After near misses in the last two seasons, luck ran out for Southampton Rangers yesterday when they were relegated along with Hamilton Parish after losing at home to PHC Zebras.

Last season they survived when Robin Hood beat St George’s in their final match, but this time Rangers could not help their own cause, going down 3-1 to PHC while Devonshire Colts, the team immediately above them, drew 1-1 with Boulevard and Somerset Trojans beat Robin Hood 2-1.

Cecoy Robinson netted twice for PHC while substitute Shakir Smith made certain of the win for PHC with a late third.

Rangers players looked dejected at the final whistle with captain Ezekiel Stoneham and Vernon Perinchief sitting quietly on the bench along with coaches Lorenzo Boyles and Dawud Tucker long after the rest of the players and officials had left the field.

Such was the pain felt within the club that no one was willing to talk about the team’s demise.

Mark Wade, the PHC coach, insisted he got no satisfaction from sending their neighbours down.

“We have to be mature and professional in those types of situations and, yes, we have relationships with people from Rangers,” said Wade, who suffered relegation twice with PHC.

“A lot of the players who play for Rangers came through our youth programme, so of course we have feelings for them.

“Hopefully they can regroup and come back stronger. I was assistant coach with Sammy Swan when we went down and came right back up and won the league [in that first season]. Then we were relegated again after that, so we understand how it happens, so we feel for Rangers.

“We had to be professional and do the job at hand, we wanted to make sure that we finished third in the league. Fans pay to see a match and hopefully we gave them that and they enjoyed the goals that were scored.”

Somerset Trojans, who had their fate in their own hands, made certain of survival when they beat Robin Hood 2-1 at home. Jonathan Bean and college student Justin Corday scored the goals for the home team who, a year ago, were celebrating winning the league for the first time in 22 years.

Danvers Seymour Jr, who led Somerset to the title last season, was in charge of the team yesterday in the absence of coach Kieshon Smith and was relieved to get the three points.

“We went into the match determined to put our best foot forward because we knew that Robin Hood were not going to lay down,” Seymour said. “We survived and for me this was the most important game that I have ever been a part of.”

Devonshire Colts drew at home against Boulevard at Police Field yesterday, with goals from Ian Coke, the visiting side’s striker, before a late equaliser by Kyle Jones.

Teniko Eve, the Colts defender, believed his team had shown plenty of character in their fight for survival.

“I really think we can rebuild for next season and will be a lot stronger,” Eve said. “We never gave up and showed a lot of fight to find an equaliser late on.”