This was another tight contest that ‘football time’ could not find a winner- hence the penalty shoot out.

Deeping had an early chance as Henry Dunn fed Charlie Coulson, his pull back found Scott Coupland who’s shot on the turn did not test Duncan McAnally in the visiting goal, Dan Schiavi released Coupland, with a deft touch he played in Scott Mooney to lob just over the bar.

The Willows’ Tanner Call ran from his own half, collected a return pass from Craig Nurse but was halted by a good tackle from Luke Hunnings, Ryan Clarke’s corner was met by Nathan Clarke to head back to the opposite post where Tom Smith made a good blocking challenge to Alex Steed’s shot.

A long diagonal pass from N Clarke sent Lee Sim free down the right his cross was defended but second phase saw Sim cross again for Call to misjudge the header, another long ball from defence saw Call in between Dan Flack and Hunnings to shoot wide of the far post

Rangers, from defending a corner, broke swiftly, a ball towards Coupland had McAnally swiftly off his line to clear, the ball falling to Coulson whose effort from 45 yards looked net bound except for the great recovery from Walsham skipper Matt Morton who got back and cleared off the line with inches to spare, at the other end Call held off a couple of challenges to test Richard Stainsby.

It was the home side who made the breakthrough on 33 mins, Dunn found Coupland , his pass sent Mooney into the box, his cross was taken by Schiavi who nudged the ball to Charlie Coulson, he sidestepped the challenge and shot past the keeper’s dive.

Deeping were prominent now, Schiavi sent Flack wide right, his cross was met by Schiavi but the header was high, Mooney collected a pass from Coulson in the box, his shot on the turn was wide of the post,

With additional time being played Rangers doubled their lead, Dunn’s pass split the visiting defence to find Scott Coupland who advanced to the edge of the box before blasting his shot past the dive of McAnally (45 +1 mins)

Half Time – Deeping Rangers 2 Walsham Le Willows 0

Walsham came out smarting for the second half and reduced the arrears on 50 mins, full back Sam Peters got to the goalline, his pull back was smashed home by Nurse from 8 yards.

Deeping’s Hunnings rose to meet Schiavi’s corner to see his header over the bar, at the other end Nurse connected to a loose ball but only found the roof of the net.

The visitors were level on 56 mins, a long clearance from defence saw Call chase and Stainsby off his line to clear with his head just to see the ball fall for Nurse to launch goalwards from 50 yards and into an empty net.

Walsham were now dominant, Stainsby pulled off a brilliant low save to thwart Call’s header, another save to kept out Nurse’s header and then Stainsby made a good save from Peters long range effort with Call being thwarted again has he pounced on the rebound.

Home skipper David Burton-Jones rose to meet Schiavi’a corner but the header did not test McAnally, the home keeper was again in action as Sim’s cross was headed on by the under pressure Jonny Clay by Stainsby kept the ball out with another fine save.

It was no surprise that Walsham took the lead but the circumstances were unlikely, Steed broke into the home box, looked to have mis kicked to be tackled that the referee deemed a penalty – Nurse stepped up to smash the ball beyond the dive of Stainsby (79 mins).

The lead was not to last too lomg, Rangers sub Will Bird made his way into the box where Sim was adjudged to have fouled him with Scott Coupland converting the kick with aplomb.

Both sides had chances before the full time whistle, Flack got to the goal line to cross evading the arriving Bird, Walsham’s Call cut inside and flashed a shot wide of the far post, and Bird was set goalwards by Coupland but could not get past McAnally.

Full Time – Deeping Rangers 3 Walsham Le Willows 3

Extra Time

This produced little goal threat action, Rangers’ Burton-Jones struck a free kick against the wall and was just too high with the rebound, Bird burst into the Willows box and although Peters was covering still managed to get shot away that McAnally took easily.

Walsham’s R Clarke cut inside and sent a cross/shot flashing across the face of the home goal and wide.

ET - Half Time – Deeping Rangers 3 Walsham Le Willows 3

This was another period of little action, Coupland sent Bird into the visitors box to shoot that McAnally claimed at the second attempt and Walsham cramp hampered Morton sent in a long kick that was taken by Peters at the far post to set up Call to shoot high.

ET - Full Time – Deeping Rangers 3 Walsham Le Willows 3

Penalties:

Rangers were first to take with Coupland and Burton-Jones converting their first two and Avis seeing his effort saved.

Walsham’s hat trick hero Nurse smashed his against the bar and Call was thwarted, not for the first time in these games, by a good Stainsby save – Peters had converted his.

So after 3 each, Rangers had ‘match point’, Jason Kilbride stepped up to strike the post and out.

The Clarkes, Nathan and Ryan, and Josh Curry converted for the visitors with Flack and Schiavi doing likewise for Deeping.

When Bird blazed his high over the bar the Willows Joji Kawaguchi kept his composure to beat the dive of Stainsby and earn Walsham another visit to South Lincolnshire where they play Boston Town in the next round.

Penalties: Deeping Rangers 4 Walsham Le Willows 5

Attendance - 87