23rd April:
Deeping Rangers 1 -
2 Bourne
Town
Deeping’s season ended with yet another 2-1 defeat. After their cup final win predictably the remainder of the season has been very much a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ and having to play 4 games in 7 days was bound to affect the lads physically.
Rangers started the game
brightly but although they had the territorial advantage they weren’t testing
Bourne’s keeper. They paid for this when the visitors had their first serious
attack after 20 minutes. The ball was played into Tom Dunn on the edge of the
area and he was given time to turn and place a right footed shot low into the
corner.
Worryingly for Deeping,
Bourne’s influential skipper James Beck was starting to pull the strings in
midfield and he was at the centre of everything good about Bourne’s performance.
For Deeping Dan Lovesey was pushed into attack to try and spark some life into
proceedings with his pace and he broke through a couple of times but with the
ball on his weaker left foot he was unable to properly test the keeper. Tom
Thurston and Mark Mankiwskyj were marshalling Deeping’s defense well restricting
Bourne to a couple of opportunities which Dan Smith was able to deal with
comfortably.
As the half wore on a tired
looking Deeping seemed unlikely to get back on terms but they were handed a
lifeline in the final minute. The home side were awarded a free kick 30 yards
out. Ben Leisner delivered a teasing left footed in-swinger to the back post
which found Sam Thompson’s run round the back and he expertly guided the ball
across the keeper and into the net with his outstretched
leg.
The half time whistle blew
almost immediately.
Earlier in the season Deeping
would have probably pushed on for victory in this sort of game but in a mirror
image of the last 3 performances the lads just didn’t have enough juice left in
the engine to mount a serious challenge in the second half. Beck was becoming
more and more difficult to contain and it was no surprise when he settled the
outcome. Bourne caught Deeping napping from a short corner and were then unable
to get a tackle in on Beck who was allowed to dribble to the corner of the area
before unleashing an unstoppable left foot drive into the far top corner of the
net. A goal worthy of winning any game but Deeping will be disappointed that
they let him get within range in the first place.
Rangers continued to battle but
the exertions of a hard season and particularly tough last 7 days had taken its
toll and they were unable to apply any concerted pressure in the final
minutes.
While the lads will be
disappointed with the last week in terms of results they should really look back
on a season of great highs. It’s a reflection of the progress made that they are
frustrated at losing 2-1 to ICA, Eye (albeit in controversial circumstances) and
Bourne, 3 of the top 4 teams in division 1. However, en route to our 11 match
winning streak mid-way through the season, culminating in the cup win, they
should remember that we beat each of those sides in league and cup. It’s very
small margins at this level and the boys have proved to themselves that they
have the mental and physical strength to compete with the
best.
The whole squad should be
congratulated for their efforts this season.
Deeping: Dan Smith, Jamie
Mallett, Tom Thurston, Harry Possnett, Sam Thompson, Tim Neal, Jacob Peters, Dan
Lovesey, Steff Ladley, Dan Woods, Mark Mankiwskyj, Ben Leisner, Liam
Buttery.
21st April: Eye
United 2 – 1 Deeping Rangers
A 3rd consecutive
2-1 defeat but Rangers can feel hard done by as a highly controversial final few
minutes cost them dear.
If losing to Deeping in the Cup
Final and their previous league encounter wasn’t enough incentive, Eye
knew they needed to win this game to remain in the title hunt. So for such an
important fixture it got off to the worst possible start when the appointed
referee didn’t show up. One of the home sides parents stepped in but in these
circumstances you just know there’ll be a sting in the
tale!
This game was never going to be
pretty with pitches so hard and bouncy at this time of the season but Rangers
made a great start. Having seen off some early pressure from Eye Deeping took
the lead after 10 minutes. From an Eye corner Dan Smith confidently collected
the ball and launched one of his trademark long kicks downfield. It wasn’t the
usual suspects getting on the end of it but centre half Dan Lovesey who had
sprinted the length of the pitch before showing great composure and bravery to
round the keeper and from an acute angle sliding his shot in despite a defenders
best efforts to clear off the line. However, for his troubles Lovesey got a boot
in the face which kept him off the pitch for a few
minutes.
Ben Leisner nearly increased
the lead a few minutes later but his thunderbolt which was destined for the top
corner was acrobatically palmed away by Adam Turner.
The remainder of the game was
very even with the pitch not helping either teams attempts to play football.
Despite tiring legs at the end of their 3rd game in 6 days Deeping
looked to have done enough to secure a deserved win until that sting in the
tale! With what should have been seconds remaining, a cross from Eye’s right
wing caused panic in the Deeping defence. The ball deflected towards goal before
Dan Smith dropped on it. With their title aspirations hanging in the balance the
Eye players were not surprisingly convinced that the ball had crossed the line.
Equally, Deeping’s players were convinced the ball hadn’t crossed the line,
again not surprising. In the gathering gloom Deeping’s linesman couldn’t be sure
so it was left to the ref and he awarded the goal.
So a 1-1 draw, but no,
apparently there was still time for a winner and with darkness descending and
Deeping’s players out on their feet an Eye striker got clear on the left and his
low drive beat Dan Smith. Moments after kicking off the final whistle
blew.
ICA must have thought they had
the title in the bag but Eye have kept their hopes alive and it all boils down
to the final day of the season while Deeping must get themselves up for their
final game of the season, the small matter of a local derby against Bourne on
Thursday.
Deeping: Dan Smith, Jamie
Mallett, Tom Thurston, Harry Possnett, Sam Thompson, Tim Neal, Jacob Peters, Dan
Lovesey, Steff Ladley, Dan Woods, Mark Mankiwskyj, Ben Leisner.
19th April:
Deeping Rangers 1 -
2 ICA
Juventus
Another 2-1 reverse but a much better performance by Rangers against the champions elect. Having already beaten ICA twice by the odd goal in league and cup it was probably asking too much for a repeat but Deeping can hold their heads up high after an excellent performance where they probably played as well if not better than the previous two encounters.
The opening 20 minutes were
very even with little goal mouth action as both midfields battled for supremacy.
However that all changed in the space of 5 minutes when Rangers were caught by
two quick fire goals. Dec Carr was able to pounce on a ball over the top and
with the Deeping defense flat-footed Carr raced through unchallenged to lob Dan
Smith from the edge of the box. Before Rangers had a chance to recover from that
Reece Currie picked the ball up 18 yards out and he managed to guide his shot
through the crowded box and into the corner.
Deeping managed to reorganise
before any further damage was inflicted and while not troubling ICA’s keeper
they confidently saw out the half.
