History has a funny way of repeating itself.

Last season Southampton Rangers stormed out to what appeared to be a commanding 3-0 lead over Devonshire Cougars at the Den only to have the big cats come back and salvage a 3-3 draw.

On Sunday ghosts of the past came back to haunt Rangers ? only this time in their own back yard at Southampton Oval.

Rangers allowed a 2-0 cushion to slip away after 71 minutes, Cougars scoring three late goals to put things back in proper perspective and come away with maximum points.

While Rangers coach Derek Scott described Sunday?s loss as ?frustrating?, the former US Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) professional reckons valuable lessons were learnt.

?It was disappointing to let a 2-0 lead slip away but it can all be attributed to a lack of fitness,? lamented Scott, who followed in the footsteps of Clyde Best when he suited up for the Cleveland Force in the MISL.

?We also a had a few injuries and so we had to go to our bench. But overall I think fitness and injuries sort of messed up the flow of the game for us.?

With two thirds of the 2004-05 campaign completed, Scott has yet to celebrate a first league win since returning to the Oval where he came up in Rangers? youth programme before heading East to neighbouring Warwick.

?It is very frustrating for any coach and to be honest this was the best time to beat Cougars because they were playing without some of their best players,? added Scott. ?They were there to be beaten and yesterday was the time to do it.?

Despite enduring what has so far been a disappointing season in his first term at the helm of the team, Scott reckons better days are not far off for a youthful Rangers side.

Three notable players, all possible future leaders at the South Shore club, are midfield schemer Travis Wilkinson, midfielder turned defender Kamen Tucker, and pint-sized forward Reggie Lowe.

Wilkinson recently represented Bermuda at the national level while Tucker earned a call-up to train with the local select that went down 1-0 against the visiting Santos B team at Somerset Cricket Club nearly two weeks ago.

And it is these beacons of hope upon which Rangers are pinning their future, along with a few other promising prospects at the Oval.

?The talent is definitely there, although it is young talent,? Scott noted. ?We just have to be prepared to hang in there and if we go down to the First Division next season then it?s important that we stay together.?

Although Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the Premier Division, mathematically they can still avoid the drop ? with a little help from West End clubs Somerset Trojans and Somerset Eagles.

However, they can ill-afford to allow teams such as Cougars to recover from a two-goal deficit.

Now the next three matches against Boulevard, Dandy Town and North Village are sure to go a long way towards determining Rangers? whereabouts next season.

?We have been in a rut from the get-go. We?ve played well for the first 45 to 60 minutes. But it?s then been a case of a lack of match fitness and lack of experience and just some key mistakes that have come back to haunt us,? added Scott, who insisted he?s eager to remain in charge of the team next season.

?I?m always keen . . . but that?s entirely up to the club,? he said.