Rangers lose ground on the leaders and suffer first away defeat

this season, and their first non point gain on their travels, as their hosts cruised to a comfortable win.

Daventry were first to threaten as Kieran Fitzgerald rounded Jack Marsden to cross from the goal line where Luke Emery rose to head wide of the target - they took the lead on 14 mins, Joe Merrill’s deep free kick into the Clarets box saw Emery stretch his leg with the ball hitting his knee to send the ball inside the far post past Luke Elsom.

Deeping saw Cameron Johnson turn on the edge of the box, his shot skied wide of the target where Dan Jarvis collected, he beat a couple of defenders to fire at goal where home keeper Lustin Cerga made a good save on the post.

Calamity struck Rangers as Town made it two on 28 mins, Merrill’s long punt over the visitors back line saw Elsom race form his line, his touch allowed Adam Creaney to nick the ball and roll into an empty net from 20 yards.

The Clarets gamble to play Johnson failed and he was replaced on the half hour with a recurrence of the knee issue picked up in the Rugby defeat.

Marsden delivered a deep cross, sub Tyler Walker retrieved to find Michael Simpson whose shot on the turn hit a defender and deflected away from the target.

Rangers fell further behind on 37 mins, Dan Flack’s challenge on Fitzgerald looked a good one but the referee thought otherwise and awarded a spot kick that Creaney drove down the middle of the goal.

Despite some head dropping the visitors still tried to get their game going, Flack’s good ball down the wing picked out Simpson, he drove a good low ball through the home goal area with a touch being applied, Marsden retrieved a corner clearance to whip in a good ball where Luke Hunnings rose to see his header wide of the target.

With half time imminent another Merrill free kick into the Deeping box saw the ball hit a Claret defender to fall for home skipper whose touch was weak and Hunnings cleared.

Half Time – Daventry Town 3 Deeping Rangers 0

The visitors started the second half brightly, Marsden whipped in a cross where Scott Mooney got in before Harris but the header was straight at Cerga, Dan Schiavi collected a loose ball 20 yards out and fizzed a shot wide of the post.

Any lingering hope Rangers had was extinguished on 54 mins, Fitzgerald crossed from the goal line, Taylor Orosz controlled before blasting past the approaching Elsom.

Orosz won a good tussle with Flack, his pass found Fitzgerald whose drive through the throng went wide of the goal.

Rangers’ Jarvis sent a ball into the box, the bounce allowed Mooney to challenge where Cerga’s punch clearance allowed Jarvis to volley on target where the keeper was equal to it with a good flying save, Flack fed Mooney in the box, a good touch freed Schiavi to drive at goal where Cerga made a good tip over save from just under the bar.

The visitors got a consolation on 82 mins, Mooney beat the offside to advance into the home box, he made space to get in a blast, the home keeper parried for the arriving Schiavi to apply the close range finish.

Daventry were close to restoring their four goal advantage when Fitzgerald’s good turn on the goal line allowed an acute angle shot that Elsom saved well on the post.
Rangers were unable close the gap on the leaders and now look to be battling with Rugby for the second place spot as the season goes into the final throws.

Full Time – Daventry Town 4 Deeping Rangers 1

Daventry Town: 1. Lustin Cerga, 2. Joe Merrill, 3. Dean Lukeman, 4. Ross Harris ©, 5. Rico Alexander, 6. Adam Confue, 7. Kieran Fitzgerald, 8. Phil Cassidy, 9. Luke Emery (16. Joe Henderson – 77), 10. Adam Creaney (14. Ollie Stanbridge – 57), 11. Taylor Orosz (15. Sam Jackson – 63)

Subs (not used): 12. Tom McGowan, 17. Matt Finlay

Deeping Rangers: 1. Lewis Elsom, 2. Dan Flack (15. Lance Moyo – 79), 3. Jack Marsden, 4. David Burton-Jones ©, 5. Luke Hunnings, 6. Dan Jarvis, 7. Michael Simpson, 8. Charlie Coulson (14. Matt Carter – 63), 9. Scott Mooney, 10. Dan Schiavi, 11. Cameron Johnson (12. Tyler Walker – 30)

Subs (not used): 16. Henry Dunn, 17. Danny Bircham

Attendance - 158

Referee: Luke Scott

Assistants: James Kavanagh and Terry Whenham