The second half saw an
excellent game of football with the home side doing the majority of the pressing
as they looked to get back into it. ICA knew that a win would all but seal the
title for them and this maybe played on their minds as they sat back a little.
The game became very interesting 15 minutes into the second period when a
Deeping free kick from just inside ICA’s half was launched into the box. The
hard pitch played it’s part in enabling the bouncing ball to clear the majority
of players massed in the box and Tim Neal got the faintest of touches to guide
the ball into the net.
Rangers were in the ascendency
and enjoyed their best period of the game. Following a good spell of pressure
Sam Thompson came agonisingly close to equalising when he latched onto a through
ball only to see his dink past the on-rushing keeper dribble just
wide.
As Deeping committed more
players forward ICA started to come back into the game and Dan Smith again had
to be on top form to pull off two amazing saves from rasping shots that looked
destined for the top corner.
A great advert for Youth League
football ended with ICA just about deserving the win but credit to Deeping for
bouncing back from the disappointing display at
Whittlesey.
Deeping: Dan Smith, Jamie
Mallett, Tom Thurston, Harry Possnett, Sam Thompson, Tim Neal, Jacob Peters, Dan
Lovesey, Steff Ladley, Dan Woods, Liam Buttery, Mark Mankiwskyj, Ben
Leisner.
16th April:
Whittlesey 2 -
1 Deeping
Rangers
A tough end of season run-in of 4 games in 7 days started with this midweek trip too much improved Whittlesey and in a scrappy encounter of few clear cut chances it was the home side that battled to a narrow victory.
While the quality was lacking in the early stages Rangers were at least giving as good as they got in the physical battle but as with the games against Hampton and Netherton they were finding it difficult to break down a team who were content to get bodies behind the ball.
The best chances during the first half hour fell to Whittlesey but Dan Smith pulled off some excellent saves to keep Deeping in it.
On the stroke of half time the inspiration needed to break the deadlock arrived in the form of a Sam Thompson special. Picking the ball up on the right edge of the area and with defenders around him he turned inside to open up a yard of space and curled a beauty into the far corner.
This should have settled Deeping down but things went downhill rapidly in the second half. To their credit Whittlesey continued to play with great enthusiasm and commitment and this unsettled Rangers. The home side’s lively strikers were starting to give the Rangers defense a torrid time, despite the best efforts of Jamie Mallett who had another excellent game and on his return from injury Mark Mankiwskyj, and while Deeping were unable to force a second goal there was always the danger that Whittlesey would get back into it.
So it proved after 20 minutes. A ball was played into the box for the Whittlesey striker to shield, given too much time and space he was allowed to turn and fire low into the corner. Deeping looked to respond but by now there was very little spark in their play, some of the players continued to battle hard but it was a case of hanging on for a draw. But with 10 minutes remaining even this was snatched away.
In a mirror image of the first goal the centre forward turned in the box again and his shot slid under Dan Smith.
Try as they might Deeping didn’t look like getting an equaliser in the closing stages.
Whether it was too many Easter eggs or the lads thought the season ended after the cup final, Rangers need to ensure that the remainder of the season doesn’t fizzle out. Although out of the title race themselves they could have a big say in who does win it as they play ICA and Eye over the next few days. And if the season so far is anything to go by it would be typical of the team to raise themselves for these two matches!
Deeping: Dan Smith, Jamie
Mallett, Tom Thurston, Harry Possnett, Sam Thompson, Tim Neal, Jacob Peters, Dan
Lovesey, Steff Ladley, Theo Eze, Liam Buttery, Mark Mankiwskyj, Ben
Leisner
29th Mar: Deeping
Rangers 3 – 0 Eye United (League Cup
Final)
As they have done throughout this seasons knock-out competition Rangers upset the form book to collect the U15 League Cup after a fantastic team performance. With Eye currently top of the table Deeping knew that nothing less than the commitment shown in the previous rounds against the likes of Bourne and ICA would do and how the lads responded!
A pumped up Deeping came out of
the blocks fast and made a dream start that settled everyones nerves and had Eye
on the back foot from the word go. After 5 minutes and with their first serious
attack of the game Liam Buttery played an inch perfect ball into Sam Thompson on
the edge of the box. As he has done so often this season top scorer Thompson
showed his killer instinct to beat the defender before firing low across the
keeper into the far corner.
After 10 minutes things got
even better and you’d have to go a long way to see a more skilful finish. This
time it was Buttery who collected a through ball 25 yards out and with plenty
left to do he showed great quality to skip past a defender before drawing the
keeper and taking the ball round him before firing home.
The massed Deeping support
probably couldn’t believe what they were witnessing but Eye are a dangerous team
and still had plenty of time to get back into it.
Eye proceeded to have a good
spell of pressure and Deeping were conceding a number of corners and free kicks
in dangerous positions as they hung on to their advantage. The quality of Eye’s
corners was excellent but despite the ball flashing across goal on several
occasions they couldn’t quite find a finish with Dan Smith looking assured in
goal.
Just before half time Deeping
probably realised it was their day when a dipping 25 yard strike from Andy
Buckle rattled the cross bar. Rangers went into the break with their 2 goal
advantage intact.
The first goal after the break
was going to be vital and in a repeat of the opening 40 minutes it was Deeping
who came out looking to put the game to bed. After 3 minutes Eye conceded a free
kick at the side of their area. Ben Leisner delivered a teasing cross into the
box which the Eye keeper misjudged
and grateful skipper Tom Thurston was on hand to head home unmarked from 6
yards.
Deeping were now in dreamland
and with every single player on top of their game they knew the cup was
theres.
Eye continued to battle and had
the edge territorially but they couldn’t find a way past Deeping’s rock solid
back line. On the counter attack Deeping continued to look dangerous with Dan
Woods’ pace causing problems.
Jubilant scenes greeted the
final whistle. A proud and somewhat emotional Chris Lovesey described what the
win meant for his team, “This team has had some great times over the years but
when we lost so many players 3 seasons ago there was probably a few of us who
thought we’d never experience winning a trophy again. The lads must therefore be
applauded for showing great determination and togetherness. As well as the 13
players on show here today there are so many other lads who have helped us on
the road to recovery in recent seasons and I’m also grateful to them for what
they did to re-establish us as a force.”
Cup Final Player Ratings (out of 10):
Jamie Mallett – 20. Got to be the most improved player in the league this
season and once again had a stormer at right back.
Dan Lovesey – 20. For a centre forward he makes a mighty fine centre-half!
As usual read everything superbly and threw in a couple of mazy dribbles as
well.
Tom Thurston – 20. Captain fantastic. Strong in defence and capped a fine
display with the 3rd goal. Showed how lethal he is when presented
with an open goal from 6 yards!
