but, after frantic telephone calls, a replacement assistant was found to enable Rangers to entertain the basement side with the home crowd looking for another goal spree but a combination of indifferent Rangers play and spirited defending from a Harborough team, clearly with damage limitation as their game plan, the result was a game that tested the resolve of the home fans.

Deeping seemed to start brightly and in the first minute Dan Flack's forward pass was flicked on by Matt Heron to free Ondre Odain behind the visitors defense only to be unable get control of the ball - Alex Beck then wriggled some space and shot but a deflection took it for a corner. From the resultant Scott Ginty corner Heron's fierce goal bound volley hit a visiting defender and out of danger.

Harborough got as many players as possible goal side of the ball and Rangers struggled to workout how to overcome this and play degenerated into scrapiness.

Rangers did get control of the game and had plenty of the ball but too often the final pass or touch was not good enough to convert the chance into a strong threat - Odain had a weak header from Heron's set up, Heron and Ginty the set up Beck but his shot was well closed down and Heron met Ginty's corner but the touch was again weak.

Mitch Griffiths did well to create a chance but again there was a yellow shirt in the way of his shot, Ginty played a 1-2 with Spencer Tinkler but pulled his shot wide of the post, Griffiths then freed Beck who saw his shot parried by Giles in the Harborough goal with Anderson making the full clearance as Odain tried to pounce.

Another good chance came as Heron touched on a Craig Parker throw but Griffiths touch was a bit heavy and the ball was over the bar.

Town had a rare effort on the home goal as the industrious Jack Burrows won the ball and released Mason Thomas, he played a 1-2 with Robbie White but his shot hit Rangers Stacey Cartwright and dribbled to Doughty in the home goal.

Griffths and Heron exchanged passes to free Griffiths to the goal line but his pull back was only to Giles, Heron then met a Ginty corner but his header was just the wrong side of the bar

Harborough's Thomas then set White free down the right, he won his tussle with the Deeping defender to cross to find Gary Dunion but his header was straight at Doughty.

In the main the Deeping football was neat but penetration was lacking but good play involving Heron, Odain and Beck saw the ball played back to Ginty who side footed home from 6 yards to break the deadlock on 36 minutes. (1-0)

Rangers continued to dominate but half time came with just the one breakthrough to show for their efforts.

Half Time - Deeping Rangers 1 Harborough Town 0

Rangers came out with the same intent for the second half but it was more of the same and it was Harborough who had the first effort as Goodman picked up a loose Tinkler clearance but his shot did not trouble Doughty

Deeping doubled their lead on 58 minutes, Beck was played in down the right and found home skipper David Burton-Jones who in turned passed to Griffiths, he cut back inside and shot inside the far post to give Giles no chance (2-0).

The home side continued to dominate, Burton-Jones, Odain and Griffiths combined to give Beck a chance but the ball was just a half yard too far for him.

With the game under control Rangers introduced the returning (from injury) Ciaran Holt for some more game time and the home crowd were pleased to see his return.

Opportunities were still being made by Deeping, Ginty and Heron exchanged passes for Ginty's shot to be deflected into the hands of Giles.

One incident summed up Harborough's day - White picked up the ball and ran at Deeping defense where team mate Thomas also was. both left the ball for the other only for Tinkler to take the ball and launch another Rangers attack. Thomas then had a couple of half chances, Burrows played the ball over the top of the Deeping defense only to see Burton-Jones get to the ball before Thomas - Thomas then being thwarted by Ginty as he was about to shoot

Late chances for Heron, Beck and Griffiths were seen but not taken as Deeping settled for 3 more points - not one of their more impressive performances but they had done enough!!

Full Time - Deeping Rangers 2 Harborough Town 0

Match Ball Sponsor - Roe Group, Fengate, Peterborough
DRFC Man of the Match - Stacey Cartwright

Deeping Rangers
1. James Doughty, 2. Dan Flack, 3. Craig Parker 4. Spencer Tinkler, 5. Stacey Cartwright (14. Ciaran Holt - 66 mins), 6. David Burton-Jones (Capt.), 7. Mitch Griffiths, 8. Scott Ginty, 9. Ondre Odain (16. Josh Moreman - 66 mins), 10. Matt Heron, 11. Alex Beck (15. Scott Bogusz - 86 mins)
subs (not used) 12. Ryan Oliver, 17. Kev Gilbert

Harborough Town: 1. Glen Giles, 2. Martin Anderson, 3. Glenn Robinson, 4. Peter McDonald, 5. Dan Pegg (Capt.), 6. Amadeus Clements, 7. Gary Dunion, 8. Jack Burrows, 9. Mason Thomas (14. Liam Connachie - 74 mins), 10. Robbie White (12. Taras Petranyuk - 74 mins), 11. Davis Goodman
subs (not used) 15. Shaun Allen