Match 17. Wellingborough Town v Deeping Rangers

Saturday 23^rd November 2013 @3pm

United Counties League Premier Division

WELLINGBOROUGH TOWN 2-1 DEEPING RANGERS

Dog & Duck, London Road, Wellingborough

 

Admission: £6

Programme: £1

Attendance: 108

Food: Sausage & Egg Roll, £2.50

Drink: Oxtail Cup-a-Soup, £1. Guinness bottle, £1.90

 

I was going to save the Dog & Duck for a future double opportunity with Whitworths having a staggered kick off. However, the fixtures were not inspiring me so this was a ground I’ve always wanted to visit.  The pub outside the ground is a Beefeater Grill so inside isn’t inspiring, but would love to have seen it as an independent pub in the past.  I parked in the adjacent Premier Inn carpark when my first choice space in the lane leading to Whitworths ground was curtailed by a disgruntled official who jogged about 100 yards from the entrance to take pleasure in informing me I couldn’t park there, pointing to a sign completely invisible on entering the pathway.

 

The ground is now shared with AFC Rushden & Diamonds and through the entrance the facilities consist of white painted mobile structures and wooden decking.  There is some covered standing along part of the dugout touchline and a metal stepped terrace behind the near goal.  The main seated stand is on the left hand touchline and named after the snooker player, Peter Edbon. There is a disused clubshop shed near the near stand.

 

I had seen Deeping destroy Desborough a few weeks back and they started the best side, with several attacking plays without that final ball searching out clear chances.  They had a fair penalty shout on a cross when the striker was tugged but he made too much of it to convince the referee. Wellingborough came back into the match towards the end of the first half, with a low shot well saved and another skimming the cross bar.

With the match remaining even at the start of the second half, Wellingborough made the breakthrough after 55 minutes when a brilliant cross from the left found Turner who nodded in. This galvanised Deeping who drew level 10 minutes later when Josh Moreman found space on the edge of the area and volleyed sweetly into the top corner.  Deeping continued to apply pressure with Wellingborough content to try and break on the counter attack.  With 5 minutes left, the winner came when a punt forward from midfield was collected by the substitute Boyle-Chong who controlled then fired across the keeper into the far corner of the goal.