Jacob Peters – 20. The sweet left foot was much in evidence again. Great
in defense and as usual great delivery from set pieces.
Liam Buttery – 20. Proved that on his day he’s one of the best midfielders
in the business. His goal was out of this world.
Ben Leisner – 20. Posh’s loss is certainly our gain, all action
performance in central midfield gave Eye’s midfield little opportunity to
dominate.
Steff Ladley – 20. Once again anchored the midfield superbly in his
holding role. Read the game excellently, made loads of telling
interceptions.
Tim Neal – 20. Worked tirelessly down the left side, didn’t give Eye’s
right sided players a sniff.
Sam Thompson – 20. No better lone striker in the league, showed again how
lethal he is when in on goal. Never gave Eye’s defense a moments
peace.
Theo Eze – 20.
Threw himself at everything that came at him in the last 30 minutes. Epitomised
the teams never say die attitude.
Harry Possnett – 20.
Another cultured performance at left
back, made some telling blocks and as usual comfortable on the ball going
forward.
The Supporters – 20.
The Deeping massive encouraged
the lads throughout and were respectful of the opposition. Kept the burger bar
busy!
22nd Mar:
Hampton 2 – 1 Deeping Rangers
Having won so many games by the odd goal the tables were turned in this scrappy encounter played on a hard, grassless pitch which did neither team any favours when it came to trying to play football.
On a day when very few clear
cut chances were carved out, mainly due to the ball constantly running out of
play on the bouncy surface, Hampton were the ones who looked more up for the
battle with Rangers maybe having one eye on next weeks cup
final.
After a frustrating first 25
minutes with little goalmouth action the home side took the lead when a
speculative cross cum shot from the right edge of the area looped into the far
corner. When Deeping did get some decent possession in the oppositions territory
they lacked the precision in their passing to get in on
goal.
The second half saw Rangers
come out a much improved team and they played most of the half in Hampton’s
third but they continued to be frustrated as time after time the ball just ran
away from the attacking player when decent opportunities opened
up.
As Rangers threw caution to the
wind Hampton started to capitalise on the extra space and with minutes remaining
hesitant Deeping defending allowed the striker to get a toe in ahead of keeper
and defender and the ball dribbled into the corner of the
net.
Dan Lovesey’s excellent all
round performance in defense and later in attack was rewarded when he reduced
the deficit in the last minute. For once a ball over the top held up
sufficiently for Lovesey’s pace to get there just ahead of the keeper and he
cleverly chipped in from the edge of the box. Despite throwing everything at
Hampton in injury time Rangers couldn’t conjure up an
equaliser.
Hopefully it will be a
different Deeping that shows up at Focus next Sunday for the Cup
Final!
Deeping: Dan
Smith, Jamie Mallett, Tom Thurston, Sam Thompson, Tim Neal, Jacob Peters, Dan
Lovesey, Steff Ladley, Ben Leisner, Theo Eze, Liam Buttery, Dan
Woods.
15th Mar:
Netherton Utd 1 – 2 Deeping
Rangers
Rangers bounced back to winning ways but were made to work hard for the points by a spirited Netherton side that will feel unlucky not to have got something out of the game.
Missing 3 players Deeping were
bolstered by the return of Ben Leisner after his stint at POSH and it didn’t
take long for him to prove his worth to the side. With pitches starting to firm
up the opening 20 minutes was a scrappy affair with neither team able to get the
ball down and play. That all changed when Leisner got his first sight of goal
and sent a dipping 25 yard shot into the top corner. This should have settled
the side down but to their credit Netherton were giving as good as they got and
gave Deeping very little time on the ball. Frustrated at their inability to
break down a team that are fighting relegation Rangers started to look ragged
and the signs were ominous as the hosts started to get into threatening
positions.
It was no surprise when in the
dyeing minutes of the half a clumsy challenge on the edge of the Rangers box led
to Netherton being awarded a penalty and this was despatched with ease. This was
the kick up the backside Deeping needed and following their best move of the
game some nice passing saw the ball played into Leisner who had space on the
left edge of the box and with the last kick of the half he made no mistake with
a fierce shot.
With the Grange slope in their
favour in the second half Deeping could be forgiven for thinking they would run
away with the game but Netherton knew they were in with a shout and it was they
who looked more likely to score. A combination of the crossbar, poor finishing
and a couple of cracking saves by Dan Smith maintained Rangers lead but
throughout the second period it was the Deeping defense who were having to work
hardest. When Rangers did get into the oppositions 3rd they lacked a
quality final ball and failed to test the home keeper.
Deeping hung on to take the
points but this was definitely a case of the team near the top of the league
getting the breaks.
Deeping: Dan
Smith, Jamie Mallett, Tom Thurston, Sam Thompson, Tim Neal, Jacob Peters, Dan
Lovesey, Steff Ladley, Ben Leisner, Theo Eze, Liam Buttery, Will
Robson.
8th Mar: Deeping
Rangers 0 – 3 Blackstones
Deeping’s 11 game winning run ended in disappointing fashion with a lacklustre performance against a Blackstones side who themselves are on a good run of form. The visitors adapted to the blustery conditions the better of the two sides and it was clear from the start that this was likely to be a game too far.
Despite hardly troubling Dan Lane in the Blackstones goal Deeping could have taken the lead in the opening minutes when a quality corner from Jacob Peters was met by Liam Buttery 6 yards out but he was unable to get enough on his header. Blackstones responded by taking the lead after 10 minutes. A ball into the box caused panic among Deeping’s defense and when the chance came to clear, the ball was somehow played back across goal rather than away from the danger zone. The unmarked Ant Timmins gratefully accepted the assist and he coolly side footed his shot through the crowded area and into the corner of the net from 18 yards.
Although dominating possession and coming close on a couple of occasions Blackstones were unable to extend their lead in the first half as Deeping dug in and defended bravely. Rangers were happy to go in at half time only 1 down but unlike recent games where they have managed to wear teams down it was clear that this wasn’t going to be their day.
Frustrated at the lack of time and space afforded them by a busy Blackstones side Deeping never managed to get sufficient quality ball to look like they could find an equaliser and it was no surprise when the visitors extended their lead. The over-worked Deeping defense were opened up by some clever Blackstones passing which resulted in Alex McNally having the freedom of the penalty area and he blasted in from 12 yards.
Lacking the services of injured duo Mark Mankiwskyj and Will Robson manager Chris Lovesey didn’t really have many options up his sleeve and although Deeping continued to battle they knew they weren’t going to get any change out of Blackstones who were now playing some of their best football of the game and they rounded things off when Kyle Stenger tapped in from close range.
