Saints goalkeeper Alex Hockey is left clutching at thin air by Matt de Carteret’s superb 30-yarder. (0661637)

Rangers    3 St Martin’s    6
RANGERS were knocked off the top of the Division One table in humbling fashion at St Andrew’s.

And the harsh reality for them is that they won’t get anywhere near landing the title defending as poorly as this, while Saints look every inch title contenders.

But as bad as Rangers were at the back – gifting the visitors three goals in the first half – Saints were pretty convincing in both their performance and team ethic on a day when they were without several key players and striker Rob Pickford took the plaudits with a fine hat-trick.

Saints were powerful and solid, Rangers soft as a jelly and all over the place.

Shaun Lihou, the Rangers’ coach, was a trifle embarrassed to see his side’s league leadership and credentials so badly exposed.

‘I was disappointed more with the manner of the defeat. We didn’t come out of the blocks like Saints did and we gave them the perfect start with three gifted goals,’ he said.

‘You can’t expect to give three goals away in the first period on your home pitch.’