Russell hits hat-trick in Rangers win
Dennis Russell scored a second hat-trick in as many outings as visiting Southampton Rangers overpowered Flanagan’s Onions during this heated Premier Division encounter at Goose Gosling Field marred by on field clashes and the dismissal of two players.The Rangers striker struck in the 25th, 73rd and 80th minutes to take his season tally to 27 goals in all competitions.Player-coach Marvin Belboda grabbed Rangers other strike in the 81st minute after coming on as a second half sub.Onions striker Pete Robey netted a consolation for the hosts who slumped to their second worst league defeat of the season.Onions were reduced to ten men in the 61st minute when key player Keston Lewis was sent off for showing dissent towards a linesman.And Rangers cashed in their numerical advantage as they scored three unanswered goals to leave their hosts for dead.Both teams were deadlocked at 1-1 at the half before Rangers opened the floodgates after the break.Referee Antoine Augustus was forced to reach into his pocket on several occasions to issue yellow cards as tempers flared and both sets of players had to separated.Rangers were also reduced to ten-men in the 85th minute after winger Keedai Astwood was sent off for violent conduct, namely choking Onions defender Sam Butler moments after the two men were involved in a skirmish. Astwood’s dismissal marred what had otherwise been a superb outing which saw the player heavily involved in three of his team’s goals.Rangers pressed high from the outset but failed to convert their early dominance into goals.And after absorbing waves of attacks Onions got a foothold in the match and began applying some pressure of their own, forward Nigel Forrester hitting the woodwork with a lounging header.But the home side were dealt a crushing blow when Russell broke the deadlock from the penalty spot against the run of play after Onions midfielder Rich Cumbers was penalised for high kicking in the box in the 25th minute.Despite falling in arrears Onions kept probing with the wind at their backs and were eventually rewarded when Robey beat the offside trap and slotted defender Alan Kelly's through pass inside Jason Smith's near post to add parity to the scoreline five minutes before the half.The match took a dramatic turn after Lewis was sent off just moments after Onions had a confident appeal for a penalty ignored.Russell scored the eventual game winner after smashing the ball past Onions ‘keeper Stephen Gould after getting on the end of Belboda’s precision pass in the box.The powerful striker then completed his treble after rounding the ‘keeper and slotting into the empty net after being fed a pass by midfielder Stephen Astwood.Belboda then made it 4-1 with a tap in from close range after Keedai Astwood’s pass found him free in the box.Flanagan’s Onions: S Gould, P Matthews, N Forrester, S Butler, A Kelly, S Lister (N Parker, 80th), B Amaro (J Fox, 62nd), D Doolin, R Cumbers (K Ronaldson, 62nd), K Lewis, P RobeyGoals: P Robey (40th)Booked: S Butler, D Doolin, R CumbersSent off: K LewisRangers: J Smith, J Charles (K Simmons, 75th), T Russell, V Perinchief (M Belboda, 66th), D Russell (D Pearman, 80th), S Astwood, M Burch, K Astwood, C Woolridge, J Tucker, J HillGoals: D Russell (25th, 73rd, 80th), M Belboda (81st)Booked: S Astwood, J TuckerSent off: K AstwoodMan of the match: D Russell (Rangers)Referee: A Augustus