After 1 defeat in 12 the lads can’t be too despondent and hopefully they’ll bounce back in their next two league games as they prepare for the Cup Final at the end of the month.
Deeping: Dan Smith, Jamie Mallett, Tom Thurston, Harry Possnett, Sam Thompson, Tim Neal, Jacob Peters, Dan Lovesey, Steff Ladley, Dan Woods, Theo Eze, Liam Buttery.
1st Mar: ICA
Juventus 2 – 3 Deeping
Rangers
The lads showed once again what big hearts they have as they twice came from behind to stun ICA for the second time in a month.
Following their cup semi-final
victory Deeping knew that ICA would be fired up for this encounter as they tried
to preserve their unbeaten league record and in the early stages it certainly
looked like the hosts would be too strong on this
occasion.
Deeping deployed Steff Ladley
and Mark Mankiwskyj as holding midfielders to make it difficult for ICA’s
dangerous runners from midfield to get decent possession in the early stages.
What wasn’t part of the plan was conceding a soft goal from a corner within 3
minutes. A quality delivery from the left was met by the unmarked Reece Currie 6
yards out and he made no mistake with his header.
For the majority of the half
Deeping struggled to pose a threat in the oppositions territory and ICA were
dominating possession. However, Rangers have learnt over the last few games that
sometimes you just have to hang in there and with the defense and midfield
working tirelessly they were managing to limit the number of attempts on goal.
In a tactical change to try and make Deeping more of an attacking force Dan
Lovesey was moved into an advanced role and Mankiwskyj joined Tom Thurston in
the centre of defense.
With the half drawing to a
close the change paid dividends as Deeping got the break they needed. A harmless
looking ball was played into the ICA box but with the defense slow to react Tim
Neal showed great awareness and vision to nip in and send a looping header over
the stranded keeper. If Rangers thought they’d go into the break the happier of
the two teams they were sadly mistaken as within seconds of equalising the
visitors conspired to give the lead back to ICA. This time it was Deeping who
hesitated in defense and although Dion DiCataldo’s shot lacked power it had just
enough on it to creep into the corner via a slight
deflection.
The team of recent seasons
might have let their heads drop at this point but the fighting spirit of recent
games came to the fore in the second half. Rangers were scrapping for every ball
and the defense and midfield were magnificent at closing ICA’s space. This led
to Rangers becoming more of a threat going forward and a second equaliser
followed 10 minutes after the restart when a 20-yard shot bounced awkwardly in
front of the keeper who could only manage to deflect the ball into the air for
Dan Woods to bundle in.
A game of chess then followed
as both teams probed for a winner. Dan Smith saved spectacularly from a Reece
Currie thunderbolt but that apart Deeping stayed strong as Mark Mankiwskyj and
Tom Thurston superbly marshalled the defense. With 10 minutes remaining and
Deeping’s attacks becoming more frequent Dan Lovesey scored the winner when he
burst into the box and got to the ball just ahead of a couple of defenders to
plant his shot into the far corner.
If anything, Rangers looked
more likely to score again and Sam Thompson’s tireless running was nearly
rewarded when his low shot just went the wrong side of the post with the ICA
keeper flat footed.
Another superb win for the lads
against an excellent side.
Deeping: Dan Smith, Jamie
Mallett, Tom Thurston, Harry Possnett, Sam Thompson, Tim Neal, Jacob Peters, Dan
Lovesey, Steff Ladley, Dan Woods, Theo Eze, Liam Buttery, Mark Mankiwskyj, Will
Robson.
22nd Feb: Deeping
Rangers 1 – 0 Hampton
Rangers were made to work hard to extend their winning run to 10 games by a solid Hampton side.
Both defenses were on top in
the early stages and there was very little time and space for the midfields to
exert any influence. However, as the half wore on Deeping started to create the
better chances and both Dan Woods and Sam Thompson came close but when the home
side did get a sight of goal the Hampton keeper was proving a formidable
barrier.
Deeping broke the deadlock on
the half hour. After a scramble in the box the ball broke to Dan Woods 8 yards
out and he fired in. Although Hampton hadn’t threatened too much going forward
Rangers were conscious that at 1-0 they could rue missing some decent
chances.
The game became a bit scrappy
in the second half with Hampton edging possession although they rarely troubled
Dan Smith in the Deeping goal and it was Rangers who continued to make the
better openings. Dan Lovesey was pushed forward and he broke into the box only
to see if shot go wide and Will Robson nearly marked his debut with a goal but
again the shot just went the wrong side of the post.
This was certainly a game that
was all about the result and not the performance and there were some major
positives with the solid debuts of Mark Mankiwskyj and Will
Robson.
Deeping: Dan Smith, Jamie
Mallett, Tom Thurston, Harry Possnett, Sam Thompson, Tim Neal, Jacob Peters, Dan
Lovesey, Steff Ladley, Dan Woods, Theo Eze, Liam Buttery, Mark Mankiwskyj, Will
Robson.
1st Feb: Deeping
Rangers 2 -
1 ICA Juventus (League Cup
Semi Final)
A fantastic team performance saw Rangers book their place in the Cup Final with a narrow victory over probably the best team in the U15s age group. Having been cancelled the week before, the game was switched to ICA’s ground to ensure the match went ahead.
The lads knew that nothing less
than 100% commitment would be good enough against a team who have bagged several
trophies in recent seasons, and were cup holders, and boy did they battle for
the full 80 minutes. The winning mentality that has shone through in recent
weeks was to the fore again as the boys refused to let their more illustrious
opponents dominate them.
It was clear from the outset
that this would be a game of few clear cut chances but if anything it was
Rangers who carved out the better attempts on goal. As expected ICA had lots of
possession and played neat football but Deeping set themselves up with a solid
defensive line that meant ICA were kept at arms length. Dan Smith was called
upon in the opening minutes to pull off a smart save but other than that the
back four of Jamie Mallett, Dan Lovesey, Tom Thurston, Jacob Peters and later
Harry Possnett plus non-stop hassling and harrying from Steff Ladley, Tim Neal,
Liam Buttery, Theo Eze and Dan Woods in midfield meant ICA couldn’t apply enough
consistent pressure in the last 3rd.
Rangers became more of an
attacking force as the first half wore on and took the lead on 20 minutes when
Tim Neal’s exquisite 20 yard free kick from the angle of the box crept through
the crowded 6-yard area and beat the keeper at the near post. Deeping could have
extended the lead just before half time when the ball broke to Sam Thompson but
the ICA keeper pulled off a smart save to deflect the shot wide. Liam Buttery
also saw a close range header go narrowly wide.
