came from the very, very poor refereeing performance of Ali Shaaban who proceeded to show 8 yellow and two red cards and if he had been consistent the game could been abandoned through lack of players!!

The home side started with the wind at their backs and quickly applied pressure with Jordan Nicholson getting to the goal line and his pull back was narrowly missed by the advancing Robert Ducket.

On 8 mins referee Shaaban yellow carded Deeping's David Burton-Jones for an innocuous challenge that set the standard for the rest of the game.

Rangers were starting to find their play and pressure saw Mohammed Hamid win possession and his through ball found Jezz Goldson-Williams whose touch lifted the ball over approaching home custodian Jamie Chamberlain and the crossbar.

Rovers Steve Smith’s free kick found Darren Woodend at the far post but he could not direct his header on target, teammate Lee Bassett progressed into the visitors box to find Spencer Tinkler and Dan Flack who thwarted the opportunity.

Home fullback Nathan Field clattered Goldson-Williams on the touch line, the referee played the advantage and before the phase of play had stopped Field again clattered Goldson-Williams – both challenges were worse than the one Burton-Jones was booked for but the referee showed Field only one yellow – a very lucky boy.

The football was scrappy – Deeping’s Adam Scotcher collected on half way and progressed towards the home box but could find an end product while at the other end Nicholson twisted and shot that was well blocked by Joe Braithwaite.

A swift Rangers break involving Scotcher and Goldson-Williams saw Scotcher drive a shot just too high and the home sides Nicholson was again trying his luck only to shoot at Danny Bircham.

Deeping’s Ben Lewis played Goldson-Williams free down the right, he fed Scotcher whose shot had Chamberlain scrambling at his post to tip around.

The half ended when home skipper Tom Coles pulled back for Steve Smith to shoot wide.

Half time talk was not on the football but the performance of Mr Shaaban.

Half Time – Eynesbury Rovers 0 Deeping Rangers 0

Deeping started the second half brightly with Lewis, Charlie Coulson and Flack involved in interchanges that found Flack free to cross where the arriving Scotcher could not quite stretch enough to get a decisive touch.

The home side were reduced to 10 players on 56 mins when skipper Coles collected his second yellow and it became 10 v 10 twelve mins later when Scotcher collected two yellows within two minutes.

Deeping should have had a penalty when Goldson-Williams was fouled by Woodhead in the box but instead Goldson-Williams received a yellow card for simulation.

Rangers sub Matt Carter sent in a good cross that had home defender Dan Woodhead at full stretch to head clear as Deeping’s Jordan Avis approached.

The deadlock was broken on 83 mins, Rovers Bassett broke down the left to pull back and find Steve Smith in the middle of the goal to slide the ball home.

Eynesbury almost doubled their tally when Bassett capitalised on a breakdown on a Rangers move but his cross was well defended by Tinkler.

With the game into the final throes Rangers pressed for the equaliser – Avis got to the goal line to pull back where Burton-Jones saw his header tipped over by the retreating Chamberlain and from the resultant corner Tinkler saw his header tipped away by Chamberlain.

By the time the referee blew for full time most people were grateful that they did not have to endure anymore – a very bad day at the office Mr Shaaban !

Full Time – Eynesbury Rovers 1 Deeping Rangers 0