Somerset Trojans 1 Ireland Rangers 1

Ireland Rangers squandered a golden opportunity to lift themselves off the bottom of the pile at Somerset Cricket Club yesterday.

For the second time this season Trojans skipper Jelani Scott rescued his team from the jaws of certain defeat against their West End rivals, following up on his own parried spot-kick to fire past the flat-footed Ricky Tucker and earn the home side a point they didn't deserve.

Rangers had taken the lead in spectacular fashion in the 15th minute when Andre Outerbridge left Timmy Figureido clutching at thin air with a 'humdinger' the 'keeper might not have saved had he known it was coming a week before.

Sent clear by Yusaff Pitt's clever pass behind the backpeddling defence, Outerbridge dribbled a few yards, looked up and picked his spot, and buried his shot past the diving Figureido to delight his team's fans.

Apart from blowing numerous chances to put the match away, Rangers did everything else right before it all went horribly wrong in the 82nd minute. During a Trojans raid against the run of play, Rangers' central defender Sheroy Fubler was sent off for handling in the box and swearing at referee Ronue Cann in protest of the latter's decision.

As he had done four months ago at Malabar, Scott made no mistake from the spot to seal Trojans' late revival.

Rangers players, 'keeper Tucker in particular, argued against ref Cann's decision to award Trojans a late penalty as they exited the pitch. But as Rangers stalwart Jermaine Saltus simply put it: "The ref did not do anything wrong, we did. We missed far too many chances and deserved what we got in the end."

If there was a fine for not capitalising in front of goal, Rangers duo Pitt and Jonathan Bean would probably have to apply for social assistance this week. Pitt missed two gilt-edged chances before the break, including a sitter four yards in front of goal with keeper Figureido stranded on the ground.

The usually dependable Bean was not to be outdone, making a hash of three breakways while Outerbridge and Pitt carried on in the same vein in the second-half.

Rangers midfielder Curtis Grant came the closest to scoring with a looping shot that dipped onto the bar.

Although Trojans created far less chances, they too were sloppy in front of the posts with sub Dwight Basden miskicking with only Tucker to beat and youngster Matthew Gerrado curling wide when put through.

Yesterday's result leaves Trojans and Rangers anchored in the relegation zone, both failing to make up ground on sixth-placed Dandy Town who went down at home to Boulevard.

Somerset: T.Figureido, C.Robinson, S.Riley, M.Butterfield, J.Titterton (R.Cann Jr, 50 mins), J.Scott (capt), M.Thomas (D.Basden, 35 mins), J.Butterfield, A.Burrows, D.Stovell, M.Gerrado (R.Bascome, 55 mins).

Ireland Rangers: R.Tucker, J.Rogers, J.Martin, S.Fubler, J.Saltus, R.Gomes (S.Brangman, 55 mins), C.Grant, L.Weeks, A.Outerbridge, Y.Pitt, J.Bean (capt).

Yellow cards: C.Robinson (Somerset); L.Weeks, S.Fubler (Rangers).

Sent off: S.Fubler (Rangers)

Men of the match: T.Figureido (Somerset); R.Tucker (Rangers).

Referee: Ronue Cann.