Missed chances proved costly as these two Dudley Eve hopefuls had to settle for a share of the spoils at Southampton Oval yesterday.

But Southampton, who took an early lead, paid the biggest price as a victory by two goals would have lifted them back into the top four and into the Dudley Eve ahead of champions Vasco. A win for Village would only have got them ahead of Rangers and into fifth place.

Olin Jones' brilliant fourth minute strike looked to be enough to carry Rangers to victory. But Village's increased pressure in the second half finally paid off six minutes from the end when they equalised through a Jamel (Mouse) Smith penalty.

A couple of good saves by Randy Darrell after that kept one point in the bag for Rangers as Village threatened to snatch all three in the closing minutes.

Jones got Rangers off to a good start when his shot from 35 yards dipped under the crossbar with Nyon Steede off his line.

Gradually depleted Village, missing the experience of Kevin Grant and Elliott Jennings and fielding only three subs, got more into the match as Kevin Jennings went close with a free kick from deep on the left side.

Village's best chance of the first half came after a pass into the box by Sean Dill landed perfectly for Jamel Smith who shot straight where he was facing... wide of the near post.

At the other end Rangers' top scorer, Ascento Russell, also put an effort wide from a good position in the box after a cross had been headed down for him.

Village went close again from a free kick, this time taken by Irving Romaine who played it to Jennings. His shot was blocked and Rahji Edness followed up to smash a left-foot volley just over the bar.

Both teams continued to waste good chances early in the second half as Rangers had Janeiro Tucker and Walton Burgess warming up for a double substitution and Village got Derek Bell ready to come on for Dill.

Village threw everything at Rangers in the last half hour as the home team hung on to their 1-0 lead. Village finally did score in the 84th minute when Smith was fouled in the box by Ryan Belboda and took the penalty himself, placing the ball low to the right of Randy Darrell.

That finally silenced the Rangers faithful on the bank behind the northern goal who had booed every Village miss in the second half.

Three players from each team were booked by referee Richard Knight, including both Rangers subs, Tucker and Burgess. Tucker had his name taken after the final whistle for something he said while Burgess also had some choice words for the official as he entered the club.

Southampton: R.Darrell; N.Grant, R.Belboda, S.Simons, P.Brangman, O.Jones, K.Tucker (W.Burgess 61 mins), J.Raynor, N.Smith (J.Tucker 61 mins), J.Webb, A.Russell.

Village: N.Steede; R.Edness, M.Hansey, I.Romaine, A.Simons, R.Spence, L.Raynor, N.Smith, K.Jennings, J.Smith, S.Dill (D.Bell 63 mins).

Referee: Richard Knight Men of match: Randy Darrell (Rangers), Kevin Jennings (Village)