Boulevard, the former Rangers player/coach came back to haunt his old club with two superbly taken late second-half goals to help earn Blazers maximum points in their league season opener at BAA Field yesterday.

Wade, however, wasn?t Blazers? sole hero on the day as the teenage duo of Gregory Johnson and Angelo Simmons also managed to cash in on a tiring Rangers defence and get their names on the scoresheet during a pulsating three-goal second-half blitz.

Janeiro Tucker ? making his first appearance for the season ? replied for a docile Rangers attack with a typical opportunistic first-half strike at the back post.

Although Rangers managed to hold their hosts to a 1-1 deadlock at the break, coach John Rebello?s decision to insert livewire strikers Simmons and Marvin Belboda into his team?s attack in the 59th minute and Blazers superior physical fitness ultimately prevailed.

But while the final scoreline would suggest an entertaining afternoon of all out attacking football, play for long spells was just about as exciting as watching grass grow as both teams jammed the middle and tried to bulldoze their way to goal rather than use the full width of the pitch to their advantage.

It wasn?t surprising to see Blazers? temperamental captain Melchisedec Gibbons and his opposite number Shawn Simons get tangled in the middle of the park late in the opening half as frustration began to take its toll with neither team able to assert themselves and grasp the upper hand.

But thanks to Rebello?s quick thinking and some polished finishing on the part of both teams, at least fans were compensated by the sight of the net shaking on five occasions.

Seconds after returning midfielder Dwight (Payback) Warren scooped the ball over the bar from three yards, Johnson ? who created acres of space for himself down the right-flank ? made the retreating visitor?s defence pay for some hesitant play at the back with a firmly struck right-footed drive that sizzled its way in at the back post.

Gradually, Rangers clawed their way back into contention and equalised nine minutes later when Tucker bravely poked Craig Darrell?s initial shot across the goal-line with Blazers? ?keeper Shejuan (Shabba) Swan breathing right down his throat.

Blazers full-back Albert Caisey enjoyed a triumphant return to his team?s line up. On several occasions the veteran player combined nicely with Gibbons down the left flank to torment a Rangers defence missing left-back Omari Hart through injury ? though at times Blazers also appeared suspect in defence playing without injured sweeper Stanton Lewis ? forcing Wade to lurk in the deep and keep things tidy at the back.

However, any thoughts Rangers might have had of exiting the ground with a deserved point were erased once Rebello made the telling decision to introduce Simmons and Belboda into the match.

It took only two minutes for the coach to receive reward as Simmons was sent crashing to the canvas after being put in the clear by a cleverly taken Belboda back-heel with his very first touch of the ball.

Possessing a calmness beyond his tender 17 years of age, the former Bermuda Under 17 national team striker effortlessly stroked his spot kick to the left of Ranger?s custodian Dwayne (Streaker) Adams to seal maximum points in the bag.

After putting in yet another solid performance, it was Wade?s moment to shine and the former Bermuda captain proved up to the task, adding his name onto the score sheet in the 75th minute with a 20 yard tracer that went in off Adams? far post before punctuating Blazers? lopsided win with another right-footed drive from the same distance which trickled through a phalanx of legs and nestled in at the near post with a minute to play.

Both Johnson and Simmons then blotted their copybooks with two senseless bookings down the final stretch to put a damper on what one delightfully pleased Blazers fan described as ?a good day at the office?.

: S.Swan, A.Caisey, Jahmarley Samuels, Jah Samuels, R.Wilson, G.Johnson (C.Trott, 83 mins), M.Wade, M.Gibbons (capt), R.Burgess (M.Belboda, 59 mins), D.Russell (A.Simmons, 59 mins), D.Warren.: D.Adams, P.Brangman, N.Grant, S.Simons (capt), K.Tucker, E.Bean, J.Dill, C.Darrell, R.Lowe (S.Perinchief, 71 mins), H.Dillas (G.Simons, 76 mins), J.Tucker.: A.Simmons, G.Johnson (Boulevard); C.Darrell (Southampton): M.Wade (Boulevard); P.Brangman (Southampton): Cornell Castle.