the Hinchingbroke Cup VICTORY

 

The Hinchingbroke Cup was Deepings last chance of a trophy in 2007/8.  They had opened their run in this competition with a 3-0 win at Huntingdon Town back in December 2007.  This was followed that with a home win against Rushden/Higham (5-0) at the end of February 2008. League fixtures and other teams commitments meant no further progress until the end of April 2008!  The Quarter final was eventually played on 22nd April at home to  Langford , and Deeping won 2-0. A week later Deeping won their Semi final  1-0 at Potton thanks to a Lee Ellison goal.  In the final on Monday 12th May they met neighbours Blackstones at Huntingdon. Blackstones opened the scoring and led at the interval. Michael Stevenson equallised in the second period, sending the final to extra time. Goals from Mark Baines and Danny Matson then gave Deeping a 3-1 win the trophy

 

DEEPING NEED YOUR VOTE

 

 “The Local” Newspaper’s Sports Awards Nominees 2007 have been published, and Deeping Rangers have two nominations. Deeping Rangers have been nominated in the category of Team of the Year for winning the UCL Premier Division. Tuncay Korkmaz has been nominated in the category Manager/Coach of the Year. To help us win both of these awards please vote for them both by either buying the Local and filling in the coupon, or telephoning them on 01778 425876, or email them at: the local@jpress.co.uk

 

THE LEAGUE

 

Deeping Rangers first team play in the Premier Division of the Eagle Bitter United Counties League.  In season 2006/7, under new manager Tuncay Korkmaz, they were league champions. They went 29 league games before suffering their first defeat. Also for the first time they won through 2 rounds of the FA Cup. And manager Tuncay Korkmaz was chosen as the Eagle Bitter United Counties Premier Division Manager of the season – not bad for his first season in management.

 

So what happened in 2007/8 well Deeping finished 7th after a mixture of excellent and disappointing results. In summary

 

April closed the  league season with draws at home to Yaxley and away at Raunds – both matches Deeping would have expected to win. But these ere followed by an excellent 4-2 win at St Ives and finally a 2-1 win at Northampton Spencer with Danny Matson getting 5 goals in the final 2 games.

 

March’s league fixtures started with a 1-2 loss at Cogenhoe, and that was followed by a 1-0 home win over Sleaford, a 1-1 home draw against St Ives, a 3-0 win at Blackstones and 0-0 draw at Stotfold

 

Deeping opened February with a 2-2 draw at championship contenders Desborough and followed that with a 1-0 home win over S&L Corby, a 0-3 loss at in form Long Buckby and a home 2-0 win over bottom of the table Kempston.

 

January 2008 was a month dominated by postponements due to bad weather but the last Saturday produced the first league fixture of 2008 - a 4-2 home win against Woottton.

 

2007 ended with a 0-1 defeat at St Neots that saw Deeping lose top spot to Boston Town.  Deeping had gone top of the league on 1st December with a 2-1 win at Wootton (Danny Matson scoring both goals) they stayed there throughout the month by following that with a 7-0 home win over neighbours Bourne (Cobb 2, Ellis 2, Ellison and Stevenson 2),  a 1-0 win over Wellingborough, a 1-1 home draw against second placed Stotfold and on Boxing Day a 2-1 home win over neighbours Blackstones. Them came the loss at St Neots.

 

Rangers Manager Tuncay Korkmaz was chosen for the Eagle Bitter United Counties League Manager of the Month award for November 

 

In the last week of November 23 Deeping Rangers had consecutive 4-0 away wins at AFC Kempston and Sleaford to put them just 3 point behind the leaders . Before this, Rangers league results in November had been a 1-1 draw at home to Newport Pagnelll, a 2-0 win at Yaxley, a draw at home against 18th placed Northampton Spencer, and a 6-0 win against Desborough who had not lost in their previous 12 games!

 

Immediately before that 6-0 win, Deepings own unbeaten league run of 7 games had came to end with defeats at home by St Neots (0-3), and at Holbeach (1-2). Before these 2 defeats they had drawn their home game against highflying Boston 2-2 and won 2-1 against Raunds Town. Whilst their away record was really impressive with 15 goals in 4 games - a 4-1 win at Potton, a 5-1 win at Newport Pagnell, a 6-2 win at S&L Corby and a 0-0 draw at neighbours Bourne.  Previously to these results they had   just 1 win (a 3-0 win at home to neighbours Holbeach), 2 draws and 3 losses.

 

THE CUPS

 

In the FA Vase Deeping had been given byes through the preliminary rounds due to their league championship last season, and so entered at the first round at home to Woodbridge, and lost 1-2 after Woodbridge scored in the 89th minute!

 

In the FA Cup they easily won their extra preliminary round tie at home against Lincoln Moorlands Railway by 5-0. They then drew 0-0 at home to Dereham who had produced the biggest winning margin in the extra preliminary round with a 12-0 home win against Fakenham! A Danny Matson goal after just 2 minutes secured a 1-0 win in the replay at Dereham. They then lost 0-2 at Bury Town. So for second year running they fell at the third hurdle.

 

Rangers lost their second round Lincolnshire Senior Trophy game against Bottesford by 0-2

 

They opened their league cup campaign with a 2-1 win at Yaxley and a 2-0 home win over Cogenhoe.  Then in their Quarter final at Northampton Spencer on 12 February they scored 6 including a Matson hat trick. In the semi finals on 15th March they played division one champions Daventry Town and were beaten 0-3.

 

pre season friendlies

 

Rangers had played 5 pre season friendlies, winning 2 (Deeping Sports, and Peterborough Sports), drawing one (Hollwell Sports), and losing 2 (Grantham and Stamford - both of whom play in higher leagues to Rangers).