THE physical power and experience of the defending champions ultimately proved too much for our young squad at KGV today.
Just 2-1 down at the break, Rangers conceded two own goals in the second half and while still in the game missed a terrific chance to get it back to 2-3.
Despite the margin of defeat which ended a good run of wins, again there were pluses in the home performance on a soft surface that held up well despite the recent heavy rains.
Saints, who are starting to find their best form after an iffy start to the season, scored inside two minutes with Nigel Hutton converting from close range after keeper Seb Sheppard had done well to block Louis Hunter’s initial effort.
Inside a minute Rangers were level, young George Goubert sweeping down the left, passing his marker before clipping a precise shot across the keeper and into the far corner. Terrific goal.
Saints restored their advantage on 26min with a Harvey Lihou goal but we were still well in the game and young Zac Batiste fired over the bar after cutting in on a superb cross field ball from Jacques Cauvin, probably our best performer on the day.
Saints had a couple of good chances to extend their lead, but just before the break Batiste’s crisp shot off the right forced the Saints keeper Ollie Harrison into a fine stop.
Sadly, the second period began as badly for us as the first.
Inside a minute Saints forced an own goal off the head of a defender[/b] but we dug in and on the hour mark Shane Billien might easily have scored but failed to take a golden chance provided by a loose back pass.
Chris Tardif and Andy Manning began to ring the changes and it was great to see young Tom Solway come on after several weeks out with an ankle injury.
The 16 year old settled in impressively, first at right back and then at left back when Cauvin pushed forward into central midfield.
In the last quarter Saints extended their lead with Louis Hunter poking home from a yard as he pounced on a brilliant block by Sheppard and there was time for a second own goal as Kyle Fossey unluckily sliced an attempted clearance into the net.

TEAMS
Rangers: Sheppard, Taylor (T Solway), Fossey, M Solway, Cauvin, Clatworthy (Travis), Billien (White), Battle (Carre), Batiste, Timms, Goubert.
St Martin’s: Harrison, B Solway, Le Noury, O’Regan, Chatterton, Geall, Lihou, Renouf, Duport, Hutton, Hunter.
Subs: Lowe, Ward, Smith, Le Lacheur.
Referee: T Sarre