Late strike not enough for Rangers to take opening day win

The 205 fans who attened this opening day fixture will have gone away entertained but the majority frustrated after Deeping twice lost a lead in this one.

The opening exchanges were cagey are reflected the bedding in needed at this stage of the season.

The match was being played in the middle third of the park until just after the half hour when Callum Davies jinked back into the inside left channel just inside the area before placing his shot in the top corner.

A brilliant goal to open his competitive campaign for Deeping following that summer move from Holbeach.

With a strong wind at their backs, the visitors were starting to gain an advantage in the battle for territory and were level from a long throw soon after.

Aaron Butchers punch didn't get massive distance in the breeze and bobbled up for a bicycle kick which crept into his bottom right hand corner.

Rangers found themselves keen to get to half time without further damage and held out despite injury time taking that period to over 50 minutes.

Heanor started the second half with the momentum (especially as the strong wind started to drop). It was still Deeping who had the more clear cut openings with Matt Sparrow flashing an effort across the face of goal as we searched for a winner.

As regulation time drew to its close, that winner looked like it had arrived when David Burton-Jones lashed home from the centre of the area after a couple of stabs at the bouncing ball.

But that wasn't tne end of the drama when a late cross into the Deeping area was judged to have been handled by Harvey Henderson as he fell under a challenge.

There was no mistake from the spot and it finished 2-2 with both sides probably happy not to lose it, but frustrated not to have won it.

The officlal Rangers man of the match was Callum Davies.