As expected ICA came out firing
in the second half but the whole Rangers team continued to frustrate them with
their never say die attitude. When the equaliser arrived it was a bit harsh on
Deeping. With their passing game getting them nowhere, ICA resorted to playing a
long ball into the box which caused confusion in the six yard area and it was an
ICA striker who just got enough on the ball for it to trickle over the
line.
This awakened the ICA crowd who
obviously felt this would be the catalyst for more goals to come. However,
Deeping weathered the storm and looked like restoring their lead when Liam
Buttery rounded the keeper only to see his shot superbly cleared off the line by
the centre half. Sam Thompson who was having a great personal battle with ICA’s
central defensive pairing was starting to get the upper hand and following a
couple of near misses it was Thompson who sealed the win. Capitalising on a rare
bit of space in behind the defense, Thompson ran in on goal before calmly
sliding his shot past the keeper and into the corner. ‘Elaborate’ celebrations
followed but there was still time for ICA to get back into it. But try as they
might ICA couldn’t find the goal they needed.
Proud manager Chris Lovesey was
full of praise for his side after such an heroic performance, “It was definitely
one of those days when the paramedics needed to be on stand-by. Myself and many
of the parents came close to having several heart attacks but the lads were
superb. If you’d have said to me after we lost our first two league games we’d
get to the cup final I’d have laughed but all credit to the boys for the way
they’ve stuck with it and dug in when needed. It’s been an amazing turnaround
from where we’ve been in recent seasons and now we’ve got the winning habit who
knows what we might achieve. We’ve had to beat four first division sides to get
to the final and a very good Eye team await us on 29th March but
confidence is high so we’re looking forward to the game.”
In a rehearsal for the final
Rangers travel to Eye next week for a league game and with transfer deadline day
approaching Deeping’s chances in the league have been boosted by the signing of
Mark Mankiwskyj from Blackstones.
Deeping: Dan Smith, Jamie
Mallett, Tom Thurston, Harry Possnett, Sam Thompson, Tim Neal, Jacob Peters, Dan
Lovesey, Steff Ladley, Dan Woods, Theo Eze, Liam Buttery.
4th January:
Holbeach United 2 – 4 Deeping
Rangers
While not firing on all cylinders Rangers came away with the points at a ground they have always struggled at. Before the game League Officials presented Deeping skipper Tom Thurston with the Youth Leagues November Team Of The Month award and this maybe contributed to the lacklustre performance as the boys were perhaps starting to believe the hype!
The overnight sub zero temperatures meant the top layer of the pitch was quite hard and getting the ball down and playing a passing game was proving difficult on the bobbly surface. However, that didn’t seem to be an issue after 2 minutes when Sam Thompson raced through to a ball over the top to coolly slot home.
Any thoughts that this would be
the catalyst for a similar scoreline to the recent cup tie were to be misguided
as Holbeach proved to be a much harder nut to crack on their own territory.
Admittedly Rangers were proving to be their own worst enemies as they seemed to
lack the energy and passion of recent performances but they were still finding
it easy to open up the Holbeach defense and could have extended their lead
several times only to be undone by the bobbly conditions.
The home side were growing in
confidence the longer the game remained at 1-0 and it was fortunate for Deeping
that the Holbeach strikers lacked the quality to finish promising attacks.
However, after 20 minutes Holbeach got their reward after some hesitant
defending by Deeping let their striker finish smartly from 8
yards.
This gave Deeping the kick up
the backside they needed and within 5 minutes the lead had been restored. One of
many Sam Thompson runs left several defenders trailing in his wake and his cross
from the byline was smashed home by Tim Neal from close
range.
Given the conditions Dan
Smith’s distribution from goal was proving to be Rangers most effective weapon
and after 35 minutes he launched one of his massive kicks downfield. As the
defenders left it to each other Thompson pounced to expertly chip the keeper
from 20 yards.
Despite continuing to make
heavy weather of it at the start of the second half Deeping made it 4-1 ater 15
minutes. Dan Lovesey burst out of defense to open up the midfield before laying
the ball off to Dan Woods who in turn played a neat pass into Sam Thompson who
completed his hat trick in style.
The remainder of the game was
very scrappy with both teams squandering good chances. In stoppage time Holbeach
made it 4-2 when they converted what looked like a soft
penalty.
Definitely one of those days
where it was a case of getting the win when not at your best but that now makes
it 8 wins on the bounce.
Deeping: Dan Smith, Jamie
Mallett, Tom Thurston, Harry Possnett, Sam Thompson, Tim Neal, Jacob Peters, Dan
Lovesey, Steff Ladley, Dan Woods, Theo Eze.
14th December:
Deeping Rangers 9 -
0 Holbeach United (Cup
Quarter Final)
Ben Leisner was instrumental in this emphatic win as he played his last game for Rangers before starting his POSH contract. Drawn against first division opposition in every round so far the visitors were expected to provide a stern test but Deeping were in no mood to let their recent high standards drop.
From the off it was one way traffic but the home side were doing well at keeping Holbeach in the game as chance after chance went begging. Playing some great passing football despite the sticky conditions Deeping were carving open the visitors defence at will but couldn’t quite apply the finish. In the end it took a penalty to break the deadlock after 20 minutes. Following a corner a goalbound effort beat the ‘official’ keeper only for a defender to make a fine save on the line. A clear penalty and with it a red card for the defender.
Entering into the Xmas spirit regular penalty taker Sam Thompson was happy to let his departing team-mate take the kick and Leisner duly obliged by smashing the ball into the top corner despite an excellent effort by the keeper who got a hand to it. Deeping doubled their lead soon after when Leisner tapped in from close range following a great run and cross by Dan Woods.
Holbeach’s keeper single handedly kept the score at 2-0 until the break as he continued to pull off save after save. At the other end Dan Smith had had little to do since the pre-match warm up and when the visitors did venture into Deeping’s half Dan Lovesey continued to prove why his Dad hasn’t felt the need to rush out and sign a new centre half with another commanding display at the heart of the defense.
The second half was again a constant stream of Deeping attacks but unlike the first half they started to put the chances away.
As soon as the second minute another excellent move resulted in Liam Buttery playing the ball across the box from the bye line and Theo Eze was on hand at the far post to open his account for his new team. Minutes later Dan Woods was rewarded for his hard work when he outpaced the defense to coolly slot home,
Up to this point there was one glaring omission from the score sheet. Sam Thompson had again worked hard up front and had been the catalyst for much of Deeping’s good work and it was now time for him to find his shooting boots. He grabbed a quick fire double before a superb solo run brought up his hat trick. A mazy run which saw him turn several defenders inside out before planting his shot under the keeper from 6 yards.
