soon ‘under the cosh’ as the home side started very strongly with their pacey and fluent forward play.

Wisbech wide man Billy Smith created a couple of home chances – a fierce inswinging free kick was narrowly away from a touch by Danny Beaumont and then a cross saw Josh Ford meet on the edge of the box but his glancing was wide of the visitors goal.

Rangers were struggling to get into the game although Mohammed Hamid was starting to relish the challenge and his through ball played in Jezz Goldson-Williams into the home box where the challenge of Jon Fairweather made him rush his shot and was straight at Lea Jordan in the home goal.

All of the pressure was from the home side as the Deeping youngsters looked overawed, Stuart Cobb’s whipped ball into the box appeared to bring the opening goal as Ford touched the ball home but he was adjudged to have fouled Danny Bircham.

Hesitation from Rangers Tom Smith allowed Beaumont to control the ball to free Cobb whose pull back found Adam Millson to blast from 25 yards that forced Bircham to tip over – Bircham was the required to react quickly to save from Ford on his near post.

Having weathered the Fenmen storm, the visitors, with Bircham, Spencer Tinkler, Joe Braithwaite and Dan Flack showing the resolve needed, the younger players started to believe they could compete and Hamid and Coulson started to play and Hamid’s defence splitting pass saw Goldson-Williams have a glorious opportunity but a touch too many saw Fairweather and Jordan close him down and his shot was taken by Jordan.

A Hamid free kick into the box had the home defence scrambling to clear.
The Fenmen responded with some more pressure of their own with Billy Smith and Beaumont setting up Steven Reid whose blast was just too high – they made the breakthrough on 31 mins.

Swift interplay presented Milson with a strike that took a deflection to rebound from the crossbar where Cobb eventually retrieved to cross to the far post to find Scott Johnson, who collected, cut inside and fired past Bircham.

Rangers responded well, Hamid combined with Jordan Avis to shoot wide, Tom Palmer then fed Goldson-Williams wide, he returned to Palmer whose cross found Hamid on the edge of the box but with too many Fenmen in his way.

Good closing down by Hamid saw Fairweather’s clearance hit Hamid with the ball looping goal wards that beat the retreating Jordan and the cross bar.

With half time approaching Wisbech doubled their tally. Rangers Flack was caught dwelling on the ball outside his own area and a quick switch played Josh Ford free on the right of the box and his drive went under the advancing Bircham - 2-0 to the home side on 43 mins.

Half Time – Wisbech Town 2 Deeping Rangers 0

The hairdryer was apparently evident in the visitors dressing room at half time and this showed as Deeping came out positively for the second half although it was the home side who nearly increased their lead when Hamid stumbled on half way to allow Billy Smith to raid down the left, his cross was met by Milson who blasted high.

Rangers were also showing well, a Goldson-Williams break was aided by Coulson and Avis to see Goldson-Williams shot saved by the legs of Jordan, Tom Smith then got in behind Neal Spafford to see his shot block by several defenders – the Deeping players were appealing for a handball but the referee was unimpressed.

A long ball from Fairweather sent the Fenmen’s Beaumont clear to pull back for Ford whose opportunity was removed by a good block from Tom Smith, Bircham saved well from Spafford's downward header and was then at full stretch to thwart Beaumont after he was played in by Reid's through ball.

Another Milson corner was met by Spafford only to see Bircham save with a parry and react again as Spafford got to the loose ball to shoot goal wards

Deeping had another great chance when Matt Carter’s ball over the top played in Jamie Graham who advanced goalwards but saw his progress halted as Jordan succeeded in the one on one.

With the game into the 3rd minute of additional time Rangers got the consolation their display warranted – Carter’s long free kick caused a scramble in the home box where Deeping skipper Spencer Tinkler capped a fine performance by stabbing the ball home.

This was a tough challenge for Rangers - they should be pleased with the good things produced and look to eradicate the not so good.

Full Time – Wisbech Town 2 Deeping Rangers 1