Rohaan Simons scored a hat trick while striker Herbie Dillas and substitute Michael Scott netted two goals apiece to lead Southampton on a rampaging victory in this First Division match at Southampton yesterday.

Rangers' third straight win -- after a string of four defeats -- ruined Albert Smith's return to the ranks of full-time coaching. Smith was making his debut this season as full-time coach, moving up from his assistant post after Josef Gooden's resignation.

Some additional salt was added to Cougars' wounds after 55 minutes when young foward Aljame Zuill was sent off by referee Gary Cook after receiving a second yellow card.

But any plans Smith had of rejuvenating a Cougars' team that is stuck at the bottom of the tables were not given a chace to unfold by a Southampton team that raised their pace and rhythm and never let up.

Such was Southampton's domination at times that only some courageous goalkeeping by Mark (Burger) Jennings, playing his first game since retiring more than five years ago, prevented the score from reaching double digits.

Spurred on my some nifty work by Craig Darrell in midfield, Southampton gained a comfortable 2-0 lead by the interval.

Simons put them ahead after 17 minutes after combining with Dillas and then Simons got the second after 26 minutes after Janeiro Tucker's blast fell to his feet and allowed him to score from close in.

With skipper Wali Salaam getting little help from his forwards, Cougars struggled up front and it wasn't long after play re-started that the home side gained complete control.

Craig Darrell found an opening to put Dillas through the middle on a breakaway after 51 minutes -- and Dillas made no mistake as Jennings advanced and failed to stop the blast. After the ejection of Zuill, Cougars found it even harder to advance, although Salaam was finally rewarded for his perseverance after 66 minutes, putting a shot home after getting the ball from left full-back Maxwell Dill.

But jubilation for Cougars was short lived as Southampton struck back, inspired by the lively substitute Scott who made spirited runs down the right flank. Dillas made it 4-1 after 70 minutes and Scott drove home a blast from a sharp angle 15 yards after 74 minutes to make it 5-1.

Scott struck another fierce shot against the post after 76 minutes, but followed this up and scored from close range after 78 minutes to make it 6-1.

Southampton coasted for a while before Simons rounded off the scoring from a breakaway five minutes from the end.

Southampton: R.Darrell; E.Pitt (A.Tucker, 75 mins.), P.Brangman, R.Belboda, N.Grant; J.Tucker (K.Tucker, 47 mins.), C.Simmons, C.Darrell; A.Wolffe (M.Scott, 52 mins.), H.Dillas, R.Simons Dev.Cougars: M.Jennings; W.Martin, S.Smith, S.Caisey, M.Dill; K.Swan (T.Smith, 25 mins.), S.Coddrington, R.Swan; A.Zuill, W. Salaam, M.Smith (D.Brangman, 56 mins.) Referee: Gary Cook Men of the match: Craig Darrell (Southampton); Wali Salaam (Cougars