Leisner was subbed 10 minutes from the end so he could receive the acclaim of the crowd but this proved to be premature as he was quickly called on to replace the impressive Harry Possnett who came off through injury.
Goal number 8 saw Liam Buttery finally get on the score sheet after several near misses, a delightful chip over the advancing keeper. The best goal of the day was saved for last. Once again Steff Ladley had anchored the midfield superbly and when the ball was layed back to him 25 yards out (or was it 30) he showed great technique to run onto the ball and hit a screamer into the corner.
An emphatic win to round off the year and Rangers can look forward to the semi finals at the end of January.
Deeping: Dan Smith, Jamie
Mallett, Tom Thurston, Liam Buttery, Harry Possnett, Sam Thompson, Ben Leisner,
Tim Neal, Jacob Peters, Dan Lovesey, Steff Ladley, Dan Woods, Theo
Eze.
23rd November:
Deeping Rangers 3 – 1 Eye United
After 5 straight wins table topping Eye’s visit to Outgang Road was going to be a real test of just how far Rangers have progressed and once again the lads delivered an outstanding performance to take the points. In boggy conditions the game was a credit to both teams.
The opening exchanges were very even and it was clear from an early stage that the outcome would hinge on one or two flashes of individual brilliance. The respective midfields put in a committed performance in an attempt to gain the early supremacy and it was difficult to see where the opening goal would come from. Both teams had a couple of half chances before the visitors broke the deadlock after 20 minutes, the ball breaking to Duffy in space 10 yards out and he took his time to place the ball into the far corner.
Deeping pushed for an equaliser and went close on a couple of occasions with Ben Leisner and Sam Thompson unlucky not to score. At the other end Dan Smith was once again in magnificent form as he made a number of smart saves.
The score remained at 1-0 until the break.
Rangers started the second half intent on getting the equaliser and they pushed Eye back from the word go. 5 minutes in Jacob Peters delivered one of his pinpoint corners into the 6-yard box. With the defense only able to half clear, the ball looped to Dan Woods 10 yards out and his sublime volley found the top corner. Deeping were now growing in confidence and continued to press. Eye’s keeper Adam Turner was matching Dan Smith with some quality saves but the pressure eventually told. Sam Thompson was proving a real handful for the oppositions defense and he latched onto a ball into the right channel to outpace the defenders and although the keeper half saved the initial shot, Thompson had his wits about him to follow in and smash the ball home. Shortly after Ben Leisner broke through in similar circumstances, this time the keeper got enough on the save to deflect the ball onto the post and a defender cleared before the Rangers strikers could react.
Eye continued to try and play football in an attempt to get back into it but despite the heavy pitch the home side were magnificent from back to front in hassling and closing down space. With ten minutes remaining Thompson sealed the points with another great run and finish into the bottom corner.
Another tremendous performance by the boys whose confidence is growing by the week.
Before the game the team were presented with their new kit by sponsors Old Court Builders and the boys would like to say a big thank-you to Adrian and Sherry for their continued support. A team photo will be available shortly on the Gallery Page.
Deeping: Dan Smith, Jamie Mallett, Tom Thurston, Liam Buttery, Harry Possnett, Sam Thompson, Ben Leisner, Tim Neal, Jacob Peters, Dan Lovesey, Steff Ladley, Dan Woods, Theo Eze.
16th November:
Bourne Town 2 – 5 Deeping Rangers
(Cup)
Following last weeks league
win, Rangers returned to Abbey Lawns for this second round cup tie and once
again put in a tremendous team performance to progress into the quarter
finals.
Although missing the
influential Ben Leisner the squad was bolstered by the signings of Theo Eze and
the returning Liam Buttery, both of whom had excellent
debuts.
Bourne shaded possession in the
opening exchanges but it was the visitors who took the lead on 15 minutes. The
ball was played into Sam Thompson on the edge of the box and spotting the run of
Buttery from deep he played a clever ball into his path. As the keeper came out
to narrow the angle Buttery superbly dinked the ball over him into the far
corner.
With Bourne’s strikers looking
lively the Deeping backline had to work hard but with Dan Smith once again on
top of his game in goal and Jamie Mallett superb at right back the home side
were becoming increasingly frustrated.
After 22 minutes Rangers
increased their lead. A tremendous solo run down the right wing by Dan Woods saw
him outpace the Bourne defense before cutting into the box and firing low inside
the keepers near post. Bourne continued to press but despite some good
possession Deeping’s work rate off the ball was outstanding and they continually
knocked back promising Bourne attacks.
On the stroke of half time
things got even better for Rangers. Steff Ladley was again having a great game
at the heart of the midfield and when he found himself unmarked 6 yards out he
coolly slotted past the keeper.
As with last week Chris Lovesey
knew his side had to guard against the expected second half fightback and 7
minutes after the break Bourne got themselves back in the game. James Beck
firing in a bullet of a free kick from 20 yards.
However, the Deeping strikers
were getting a lot of joy when going forward and it wasn’t long before the lead
was increased. Sam Thompson battling his way through to prod
home.
Bourne continued to press and
during their best spell of the game Dan Smith made a number of tremendous stops
with the strikers in on goal. Eventually pressure told and Dec Carr capitalised
on some hesitant defending to make it 4-2.
Rangers were determined not to
let Bourne back into it and showed a great fighting spirit throughout. In injury
time Thompson lobbed the keeper from 25 yards to wrap the game
up.
Another fantastic performance
by the boys who have now won their last 5 in cup and league. Manager Chris
Lovesey was again incredibly proud of the effort and determination shown by all
12 lads but was also quick to praise the part played by his backroom staff!;
“With the under 16s not playing I must thank Adey and Martin for agreeing to
help out and they certainly played a big part in this victory. I’m thinking of
putting 7 days in for them!”
Deeping: Dan Smith, Jamie Mallett,
Tom Thurston, Liam Buttery, Harry Possnett, Sam Thompson, Tim Neal, Jacob
Peters, Dan Lovesey, Steff Ladley, Dan Woods, Theo Eze.
9th November:
Bourne Town 4 – 5 Deeping
Rangers
Abbey Lawns witnessed a tremendous local derby as Rangers continued their winning streak against the league champions.
Still with only 11 registered
players it was vital that Deeping came out of the blocks fast in an attempt to
offset the effects of tiredness that would inevitably creep in as the game wore
on. However, what unfolded in the first 15 minutes was beyond anyone’s
expectations.
