Southampton Rangers 2 North Village 2

Forward Justin Bell produced an incredible individual moment to secure a 2-2 draw and save defending champions North Village from an improbable away defeat to Southampton Rangers yesterday.

The visitors started really well, and should have opened the scoring when Jaizel Smith-Deshields slipped Bell through into the box.

The striker teased his defender, Anthony Rocker, inside and out before the right-back took him down inside the area.

Bell stepped up and slotted home the penalty, however, referee Anthony Francis asked for the spot-kick to be retaken, as a few Rangers players stepped inside the box when the initial shot was struck.

The second kick, legal this time, was tipped around the far post by goalkeeper Dakarrie Steede.

Village had another opportunity ten minutes later when Demetre Daniels found Jared Richardson in space, but after cutting inside his marker, the winger could only fire wide of the target.

Midway through the first half, Village would eventually take the lead after a good ball from Ian Simmons found Richardson, and his low cross was deflected into his own net by Kamen Tucker.

That lead was short-lived as eight minutes before half-time, the home side found the equaliser.

A good set-piece delivery by Ezekiel Stoneham headed towards goal by Jahni Bean, was well saved by goalkeeper Omari DeShields. Bean, however, pounced on the rebound and finished into the far corner.

The opening minutes of the second half became scrappy, with several breaks in play but just before the hour-mark, the tension boiled over between the two sides.

In the midst of the scrap, Rangers’ striker Dion Stovell and Village defender Jalen Harvey were both sent off for violent conduct and excessive force.

Stovell pulled Harvey down in anger, and he retaliated by planting his head into the chest of the attacker.

Midway through the second half, the hosts went in front through a bit of fortune.

Travis Wilkinson took a free-kick from the left side of the penalty area, and his curling effort was missed by everyone before nestling into the bottom corner.

However, Rangers were denied what would have been their second win of the season with 10 minutes remaining on the clock.

A decent ball was fired into the feet of Bell by substitute Jakeem Jennings with the Bermuda international flicking past his marker before firing past Steede to complete an impressive solo effort.

Rangers head coach Dwayne Adams was disappointed his side was not able to hold on for the win and secure all three points.

“Today was a missed opportunity,” said Adams, the former Bermuda goalkeeper. “We had them [Village] on the ropes.”

“We must keep to our game plan,” he said. “If we do that, we will have a strong season.”

SCORERS

Southampton Rangers

Bean 37, Wilkinson 71

North Village

Tucker 26 OG, Bell 82

TEAMS

Southampton Rangers (3-4-2-1): D Steede 5 – R Wright 6, K Tucker 4, J Hill 5 (sub: D Hill 85) – A Rocker 4, E Stoneham 6, Z Iris 4, M Basden 5 (sub: K Wilson 70 5) – T Wilkinson 6 (sub: L Scott 86), J Bean 5 – D Stovell 3. Substitutes not used: R Simmons, T Smith. Booked: Iris; Sent off: Stovell

North Village (4-3-3): O DeShields 4 – J Harvey 3, T Fray 6, V Perinchief 5, K Knights 6 – I Simmons 6, D Daniels 5, J Smith-Deshields 4 (sub: J Jennings 55 5) – J Richardson 5, J Bell 7 (sub: S Robinson 90), Q Lema 5. Substitutes not used: R Simons, T Brown, Z Jennings-Barnett, P Smith. Booked: Bell, Knights, Daniels; Sent off: Harvey

Referee: A Francis