Freeway Park empty handed.

The signs were ominous from the start – a poor Deeping challenge conceded an early free kick that lively Ben Stephens took to find Joe Latham but his unchallenged half volley ballooned over.

Deeping’s Billy Oliver won possession to release Dan Flack down the left, his cross was met by Scott Mooney whose touch looked destined for the inside of the near post except for a full length save from Ethan Somaiya in the home goal.

From defending Oadby’s Tendai Daire’s long clearance found Rob Morgan free, his pass appeared to have set Oliver Brown-Hill into the box but the assistant referee gave offside.

The breakthrough come on 11 mins, Chris Hollist collected in mid half, he sent the ball forward and followed up to collect the loose ball, he evaded a couple of challenges to drive past the advancing Danny Bircham to give the home side the lead.

Brown-Hill was found by Stephens only to turn and shoot weakly at Bircham, a Stephens corner was met by the free Perry Johnson but he could not keep his effort down.

Rangers were struggling in midfield as the home side dominated although Flack found space to send in a good cross that Oliver got to to see his header rebound from the bar.

A similar chance fell to the home side as Daire sent in a cross that Stephens met – his header just being taken by Bircham at full extent.

The Poachers doubled their advantage on 44 mins, defending a visitors corner the home broke swiftly, Daire found Morgan wide right, he in turn fount Ryan Seal in the away box, a twist and shot saw the ball bobble across goal and cross the line off of the far post.

As additional time was being played Deeping had chances to reduce the arrears, Fraser Sturgess won the ball, wriggled into the box to see his shot deflected away from goal, Scott Coupland sent Mooney in the box to be upended by a Somaiya challenge that looked a stone wall penalty to everyone except the officials and finally Flack broke down the left, crossed goalwards where it hit retreating defender Johnson to rebound from the post back on to Johnson and then into the dive of Somaiya – Rangers could see that they used up their luck in the two previous games!!

Half Time – Oadby Town 2 Deeping Rangers 0

Rangers got back itno the game on 50 mins, Mooney chased down a ball in the home box , got to the ball just as Somaiya made his challenge and the referee pointed to the spot (looked less a penalty than the one turned down) – Scott Mooney stepped up to calmly send Somaiya the wrong way and deposit the ball into the net.

This upset the home sides spirits and they looked as though they would implode, from a home corner a Rangers clearance found Coupland who advanced and his crossfield ball found Oliver only to shoot weakly , Oliver’s pressure then forced a weak home clearance that Sturgess fed the hard working Mooney with but his turn and shot was high.

Having steadied their ship the home side started to be dominant again, Brown-Hill’s shot saw Ben Lewis block well but they increased their lead on 69 mins – Brown-Hill fed Seal in the box whose wriggled provided the space to get his shot away under the advancing Bircham (3-1)

Seal had a chance for a treble but his shot was high.

Oadby were pressing hard for a fourth and only desperate Rangers defending kept them at bay.

Depiste being below par Deeping were still finding chances and good play from Flack, sub Jezz Goldson-Williams and Coupland set Mooney into the home box, a good touch and lob saw home keeper Somaiya beaten only to see the ball hit the post and get cleared by Johnson – somedays they go in, others they stay out – this was one of the out days!

Onwards to Eslaforde Park for a Lincolnshire derby on Wednesday!!!

Full Time – Oadby Town 3 Deeping Rangers 1