After 2 minutes the ball fell
to Ben Leisner 22 yards out and he cracked a superb dipping shot over the
keeper. 10 minutes in and Leisners free kick from just inside Bourne’s half
wasn’t dealt with by the home side’s defense and when the ball broke to the
unmarked Sam Thompson he coolly chipped the keeper to make it
2-0.
5 minutes later and with
Deeping on top of their game the excellent Steff Ladley played a delightful pass
into Thompson who curled one inside the keepers near post to make it
3-0.
A dream start but Bourne showed
why they won the league last year with the expected fightback. However, although
they started to get more possession the Deeping rearguard were showing real
resilience and with Dan Smith in fine form and Dan Lovesey starting to excel in
his new centre half position Bourne just couldn’t
breakthrough.
After 30 minutes things got
even better for Rangers. Jacob Peters’ delivery from corners was superb all game
and following one of these the referee awarded what appeared to be a soft
penalty following a nudge on Tom Thurston. Sam Thompson stepped up to
emphatically put the spot kick home and with it bag his first hat-trick for his
new side.
Bourne are nothing if not
fighters and to their credit they didn’t let their heads drop. For the remainder
of the half Deeping were on the back foot and within 2 minutes of going 4 down
the hosts had pulled one back, a superb diving header by the always impressive
James Beck. With 2 minutes of the half remaining things got very interesting
when Rimmington pulled another back for Bourne.
While delighted with his teams
first half super show, manager Chris Lovesey was also conscious that conceding
those two late goals would give Bourne the confidence to push on so it was
essential that Deeping started the second half as they did the
first.
This they did but whereas
everything hit the back of the net in the first half this time the luck was
against them. Within the first 10 minutes of the restart Leisner hit the bar
with a superb 30 yard strike and then having beaten the keeper with a delicate
chip the same player watched the ball go agonisingly wide. Thompson was then
through on goal but the keeper spread himself well to save and he then denied
Thompson again with a great full length diving save.
The game was now really open
and Bourne had a number of near misses themselves but Dan Smith continued to
make some crucial blocks and the defense of Tom Thurston, Jamie Mallett, Dan
Lovesey and Harry Possnett were throwing themselves into every challenge as if
their lives depended on it.
The next goal was going to be
crucial and with 8 minutes left it went to Deeping. Sam Thompson capped a superb
all round centre forwards display with a delightful curling 20 yard shot into
the top corner.
At 5-2 the game looked safe but
still Bourne refused to lie down, in the dying minutes Dunn and Carr, with the
last kick of the game, pulled further goals back.
At the final whistle the
Deeping players were out on their feet having worked so hard for 80 minutes but
were not surprisingly ecstatic at beating a quality Bourne team. Proud manager
Chris Lovesey was quick to praise his side, “These 11 players were a credit to
the club, each of them ran themselves into the ground. Bourne are a great side
and always a tough nut to crack. In my years coaching the side I’ve never seen a
start like we made today and this gave us the confidence to hold on in there.
What we do know is that Bourne will come back at us hard next week when we
return to Abbey Lawns to play them in the cup but the 3 points were the vital
thing. Hopefully 1 or 2 of our transfers will be signed off by then, although I
won’t know what to do having the option of subs!”
Deeping: Dan Smith, Jamie Mallett,
Tom Thurston, Ben Leisner, Harry Possnett, Sam Thompson, Tim Neal, Jacob Peters,
Dan Lovesey, Steff Ladley, Dan Woods.
2nd November:
Deeping Rangers 4 – 1 Whittlesey
The luxury of having 11 players
on the pitch helped Rangers bag a 3rd consecutive win against a
Whittlesey side who despite finding life difficult since being promoted played
with great spirit and no little skill.
The home side started brightly
but fell behind after 5 minutes when Whittlesey mounted a quick counter attack
which led to their lively centre forward slotting the ball under Dan Smith.
Rather than deflate the players the goal served to galvanise them into action
and it was inevitable that an equaliser wouldn’t be long in coming. Jacob
Peters’ measured through ball found Sam Thompson in acres of space wide left and
as the keeper advanced Thompson showed great composure to chip into the
unguarded net from just outside the box.
Both teams were playing some
good football and were working hard when not in possession to close down. Steff
Ladley exemplified this with his all round performance at the heart of the
midfield. After 22 minutes Rangers took the lead from a similar position to the
first goal. This time Sam Thompson was the provider as he fed Tim Neal who
outpaced the defense before unleashing a tremendous shot from 20 yards that
crashed in off the under side of the bar.
The Whittlesey keeper kept his
side in it with a number of classy saves up to the interval, none more so when
getting down low to tip a rasping Thompson effort round the
post.
The early stages of the second
half were fairly even as the visitors battled hard looking for an equaliser but
despite some promising moments Deeping’s defense of Mallett, Lovesey, Thurston
and Possnett were coping admirably.
20 minutes into the half
Rangers extended their lead. Peters swung over a teasng corner which evaded the
keeper and the on-rushing Tom Thurston bundled the ball in from 3
yards.
Deeping were now dominant and
squandered several clear cut chances before Dan Woods made the game safe with a
solo run and decisive finish.
Deeping: Dan Smith, Jamie Mallett,
Tom Thurston, Ben Leisner, Harry Possnett, Sam Thompson, Tim Neal, Jacob Peters,
Dan Lovesey, Steff Ladley, Dan Woods.
19th October:
Deeping Rangers 5 –
0 Netherton
(League Cup)
Having just been edged out of
the points by Netherton on the first day of the season Rangers were determined
to put things right in this league cup encounter and in the end they ran out
comfortable winners despite only having 10 players again.
With Dan Woods unavailable it
was left to debutant Sam Thompson to lead the line and it was clear to see from
the outset what an asset he’ll be to the side.
Although Deeping created the
better of the chances in the first half neither side played with any real
authority and composure and it was no surprise that the half ended goaless.
Despite being a man down the home side knew they should have been in front and
following a few positional changes the second half was a different
story.
With Rangers pushing more
players forward in support of the hard working Thompson it was no surprise to
see them take the lead within 10 minutes of the restart. The ball was played
into the box to Thompson who cleverly shielded the ball before laying off an
excellent pass for Tim Neal to rifle home.
Five minutes later and Thompson
was the provider again. A tremendous run down the left wing was followed by an
equally superb cross from the bye line which found the on rushing Ben Leisner
who crashed the ball into the top corner.
Rangers were now playing with
great confidence and the visitors rarely troubled the Deeping backline. The
third goal saw Thompson get his reward for his commanding all round performance.
Left one v one 30 yards out, Thompson showed great strength to turn the defender
and as the keeper came out he coolly slotted home from the edge of the
area.
