SCOTT Carter made his first start of the season on Saturday, but Soham were unable to stave off their fourth successive home defeat. Rangers were without suspended defender Martin Bromwich and Charles Libam who has a long-term injury after snapping his Ac

SCOTT Carter made his first start of the season on Saturday, but Soham were unable to stave off their fourth successive home defeat.

Rangers were without suspended defender Martin Bromwich and Charles Libam who has a long-term injury after snapping his Achilles tendon in the mid-week friendly at Ely City which Soham lost 3-1.

Luke Corbett drew first blood for the visitors with a 16th minute finish at the far post, but after surviving a period of pressure Soham got back on terms midway through the first half.

Paul Jones crossed the ball into Leamington's penalty area, and Darren Jimson managed to turn a defender before placing a shot just inside the post for Soham's first home goal of the campaign, making it 1-1.

Jimson fired a shot wide of the target soon afterwards, but it was Leamington who regained the advantage after 36 minutes when Towers crossed from the right and Mark Bellingham nodded home.

Rangers equalised again three minutes before half-time when a free-kick was awarded on the edge of the penalty area following a foul on Michael Simpson.

Jimson stepped up to take the set-piece, and lifted the ball over the wall and inside the post to make the interval score 2-2.

The home side started the second half well as Carter, Simpson (twice), Jimson and Kentoh Gray all fired wide of the target, but at the other end goalkeeper Lea Jordan was called into action to deny Bellingham and Jackson.

With 13 minutes remaining however, Leamington scored a decisive third goal.

Husband's corner caused confusion in the Soham penalty area, and after two shots had been blocked Bellingham forced the ball over the line for what proved to be the winner.

Andy Furnell - on as substitute for Gray - almost levelled again in the 84th minute, but he flicked the ball narrowly wide of the goal.

Leamington substitute Beckley meanwhile twice hit the woodwork in the closing stages.

"It was much, much better," said Soham boss Ian Benjamin afterwards. "That's what I'm after," he added.

"They [Leamington] probably deserve to be there [top of the table] at the moment, and it was a very attack-minded game. But they've played regularly and we haven't had a competitive match recently. That was the difference."

Benjamin praised the respective contributions of two-goal Darren Jimson and Paul Jones. "They were outstanding," he said, "and we actually looked a threat for the first time this season.

"My intention was to play three up against their three at the back, but that gave them a bit of room up the flanks. Having said that I was happy with the players, and they did what I asked them to do."

Rangers travelled to Atherstone for a re-arranged fixture on Tuesday night and on Saturday they visit Bedworth, but Benjamin faces the prospect of being without last term's leading scorer Charles Libam - possibly for the rest of the campaign.

"He's had his operation," said the Soham boss, "but apart from Charles 'the footballer' there is Charles 'the lad'. He'll be a big loss for us."

Benjamin has moved quickly to find a replacement however, and has recently made an approach for Wisbech Town's striker Billy Smith.