Dunn's strike sees another win for the Clarets

Rugby in the battle for second spot.

Playing against the blustery wind, Rangers responded well to the recent successive defeats and worked hard to create chances against a well organised Pagnell team, Scott Mooney collected on half way, a customary twist and turn created space to send Cameron Johnson towards goal, he cut inside but the shot skewed wide.

Town’s Josh Winter let fly from 40 yards to see the ball hit a Deeping defender and loop high over the bar.

A good cross field ball from Johnson allowed Dan Flack to attack down the flank, his low delivery being met by Johnson to steer for the near post where Town keeper Mark Osbourne was down well to collect.

Deeping’s defence was doing well to keep the visitors away from their goal, a deep free kick from Dave Baker saw Tom Liversedge rise but the header did not trouble home keeper Lewis Elsom, at the other end Dan Jarvis’ pull back picked out Mooney for the header to be straight at Osbourne.

Only a good tackle from Luke Hunnings stopped Rangers nemesis Dom Lawless from getting his shot away, having got in behind the home back line.

Some smart Deeping play saw Henry Dunn free Flack, his pass was collected by Johnson whose progress was thwarted by a good save at his feet by Osbourne, Johnson then dribbled his way into the box, took time to place his shot but unfortunately the strike rebounded from the upright.

Home keeper Elsom was called into action, Lawless turned in the box to set up Michael Lyon whose drive was well held by the keeper.

Rangers made the breakthrough on 33 mins, Charlie Coulson fed Dan Schiavi, he delivered into the visitor’s box where Dunn controlled, took a side step before picking his spot and planting the ball inside the corner of the net.

Newport saw a couple of chance as half time approached, Lawless and Lyon combined to set up Jake Stronge whose shot for the far corner brought a good finger tip push away from Elsom, Josh Winter got the better of Flack wide to drive low for the near post only to hit the covering Coulson.

Half Time – Deeping Rangers 1 Newport Pagnell Town 0

Playing with the wind Rangers started the second period strongly, Coulson’s pass picked out Johnson on the edge of the area, his shot on the turn being just too high of the target, Mooney’s pass fed Dunn who in turn found Johnson to blast at goal where Osbourne cleared at the second attempt.

Town were given a ‘cheap free kick’ that saw their best chance, the delivery into the box saw Lawless in space and his blast crashed against the crossbar and eventually cleared by Luke Andersen.

Chances were becoming rare at either end, Mooney supplied Dunn wide, he fed Johnson to play into the path of Schiavi where a good challenge from Ryan Watkin nicked the ball away, the visitors lively Stronge fizzed a 25 yard effort to clip the top of the net as it dropped, Stronge then seized on a loose ball to do an overhead attempt that Elsom took easily.

Jarvis cut inside to deliver a pass for Johnson who saw his shot agonisingly wide.

With time almost up the visitors were close again, Ollie Wilkinson delivered a ball into the heart of the home box, Liversedge applied a touch to find Lawless whose rasp of a shot brought a fine save from the acrobatic Elsom – there was still time for the visitors as from the corner Lawless pulled a snap shot wide of the far stick.
Another good 3 points for the Clarets and the result from Rugby allowed them to close the gap to 1 point and a few goals being the second place.

Full Time – Deeping Rangers 1 Newport Pagnell Town 0

Attendance - 112

Deeping Rangers: 1. Lewis Elsom, 2. Dan Flack, 3. Luke Andersen, 4. David Burton-Jones ©, 5. Luke Hunnings, 6. Dan Jarvis, 7. Henry Dunn, 8. Charlie Coulson, 9. Scott Mooney, 10. Dan Schiavi, 11. Cameron Johnson (17. Abduramane Sani – 82)

Sub (not used): 12. Tyler Walker, 14. Michael Simpson, 15. Matt Carter, 16. Jack Fixter,

Newport Pagnell Town: 1. Mark Osbourne ©, 2. Ollie Wilkinson, 3. Scott Mulkern, 4. Liam Smyth (15. Jamie Sylvester – 86), 5. Dave Baker, 6. Ryan Watkin (12. Yaw Ofosu – 74), 7. Dom Lawless, 8. Michael Lyon, 9. Tom Liversedge, 10. Jake Stronge 11. Josh Winters

Sub (not used): 14. Jamie Burrows.

Referee: Ian Ruddock

Assistants: Connor Miles and Shaun Gray