Deeping Rangers Claret 3 - 2 Netherton (Clarets scorers: Cutts, Netherton og, McConnell)

Line-Up: Ben Burton, Jack Martin, Ciaran Millen, Nathan Jackson, Max Lake, Ben Romaine, Charlie Bamford, Luke Cutts, Kieron McConnell Subs: Nick Bliss, Ben O'Boyle, Liam Barnes, Jake Gibson

Congratulations to Netherton, champions of Division 1, winning 15 out of 18 games. They beat every team at least once....except one....Deeping Rangers Claret. Yes the Clarets not only finish third, only 2 points from being runners up, but also are the only team to take more points off of Netherton than they conceded. Fantastic.

After just four minutes goals from Cutts, McConnell and an own goal had shocked Netherton who found themselves 3-0 behind for the first time this season. Rangers high - energy attacking start was frankly breathtaking. In fact McConnell was harshly ruled off-side as he went for a fourth.

Netherton only found a way back when Jackson was adjudged to have committed a foul in the area even though he didn't do anything wrong and the resulting penalty was converted for 3-1. Despite this Rangers continued to press, winning several corners and going close most notably through Romaine who struck a post.

Into the second half things were fairly even. Netherton were desperate not to lose and both sides had chances before the visitors scored with a shot that somehow found the net through a sea of players.

This set up a nail-biting finish as Rangers dropped back into a defensive formation for the last 10 minutes but they hung on with Martin, Millen and Jackson working themselves into the ground. Burton pulled off at least two class saves and stood up strong  - as did all the boys who not only showed true grit but also marvellous passing and composure all over the pitch to claim a terrific and thoroughly deserved victory and also third place in the league. FANTASTIC PERFORMANCE MEN! TREMENDOUS SEASON! WELL DONE!!

Let's not forget the hard work put in by Jim Romaine who has really got the boys playing attractive, passing football. Also thanks to Mark Burton, Jim's assistant, and indeed all of the parents who have supported Jim and the team with their time and money through subscriptions that contribute to the continuing success not only of the Clarets but towards Deeping Rangers at all levels. Thank you all.

Northern Star 0 - 3 Deeping Rangers Claret (McConnell 2, Cutts)

Line-Up: Ben Burton, Nathan Jackson, Ciaran Millen, Jack Martin, Charlie Bamford, Max Lake, Ben Romaine, Luke Cutts, Kieron McConnell Subs: None (!)

10 minutes before kick-off and only 8 players are available before Max Lake turns up straight from holiday this morning to make-up the team - and all this against a backdrop of two successive defeats and now away against Northern Star who inflicted the worst defeat Rangers suffered all season back last October. Not the most auspicious preparation let's say.

Forget That! The first half is dominated by Rangers who stroke the ball around nicely and er...what's this? They're playing as a team!! At last!! There's shouting to each other:  communication!! Good God! It's a miracle!

With Romaine down the right, Lake down the left and Bamford moved up to support Cutts and McConnell up front, it's an attacking, dangerous looking formation that Star find hard to deal with. Martin, Jackson and Millen are playing superbly in defence and Burton is strong and commanding in goal. Not only that....who gave them spinach for breakfast??? Everything we have been crying out for is on display: Communication, passing, standing up strong....suddenly it's all coming together! Alleluhiah!

The home team hardly have a shot on goal as Rangers drive forward and keep the ball firmly in the host's half. Just before half-time a Romaine pin-point corner is headed home by McConnell to give Rangers a deserved lead at the break.

Second half continues in the same vein as the Clarets attack through sweet passing from defence through to the front. The two or three attacks that Star do manage to mount are mainly route 1 from goal kicks that thankfully end up being shot straight at Burton who handles superbly. Burton does have to come screaming out of goal to clear once - with great aplomb - but other than that it's all down the other end as Deeping keep Star pegged back.

Mid-way through the half, Lake wins the ball on the half-way line and takes it around three defenders before winning a corner from which another Romaine corker is buried by McConnell after a goal-mouth scramble. McConnell goes inches wide before Jackson splits the defence with a pass that Cutts fires inches over the bar.

When Star do come forward everything is snuffed out by Martin or Millen or Jackson who are as solid as Mount Rushmore. With seconds to go Cutts finds himself at the corner post counting down the time with some fancy 'keepy ball' before...gasp...he turns two defenders, rounds a third and buries the ball past the forelorn Star 'keeper. How did he do that? Derren Brown of football or what??!!

An absolutley tremendous performance of grit, determination, team-work and skill against one of the best sides in the Peterborough league!  Well done boys!  A thoroughly deserved victory!  33 points on the board in a very tough division. Fantastic!

Deeping Rangers Claret 0-3 Hampton

Unlike last week the weather played no part in a disappointing result that sees Rangers slide down the table and receive their first losing 'double' at the hands of Hampton.

In truth there is not a great difference between the sides, certainly not as much as two 3-0 defeats would suggest, but when you go 2-0 down within the first 5 minutes it's always going to be a struggle. To their credit Rangers penned Hampton back in their own half for most of the game but with no real end product except for a great strike by Ben Romaine that hit a post with the Hampton goalie stranded.

Towards the end of the game Hampton added a third when Deeping failed to clear the ball. The main disappointment today was no so much losing but the way in which Deeping played. This was their 20th match of the season in all competitions and yet they played like strangers, like a team thrown together at the last minute.

The lack of communication was painful as so often Clarets players were surrounded by blue Hampton shirts and yet received no support from team-mates, while others went on good breaks with no-one to pass to except blue shirts.  The other crucial issue was the continuing lack of grit. Far too often Rangers looked lightweight, getting barged off the ball too easily, ducking challenges or failing to put in headers or tackle back.

With two games left the boys need to really take some pride in how well they have done overall this season and get stuck in and think about 'teamwork' . That's what Hampton did and that was the difference over both games. 

Hampton 3 - 0 Deeping Rangers Claret

Line-Up:  Ben Burton, Jack Martin, Charlie Bamford, Nathan Jackson, Nick Bliss, Ben Romaine, Kieron McConnell, Max Lake, Ben O'Boyle, Liam Barnes

First Half: In the driving rain, on a soaked bog of a pitch, Deeping fell behind to an early goal but had enough chances to have been at least level at the break. Trouble was all Rangers' efforts seemed to just whizz past the post or over the bar - the ball even getting stuck in a puddle one time when McConnell would have been clean through on goal - it was going to be one of those days I'm afraid.

Second Half: Things went from bad to worse as the driving rain, now blowing against the direction Rangers were attacking, turned into a freak snow blizzard which made going forward much more difficult. Still though the Clarets had opportunties in the half with shots being saved or going just wide or crosses skimming across the goal mouth with no-one to put the ball into the net. Hampton had more chances too with Burton forced to make a couple of fine saves in an end to end game.

Unfortunately as the match wore on and the conditions deteriorated the boys looked sapped of energy and Hampton went further into the lead when a weak shot somehow trickled through the Claret's defence, who foundered in the mud, and just over the line. With nothing to lose Rangers pressed for a consolation but were caught for a third time just before the whistle went to harshly go down 3-0.

The difference today was that Hampton took their chances and adapted better to the conditions on familiar ground whereas Rangers just couldn't find the net and literally at times seemed to get stuck in the mud. Never mind, the boys have a chance to avenge this result when the teams meet again next week on their Outgang Road pitch.