Somerset Eagles 3

Southampton Rangers 1

In a game that went into extra time, it was Somerset Eagles who emerged victorious against 10-men Southampton Rangers at the Den.

An enthralling game saw the match swing both ways as Southampton Rangers midfield, led by skipper Jermaine Dill, had control of the opening period.

It was no surprise when Travis Wilkinson, making one of his daunting runs into the box was bought down by an irrational tackle from Gladwyn Hill. Wilkinson, dusted himself off and slotted home the spot kick - albeit the keeper got a glove to it - in the 11th minute.

With the lead 1-0 and half-time approaching, Rangers let their foot off the pedal and were made to pay as Eagles striker Shaun Brown dispatched his header into the back of the net from a curling corner kick.

Brown would be a thorn is Southampton's side as his relentless work ethic would prove the decisive factor in this tense battle. Running Rangers ragged, the striker covered every blade of grass at Devonshire Rec and had chances to put the game out of reach inside regulation time.

But the telling blow came in extra time when Brown caught the Rangers back line napping.

Having commited a foul near the half-way line, Rangers were slow to mark up attackers and were caught out by a quickly taken free-kick. Brown, aware that no one was near him, signalled for the ball and the lofted free kick had just enough on it for the striker, with his small frame, to beat the keeper and flick it delicately to the back post.

It was a scoreline Eagles richly deserved, as they looked the fitter of the two sides and dictated the extra period.

But they didn't rest and continued to push forward.

Rangers went down to 10 men eight minutes into the second stanza of extra time and were made to pay for slow marking again.The ensuing free kick was taken while Rangers keeper Gerald Simons was setting up his wall, and Roger Brangman sent a laser beam accurate ball to the near post that the keeper could only watch. Rangers tried honourably to add some respect to the scoreline.However, Eagles made sure that any thoughts of a comeback were squashed and can now look forward to a trip to the 'Carpet' (national stadium).