and again left empty handed as the hosts, Yaxley, ran out comfortable winners.

It was Rangers who struck the first blow, Scott Ginty played the ball into Jezz Goldson-Williams in the box, he laid off to Charlie Coulson whose cross was partly cleared where Mohammed Hamid won the ball, took a touch around Aaron Butcher and slid the ball home to give a 3rd minute lead.

Deeping’s night started to go downhill when Referee Hopton allowed a clattering challenge on Hamid to go unpunished and before they could settle, the Cuckoo’s Dan Cotton got to the goal line to pull back, through the crowded box, to find the advancing Liam Hook who blasted the ball home despite the efforts of Spencer Tinkler and Danny Bircham on the goal line for the equaliser on 11 mins.

Rangers were still reeling from this when two minutes later Yaxley took the lead – Luke Hipwell was advanced down the left, he turned and crossed where Scott Carter arrived to glance his header past the helpless Bircham.

Another setback came as Joe Braithwaite suffered a reoccurrence of his leg strain and was replaced causing a reshuffle with skipper David Burton-Jones moving to centre back.

The Cuckoo’s were dominant and Cotton curled a shot against the bar, other shots reined in but failed to trouble Bircham.
Deeping were still trying to play their football but all too often the final pass did not reach the intended target and efforts on goal were rare although Ginty was just high with a long range effort.

Yaxley’s Cotton won the ball from Dan Flack and fired goal wards where the deflection looked to be heading for the far corner but Bircham, at full stretch, tipped the ball away – from the resultant corner Gav Cooke was free but his shot was straight at Bircham.

Half Time – Yaxley 2 Deeping Rangers 1

The Cuckoo’s increased their lead in the first minute of the second half, a strong run by Cotton was halted by a foul challenge from Tom Palmer where the referee gave the penalty and as the home players and crowd were appealing for some further punishment the officials remained inert – Dan Cotton blasted home the spot kick.

Rangers, with Ginty and Burton-Jones leading the way, were still trying to play their football but it continued to make little headway against the home side although the younger lads were showing some spirit – a good Hamid run got into the box but neither Burton-Jones or Adam Scotcher could not get a shot away. Hamid won a challenge to dispossess Hipwell to make good ground into the box but inexperience saw cross poorly towards Jordan Avis.

Yaxley were always more likely to add to their tally although the Deeping rearguard were giving their normal resolute performance.

The referee’s poor night continued when he 'changed his mind on challenges' and booked 4 players in the last 10 minutes for challenges that he had let go for the previous 80 minutes.

Avis had a good run at the heart of the home defence but the end result was lacking.

With 4 minutes remaining the Cuckoo’s extended their lead, a clearance from Tinkler skied upwards, the resultant scramble fell into the path of Liam Hook 22 yards out and he blasted home past the helpless Bircham leaving Yaxley to contemplate a home fixture against Rushden & Diamonds in the 4th Round.

Rangers were left to look for the positives and hope that the younger players gained from the experience – at this level skilful play only gets you so far – spirit and guile are also needed and with some more experience the guile will surely come!!
Not a good night at the office but certainly something to build on.

Full Time – Yaxley 4 Deeping Rangers 1