Gary Crofton capped a virtuoso performance with the winning runs as Somerset Bridge dethroned Southampton Rangers on Saturday in the season's most compelling game thus far.

Bridge appeared to be en route to a comfortable victory after guest players Jeff Richardson and Arnold Manders struck half-centuries and skipper Robin Swan made 40.

But young colt Dean Stevens had other ideas with a four-wicket burst in his second spell that sent the challengers crashing to 217 for nine.

Enter Crofton and number 11 bat Corvett Lambert to serve up high drama for an appreciative crowd at Southampton Oval.

Crofton survived two chances, the first when Rangers skipper Ricky Brangman dropped a simple catch at silly mid-on as he prepared to celebrate and the second when umpire McDonald Swan ruled that a half-volley that lodged in the mid-section of silly mid-off fielder Lyndon Raynor had hit the ground first.

The bowler on both occasions was `money man' Clevie Wade and in the final over with four runs needed, that same player was called upon to wrap it up.

But such has been Wade's misfortune this year that he greeted left-handed Crofton with a wide full toss.

The result: one bounce into the third man boundary followed by an invasion of yellow and blue as Bridge celebrated their first county win since a low-scoring thriller against Willow Cuts in 1991.

"It really brought the fight out of me,'' Crofton said of his heroics. "A lot my batsmen failed me and I said I wasn't going to let it go like that.'' Crofton, who finished on 22 not out, lives a stone's throw from Southampton Rangers and came up in their junior programme before moving on.

He added: "I feel good about the victory. I know it hurts them even more because they dissed (disrespected) me years ago when they should have played me.

"But that has made me a better player. I fight harder with everything I've got ... straight to the wire until the last ball is bowled.'' Crofton was indeed only the fourth Bridge player in double figures, but for the longest while it seemed he would not be needed after a tireless bowling performance.

Rangers' temperamental fast bowler Garry Williams struck the first blow when his second ball destroyed Tony Cheeseman's centre and off stumps.

And when the score was 10, David Jones took a wild swipe at Stevens and was caught in the covers for five.

Bridge were struggling at 30 for three after Alfred Carter (six) became Stevens' second victim, bringing Richardson to the wicket with Western Stars team-mate Manders.

Richardson, who scored an unforgettable 186 in last year's final, got off to a flyer with a succession of boundaries against Janeiro Tucker and Wade.

He flashed past Manders and brought up his half-century from 37 balls as Bridge appoached an area of comfort.

Despite already taking eight in the over, Richardson top-edged an on drive against Wade to Williams at mid-on. His 63 came in one hour and included six fours and three sixes.

With the score 116 for four, Manders continued in his steady role while skipper Swan put away anything that was loose in a partnership that flourished for 86 runs.

The celebrations had already started with Rangers looking beaten and down to 10 men for the last hour and a half after Williams, whose four overs cost 17 runs, left to go to work.

But out of nowhere, Stevens held a fine return catch off Manders and the march was on. Manders made 66 in 161 minutes and hit six fours.

Wade was instantly re-introduced from the northern end and then induced Swan to edge one to slip where Keith Wainwright did well diving to his left.

Stevens then bowled Brian Gibbons (five), Gladwin Ingham (four) and Sidney Simmons (nought) in quick succession as Bridge fell from 202 for four to 217 for nine.

But the last two stayed the course in 30 minutes of increasing tension and darkness, the winning runs coming at 8.10 p.m.

Stevens finished with six for 46 in 15 overs while Wade had two for 61 from 16.1.

"I said we had 10 bats and that's what we needed,'' said Swan. "I had confidence in the team all the way. It was a great fight and it was very exciting.'' The skipper had special praise for hero Crofton.

"One thing about Gary Crofton, he is a die-hard, a team player. He bowled 19 overs today for 69 runs and got one wicket. He didn't give up and he showed his character today.'' Crofton's fine bowling spell certainly contributed to keeping Rangers in check.

The medium-pacer bowled 14 overs unchanged before lunch on a hot day and three more after the interval before being relieved. At that time his figures stood at 17-1-48-1.

Rangers were in a healthy position after an 88-run opening stand between Wainwright (29) and Olin Jones, and then additional 52 between Jones and Michael Brangman (17).

Jones had struck 11 fours in over two hours of batting for his 85 before flicking Gladwin Ingham to Crofton on the mid-wicket boundary.

Stevie Lightbourne and Clevie Wade added 53 for the fourth wicket in quick time as Rangers raced to 206 for three with 14 overs left.

But from there all the hard work done earlier was spoiled as four wickets fell for six runs. Lightbourne hit two sixes and three fours in his 37 while Wade made 25.

Gibbons finished as Bridge's most successful bowler with three for 24 from eight overs while Manders' off-spin brought three for 64 from 19 overs.

The new cup-holders were instantly faced with personnel problems after the match as it was revealed that guest stars Manders and Richardson are due to be on tour with Western Stars during the final on August 21-22 against Willow Cuts.

There has been talk of monetary reward to entice the players to stay on the Island but the club could not confirm this over the weekend.

"I hope that they are here, but if they're not, we'll have to go without them,'' said skipper Swan.

JEFF RICHARDSON -- In blazing form.

BRIDGE CROSSERS -- Late batting hero Gary Crofton goes over tactics with guests wicket-keeper Jeff Richardson and Arnold Manders, who both made half-centuries.