Southampton Rangers 0

St George’s 2

Newly promoted teams always want to get early points in the bag and St George’s managed that at Southampton Oval yesterday with their second win — a 2-0 victory — in three matches.

For Rangers, the early signs suggest that it will be a long season for them after a second straight loss to one of the promoted teams, leaving them without a point — or goal — after three matches.

Maurice Lowe, the Rangers coach, was unusually quiet on the bench and even supporter Elliott Darrell had to save his breath in the second half with his “Raaaangerrrrs” screams, as the players gave the fans little to shout about.

St George’s coasted to victory with goals in each half from Dominique Lambert and Macai Simmons.

Lowe urged the Rangers fans to be patient in his coach’s message in the matchday programme, assuring them “we have taken and will continue to take the required actions to overcome the inertia we’ve experienced.”

St George’s took the lead in the thirteenth minute when Lambert volleyed past goalkeeper Cory Richardson. That early setback woke Rangers up briefly and they went closest to scoring in the first half when Perinchief’s effort from a free kick was saved by Charles Marshall, the St George’s goalkeeper.

Jarizinho Bassett wasted a few chances to extend St George’s lead at the half-hour mark when a shot sliced off his boot.

Moments later drove a shot just wide of the far post. Another good chance fell to Bassett minutes later, when Lambert’s through ball opened the Rangers defence to send Bassett through. However, Richardson narrowed the angle and blocked the effort.

St George’s doubled their lead in the 55th minute when Simmons scored directly from a free kick when his intended cross went untouched into the far top corner.

A finger tip save by Richardson from a shot by Kyle Williams kept the scoreline respectable for Rangers.