An equaliser that was smartly headed home by Ryan Belboda from Jason Raynor's cross enabled the home side to snatch a share of the points in a key First Division clash at Southampton Oval yesterday.

The result allowed Dandy Town, which drew with PHC on Saturday night, to maintain a two-point lead over second-place Vasco and North Village, both with 11 points.

Visibly rattled by a goal after 16 minutes -- put home by Sammy Swan -- Southampton did well to grab the equaliser before the half.

Rangers took a while to get rhythm in their team play and their goal after 39 minutes came when Raynor took a short free kick pass from skipper Olin Jones and crossed into the middle where Belboda rose majestically to head the ball home.

Southampton played with more purpose in the second half and were unlucky after two minutes when Timmy Figureido in the Vasco goal superbly blocked Ascento Russell from close range.

The two teams battled on evenly for the remainder of the half with both attacks clearly showing limitations when within scoring range of goal.

Southampton were handicapped down the left flank in particular with the usually effective Jerry Webb unable to get off his crosses much to the anger of his stranded strikers.

Swan opened the scoring, after a corner from Irving Burgess, masterfully getting around jaded centre-back Shawn Simmons and leaving 'keeper Randy Darrell with little chance.

That allowed Vasco to take a decisive edge for the rest of the half, but it was large because of a lack of ideas when they reached the penalty box that no further goals came.

PHC 1, Dandy Town 1 Dandy Town maintained their grip on the First Division leadership, but needed to come from behind to do so against PHC Saturday night Shawn Simons gave PHC an early first half lead, only to have it erased by Wylie Rudo, who converted a penalty.

The Hornets began the match in a frenzy and actually had the ball in the back of the net after just six minutes, however the score was ruled out because of an offside. Two minutes later, 'keeper Antoine Lightbourne blundered in his his handling of a looping ball and Simons followed up to force it over the line.

Village, Boulevard soreless Town, the more aggressive of the teams, finally equalised in the 30th minute when PHC sweeper Dano Outerbridge hacked down Lionel Furbert while going away from goal and referee Richard Knight pointed to the spot. Rudo calmly stroked the ball into the left corner.

Both sides had their chances in a slow second half, which was marked by the sending off of Sheridan Ming of PHC for dissent in the 76th minute.

N.Village 0, Boulevard 0 North Village stayed on course for a berth in the Dudley Eve Trophy during a weekend when the top five teams each drew matches.

However, Boulevard would not be pleased with their showing or the outcome of their match against the Red Devils, as they controlled the tempo and had the lion's share of possession -- especially during the second half.

Still, the home side had their moments, but strikers Sean Dill and Jamel Smith were woeful in their execution.

A strong diagonal wind made life difficult for both sides, with passes often going astray and goalkeepers having a tough time judging flight. Boulevard finally came into their own 35 minutes on, applying tremendous pressure, but finding Dwayne Adams a wall of strength, the 'keeper twice stopping shots from point blank range.

Stevie Wade first had a ferocious drive cleared by Adams and moments later Jahmel Samuels similarly was unsuccessful.

Boulevard came out for the second half with renewed strength, -- and the wind -- but while making better use of it than their opponents, could not score.

Dwight Warren had the first crack in the 53rd minute, nipping behind the defence to get onto a perfectly flighted pass by Rodney Bascome, but firing a foot over from 17 yards. Moments later Neil Robinson ripped an angled blast into the side netting.

Dev.Colts 3, St. David's 1 This lacklustre game saw both teams struggle against the windy conditions at Lord's before returning to the pitch after a scoreless first half.

Mark Ray put the Colts ahead with a low drive after 46 minutes. Jahmah Samuels then added to the lead when he drove home a shot off a St. David's defender following a right-wing corner after 60 minutes.

Five minutes later, Ray made it 3-0 when he got the better of a one-on-one situation and followed up his own rebound.

The home team fought back and were rewarded with a goal when Keith Jennings ran on to a through ball down the middle and beat goalkeeper Troy Hall.

St. George's Colts 0 Devonshire Cougars 1 While the frustration of inaccurate finishing baffled the home side, Cougars snatched the winner when Sheldon Caisey collected a corner kick and drove the ball home unmarked just inside the penalty area.

Costly first half misses by Clay Smith and Dean Minors prevented Colts from taking the initiative during the early stages.

A CLEAR HEAD -- Southampton Rangers centre-back Shawn Simmons heads a ball clear from Vasco's Sammy Swan during the teams' First Division clash at Southampton Oval yesterday.