Tucker lights up the town
Janeiro Tucker grabbed a hat-trick as Southampton Rangers avenged last year's FA Cup second round defeat and set up an all-Premier League final four at Devonshire Rec last night.
Tucker struck from a 30th minute penalty, again in the 61st minute and completed his hat-trick with a farcical effort a minute from time. Kwame Tucker got the fourth in stoppage time, while David Gibbs grabbed a consolation for Social Club almost immediately after Janeiro Tucker's third.
Until the Rangers striker was upended on the right edge of the box on the half hour, neither side seemed able to seize the initiative in an untidy but competitive game. Referee Gary Cook was forced to make full use of his whistle as free kicks outnumbered shots on goal and completed passes. But once Tucker got to his feet to blast an unstoppable spot kick past Lawrence Dyke, Social Club, who could swap divisions with Rangers next year, appeared to sense it wouldn't be their night. Ming could have extended Southampton's lead three minutes later but he put his header over the bar when well placed. Kwame Tucker, linking well with Janeiro Tucker and Nashon Smith in a three man front line, was twice halted as he flew down the right wing, the second infringement earning Tyrone Richardson a booking. From the resulting free kick Jason Raynor seemed to have put Rangers two up as the ball threaded its way through a crowd of players and into the net. But the linesman had his flag up for an offside.
Social Club finished the half positively as Tokia Russell twice used his acceleration to set up chances for himself, but his side were far too reliant on the national team player for inspiration. And Smith twice exploited the gaps in the Social Club defence early in the second half, lobbing over goalkeeper and bar when he should have scored and then missing again after Kwame Tucker had helped Janeiro Tucker's long ball into his path.
But when the same two players combined just after the hour, Janeiro Tucker made no mistake from his cousin's clever chip. Russell's delicious backheel gave substitute Michael Parson a chance to reduce the arrears but he dithered over his shot.
And the First Division side's cause was not helped when goalkeeper Lawrence Dyke hobbled off in the 81st minute to be replaced by Tory Lewis between the posts. Lewis made one fine save but a minute from time tried to dribble out of his area, was robbed by Janeiro Tucker and watched helplessly as the Rangers man slotted into an empty net.
David Gibbs pulled one back for Social Club from 12 yards a minute later, but from a corner at the other end, Kwame Tucker headed Rangers' fourth.
Rangers: M.Higgs, R.Belboda, P.Brangman, S.Simmons, M.Raynor (N.Grant 86 mins), J.Raynor, S.Ming, O.Hart, N.Smith (B.Harris 81 mins), J.Tucker (T.Flood 90 mins), K.Tucker Social Club: L.Dyke (A.Woods 81 mins), R.Hudson, L.Raynor, T.Lewis, T.Richardson, T.Russell, F.Williams, D.Ming (L.Richardson 78 mins), D.Gibbs, Z.Charles, R.Burgess (M.Parson 67 mins) Referee: Gary Cook Men of the match: J.Tucker (Rangers); T.Russell (Social Club) Yellow cards: O.Hart, R.Belboda (Rangers); T.Richardson, D.Gibbs (Social Club)
