a tie against the Gingerbread men from Grantham and they were the first to show when Ian Ward won the ball on half way, turned and released Jamie Graham whose effort from the edge of the box brought a full length save from Rick Lovelace in the visiting goal.

The Tigers started to get the upper hand Livo Dube did well down the right to cut inside only to be up ended by a Deeping challenge - the free kick from Stacey Cartwright was high and wide.

Holbeach took the lead on 17 minutes - from a corner the ball was cleared a couple of times by the scrambling Deeping defense only to be played in again and Ben Brown was on hand to drive the ball home through the crowded box.

Although the Tigers were having the better of things, stoic Deeping midfield play and defending were making Holbeach to work hard for their next breakthrough - some Dube trickery saw him into the home box to be thwarted by a good tackle from the elegant Tom Palmer.

Gary King then held the ball to set up Danny Steadman who shot pulled wide of the far post, King was then freed by a good touch from Dube but Tom Smith halted the threat just in time.

Rangers' Ward then picked up a flick from Ryan Oliver, turned the defender to set up a shooting opportunity but was straight at Lovelace.

As half time approach a mix up between Palmer and Holland in the home defense allowed Dube free only to see his blistering effort tipped over by Danny Bircham in the home goal

Half Time - Deeping Rangers 0 Holbeach United 1

Deeping came out for the second half with much more intent and an early cross from Oliver almost found Joe Braithwaite on the Tigers six yard line, but Rangers only had a couple of minutes to wait before they equalised - Graham's inswinging corner was headed clear by Brown where Charlie Coulson picked it up, jinxed his way into the box and the fired his shot into the far corner of the visiting goal on 48 minutes.

It was Coulson again who gave Rangers the lead on 55 minutes - Graham picked up the ball on the right, played in Coulson down the left who took a side step to shoot into the far corner past the advancing Lovlace.

The lead was short lived, Jonny Allen tried his luck from the touch line and a slight deflection was enough to beat the wrong footed Bircham at the near post for 2-2.

This spurred Holbeach, Dube had a thrusting run thwarted by a good tackle, he then set up Lee Beeson who took to long and the chance was lost and Rangers' sub Jordan Avis did well down the right to send in a superb cross that almost found the advancing Coulson but Lovelace got there first.

Both sides strived for the decisive goal but both defenses were solid as the game headed towards conclusion and penalties and with this in mind Deeping brought on sub Spencer Tinkler.

Overall the Rangers performance would have encouraged the management team as the home FA Vase tie with Oxhey Jets approaches.

Full Time - Deeping Rangers 2 Holbeach United 2

Penalties:

Rangers were first and sub, and the normally reliably penalty taker, Tinkler strode up to blast his against the bar.
Dube, Beeson and skipper Ollie Pinner all scored for the Tigers as Deeping skipper David Burton-Jones scored, Graham saw his effort saved by Lovelace and then Matt Carter renewed Rangers hope with his success.
When Tigers' Gary King pullled his effort wide the home side were 2-3 down after 4 penalties each gone - home keeper Danny Bircham stepped up to try and bring parity but his effort struck a similar point on the bar as Tinkler's effort - it's the Tigers who take on the Gingerbread's.

Deeping Rangers:
1. Dan Bircham, 2. Matt Carter, 3. Tom Smith, 4. Tom Palmer (16. Spencer Tinkler - 87 mins), 5. Matt Holland, 6. David Burton-Jones (capt), 7. Joe Braithwaite, 8. Charlie Coulson, 9. Ian Ward (16. Jordan Avis - 75 mins), 10. Ryan Oliver (15. Sam Thompson - 61 mins) 11. Jamie Graham
subs (not used) 14. Jamie Sharpe, 17. Dan Flack

Holbeach United:
1. Rick Lovelace, 2. Jonny Allen, 3. Stacy Cartwright (14. Gary Chappell - 75 mins), 4. Ollie Pinner, 5. Glen Wells, 6. Ben Brown, 7. Lee Beeson, 8. Danny Steadman (12. Jordan Keeble - 81 mins), 9. Matt Warfield, 10. Gary King, 11. Livo Dube.
subs (not used) 15. Danny Spencer, 16. Jake Duffy