The game was a competitive match throughout as both sides matched each other in most areas on a pitch not condusive to good football.

Nirvana’s Jordan Nelson chased a long ball, a mix up with Jonny Clay and Richard Stainsby saw the Rangers clearance only find James Bessey-Saldanha whose shot from distance was weak and only picked out Deeping’s Luke Hunnings with the goal relatively unguarded.

At the other end a Charlie Coulson pass was delicately laid off by Scott Mooney to allow Scott Coupland some space, his shot was well saved by the advancing keeper Aaron Harris.

Neither side got control as the game ebbed and flowed, Nirvana’s Conor Brown-Wingfield fed Melanius Mullarke top advance to the edge of the visitor’s box before releasing Brown-Wingfield who hit a devilish cross across the face of the goal that evaded everyone.

The Clarets were close when Hunnings met Dan Schiavi’s free kick at the far post with keeper Harris claiming easily, Leicester’s Nelson found himself on the edge of the box, he twisted for some space to send in a good ball that Clay dealt with well.

Rangers Tom Smith won well, fed David Burton-Jones who drove forward but pulled his shot wide, Coupland jiggled his way into the box and curled his cross to the far post where Hunnings rose well to head goalwards to see the effort cleared from the line.

The home side took the lead in controversial style on 42 mins, a mix up in the Deeping defence saw a poor clearance from Hunnings, the ball was retrieved by Bessey-Saldanha to enter the box and see his shot well saved by Stainsby, with the Deeping defenders convinced the ball was out of play they saw it crossed into the goal area where Clay and Smith stopped it on the line only for Brown-Wingfield to nudge the ball over the line.

Half Time – Leicester Nirvana 1 Deeping Rangers 0

Deeping came out looking to get back on equal terms but nearly suffered as Nirvana sub Suleiman Nassor outpaced the visitors defence to see his pull back well cut out by Dan Flack as Bessey-Saldanha was about to pounce.

The home side were starting to use time use up tactics, Mooney curled in a teasing cross that home played Elliott Phillips attempted to clear only to skew back into his keepers hands.

Rangers missed a good chance when a move from defence saw Schiavi feed Coupland, he returned for Schiavi to blaze over the bar, Smith then released Jason Kilbride who beat his opponent to curl in a shot that was narrowly wide of the far post.

Nirvana’s Bessey-Saldanha collected a Stainsby clearance to dart towards the Rangers goal where a good tackle from Burton-Jones saw the ball fall for Mandeep Bains to shoot high from range.

Rangers persistence paid off, Mooney chased down a long ball, beat the defender into the box where Phillips’ challenge upended him, Coupland saw his penalty save by Harris but reacted the quickest to prod the ball over the line on 88 mins.

With 90 mins on the clock Kilbride collected on half way and advanced, his pass picked out Coupland in the box his shot being parried out by keeper Harris where Schiavi arrived to take a touch and drive through the defenders into the net.

In the end Rangers ground out a result to keep the pressure on for the 2nd place in the table.

Full Time – Leicester Nirvana 1 Deeping Rangers 2

Referee: Abdul Kadir
Assistants: Chris Sheppard and Joseph Collins