Match 33. Deeping Rangers v Desborough Town

Saturday 1^st March 2014 @ 3pm

UCL Premier Division

DEEPING RANGERS 5-1 DESBOROUGH TOWN

Outgang Road, Market Deeping

   

Admission: £6

Programme: £1

Attendance: 67

Refreshments: Chicken cup-a-soup, £1

    

I have watched Deeping Rangers twice this season.  First time was the 8-1 thrashing of Desborough Town at Waterworks Field.  The second time was at Wellingborough Town which was their first defeat for 3 months.  Since that defeat, Deeping have had average form and slipped from runaway leaders Spalding and sit 5^th before the game. I dropped the family at Peterborough and after several wrong turns as my phone sat nav froze, I arrived at Outgang Road just before kickoff with only £10 on me in cash.  A post match pint then after the game instead at The 16^th Century Inn, The Bull on Market Place.

   

The clubhouse is outside the entrance and although bland outside, is a smart and spacious area inside.  There are 3 standing areas on cover of similar simple grey design.  One is behind the near goal, with the 2 smaller areas either side of the team dugouts.  There is a club shop shed which also sells the match programme. A mobile hut for the home and away committee and changing rooms, toilets and tea bar behind the main seated stand which has an unusual roof.  The rest of the ground is enclosed with high hedges.

  

The match started straight away in top gear and the home side took the lead after just 3 minutes. A free kick was deflected into the path of the Captain 6 yards out who easily knocked it past the keeper.  Desborough got back into the match 2 minutes later when a corner was stabbed in by Bradshaw despite the defender on the line. Soon after Deeping Rangers Burton-Jones hit the cross bar from a corner.  On 11 minutes Griffiths was fouled on the edge of the box and the free kick was drove low into the net by Scott Ginty.  After this goal a header from a free kick hit the bar for a second time.  Desborough got back into the match with possession and had a good shot from Sunderland saved by the keeper near half time.

   

The second half began equally without any easy chances then on the hour, Forbes was sent off for the visitors after trying to get the ball back quickly from the home centre half to take a free kick.  The push in the chest deemed to be dangerous by the referee and not many others.  Deeping Rangers took charge for the rest of the game and killed it off with 2 goals around 20 minutes from the end.  As Deeping Pressured for an equaliser, a long clearance enabled Ryan Oliver to take the ball early and smash past the advancing keeper.  Within a minute, Mitch Griffiths controlled the ball expertly and shot cleverly past the keeper. Then a couple of minutes before the end, a substitute was tripped as he turned into the area and Tinkler scored the penalty.

  

Market Deeping is a lovely village and I counted 7 scenic pubs in the centre or on Church Street towards the ground.  This is a place for me to visit without the car.