Arguably the best goal of the
day came moments later. Dan Lovesey who was again showing his versatility in a
number of positions set off on one of his trademark runs from the right back
position. With the midfield opening up thanks to intelligent runs off the ball
by the Deeping strikers Lovesey was able to get within 25 yards of goal before
unleashing a bullet of a shot which flew into the top
corner.
Tim Neal rounded off the
scoring with his second, a delightful chip from 20 yards.
Apart from the goals it was
also pleasing to keep a clean sheet, testament to the dominant display by the
backline of Tom Thurston, Jamie Mallett and Harry
Possnett.
Manager Chris Lovesey was quick
to praise the effort put in by his side; “As usual with us the game hinged on
the first goal. Once we got that we played with great confidence. The lads
weren’t phased by being a man light and I was delighted with Sam’s debut.
Hopefully Sam will be the first of a few quality signings in the next few weeks
and we’ll soon be able to reduce the burden on the boys. Although given the last
two performances maybe we’re getting a taste for playing with
10!”
Deeping: Dan Smith, Jamie Mallett,
Tom Thurston, Ben Leisner, Harry Possnett, Sam Thompson, Tim Neal, Jacob Peters,
Dan Lovesey, Steff Ladley.
28th September:
Deeping Rangers 3 -
2 Holbeach
United
Deeping once again had to contend with only having 10 players but this was evened up by the opposition only having 10 as well! Although short in numbers, both teams served up an excellent game for the watching supporters.
A vital 3 points for Rangers
who should have had the game wrapped up by half time but in the end were hanging
on. A confident start by the hosts saw them playing some neat football against a
team who are always hard to break down.
After 5 minutes an excellent
move saw Ben Leisner break down the left wing and his teasing cross was stabbed
home by Jacob Peters at the far post. Moments later it was 2-0 as Leisner once
again found space on the left to drive into the box before unleashing an
unstoppable shot into the top corner. Manager Chris Lovesey was quick to see the
similarity between this and George Boyd’s goal against the Cobblers the other
week. However, there was no luck attached to Leisner’s
goal!
After a couple of tough weeks
you could now see the confidence oozing from the players and it wasn’t long
before Rangers extended their lead. Dan Woods who was causing the Holbeach
defense all sorts of problems got his reward with a snap shot from the edge of
the box which looped over the keeper.
By this stage Deeping were a
joy to watch and but for an excellent display by the Holbeach keeper, Rangers
would have been out of sight. However, they would have been happy with 3-0 at
the break.
Maybe it was the inevitable
tiredness or the lads thought the game was in the bag but the second half was a
total reverse of what had gone before. Rather than drop their heads the visitors
were rejuvenated although Leisner could have extended the lead in the opening
minutes only to be thwarted again by the keeper.
Holbeach pulled one back after
5 minutes of the restart and they reduced the deficit further when they were
awarded a penalty.
The remaining 25 minutes were
tense to say the least with Holbeach doing all the pressing. Dan Lovesey cleared
superbly off the line and Dan Smith got the faintest of touches to tip a
stinging shot onto the bar. When Deeping did break the visitors keeper got the
better of Ben Leisner on two or three occasions.
In the end a very satisfying
win and reward for the efforts the lads have put in
recently.
Deeping: Dan Smith, Jamie
Mallett, Tom Thurston, Ben Leisner, Harry Possnett, Dan Woods, Tim Neal, Jacob
Peters, Dan Lovesey, Steff Ladley.
21st September:
Blackstones 8 -
0 Deeping Rangers
An already tough
ask was made even harder in the lead up to this game with the decision by 3
players to move onto pastures new. With key player Ben Leisner also not able to
make it back in time from a trip away, the remaining 10 players knew they were
in for a tough day!
In a reshuffled
formation which saw Dan Lovesey moving to centre half and Tom Thurston deployed
as the midfield assassin, Rangers performed heroics against their more
illustrious opponents. Will Harris was persuaded to turn out one last time
before his transfer and he signed off with a typically composed performance.
With Lovesey’s pace alongside him, Deepings back four was keeping Blackstones at
arms length and when the defense was breached Dan Smith pulled off some
outstanding saves between the sticks.
Having weathered
the early storm Deeping could have taken the lead when Lovesey broke from the
back to take on the Blackstones defense single handedly, having weaved his way
into the box his shot from an acute angle found the side netting. (Oh to have
had Watford’s referee)
After 20 minutes
Blackstones finally found a way through to open the scoring with a scrambled
effort from close range but with the whole team working tirelessly, Rangers held
out for the remainder of the half.
Dan Smith
continued to pull off some amazing saves as Blackstones pressure became
relentless and it took a deflected shot to extend the lead. Deeping were not
surprisingly tiring by this stage and the hosts were able to capitalise on the
extra time and space.
In the latter
stages Rangers moved more bodies forward in an attempt to give the defense some
respite but despite gaining some territorial advantage a consolation goal wasn’t
forthcoming.
The final
scoreline was a little harsh on the lads who worked their socks off and can be
proud of their efforts. But with a depleted squad it could be a long season if
new blood isn’t found soon.
Deeping: Dan Smith, Jamie Mallett, Tom Thurston, Will Harris,
Harry Possnett, Dan Woods, Tim Neal, Jacob Peters, Dan Lovesey, Steff
Ladley.
14th September:
Deeping Rangers 1 – 2 Netherton
The visitors edged
this closely fought contest thanks to a penalty in the dying
minutes.
Both teams struggled to break down the oppositions defence in
the early stages although Rangers created the more clear cut chances with Ben
Leisner and Dan Woods unlucky not to score. Netherton played some nice
possession football and this paid off on the half hour when Morgan skipped past
2 or 3 challenges before calmly firing into the bottom corner from 10
yards.
The second half was a low key affair with both teams suffering the
effects of not having many options on the bench. As the half wore on Deeping
were having the better of it territorially with Troy Waters and debutant Harry
Possnett becoming influential but Netherton's backline were proving difficult to
break down.
With 10 minutes remaining Rangers finally got their reward.
Good work by Possnett down the left wing led to a cross being played into the
danger zone and when the ball broke loose, Dan Woods was on hand to drill home
from 6 yards. The ensuing celebration putting a few of the Olympic athletes to
shame!
If anything it looked like the hosts might go on to nick it but
Netherton kept playing their football and with minutes remaining a trip in the
Deeping box led to the infuential Mantle keeping his cool to slot home a twice
taken penalty.
Deeping: Dan Smith, Jamie Mallett, Tom Thurston, Tom
Goodliffe, Harry Possnett, Dan Woods, Ben Leisner, Troy Waters, Tim Neal, Jacob
Peters, Dan Lovesey, Steff Ladley.