St. George's coach Earl Basden had the look of a worried man as he sat alone on the subs' bench long after his players had disappeared into the dressing room.

And rightly so, for St. George's are looking a side in deep trouble after yet another heavy defeat, this time at home at Wellington Oval. They are still awaiting their first goal of the season while 16 have already found the back of their net in just three matches.

After a promising opening few minutes when they ran hard and showed plenty of enthusiasm, St. George's took two quick steps backwards in the 12th and 14th minutes when Rangers struck with their opening goals.

Ascento Russell, celebrating his return from Dandy Town, broke the deadlock when he followed up on a half clearance to drive a left footed shot past Burchall from the edge of the penalty area.

And before the home team could begin their search for an equaliser, they were hit by a second two minutes later, this time when Jason Raynor's corner on the left sliced off the boot of Carlton Richardson and headed towards the near post where Kwame Tucker forced it over the line.

Rangers, looking promising in their build-ups, were forced into a first substitution in the 25th minute when striker Herbie Dillas, in his first match back from suspension, went off with a hip injury and was replaced by Dawud Tucker.

After Neil Paynter went close with a header for St. George's late in the half from an Andre Todd free kick, Rangers completed their first half scoring with a smartly taken third in the 43rd minute.

Jerry (Chocolate) Webb, making his debut in midfield alongside Olin Jones and Kwame Tucker, sent in a perfect cross from the left and Russell rose high to connect with a header at the far post which gave Burchall no chance.

St. George's battled on in the second half but a lack of ideas in and around the penalty box meant that the Rangers lead was never threatened.

Duvall Smith put a weak shot straight at Randy Darrell in the Rangers goal from a good position and in the 64th minute the fourth went in for the visitors.

This came after a St. George's corner broke down and Rangers raced upfield with Dawud Tucker feeding Russell down the right. Russell got to the goal-line and fed a cross to the far post where Tucker completed the move.

New Rangers coach John Tucker, replacing Gary Darrell who stepped down because of work commitments, kept urging his players on in the heat.

After Neil Paynter had a shot blocked on the goal-line following a Dickinson corner, Rangers' Nashon Smith, who replaced Rohaan Simons just five minutes earlier, completed the rout in the 84th minute when he raced down the flank and scored with a shot inside the far post.

St. George's: R.Burchall; A.Todd (S.Outerbridge 71 mins), R.Almeida (D.Walker 46 mins), N.Paynter, Q.Francis, D.Bailey, A.Bassett, A.Darrell, C.Richardson, S.Dickinson, D.Smith (D.Whitfield 62 mins).

Southampton: R.Darrell; J.Raynor, E.Brangman, S.Simmons, R.Belboda, O.Jones, K.Tucker, J.Webb, A.Russell, H.Dillas (D.Tucker 25 mins), R.Simons (N.Smith 79 mins).

Referee: Lyndon Raynor.

Men of match: Stevie Dickinson (St. George's), Ascento Russell (Southampton).