DEEPING RANGERS 1-1 EASTWOOD CFC

Deeping Rangers.........1 (Showler 92')
Eastwood CFC...............1 (Meakin 45')

Badgers miss out on 3 points at the Haydon Whitham Stadium as the Clarets equalise to grab a point 2 minutes into added time.

Connor Wrenn went straight into the starting eleven, making his first appearance since August 2019. Under 21 Vice Captain Jack Messom was given his first start, the seventeen year old becomes the seventh youngest player to start in the Clubs history. Kyle Stovell, Lewis Scott, Bita Kiza, McKenna Parton and the returning Tyrrell Shannon-Lewis made up the bench. Ben Stokes and Kyle Wrenn were still serving bans. Ellis Chambers was on holiday and Finn Hunter was working. Harrison Eastwood isn’t quite fully fit and Jahren Barrow awaits his operation.

Visiting 'keeper Richard Dearle was the busiest in the opening exchanges, twice being called upon to protect his goal from decent efforts from tricky wingers Jake Showler and Jones De-Sousa. At the other end Kamani Wilson and Joe Harrison made sure Dan Swan in the home goal was kept alert. As the game wore on there was very little decent football to write about, both sides psyching each other out in a tense midfield battle. Showler was always Rangers 'go to' outlet and his pace and directness were causing mighty problems for the Badgers defence.

Harrison had a fine effort diverted for a corner and from the resultant kick Louis Anthony saw his header sail harmlessly over the bar. The Clarets central defensive partnership of Luke Hunnings and Robbie Ellis had to be on their toes, wary of some decent build up play from Wilson and Nat Kelly superbly driven on by Kyle Dixon (pictured above) who was beginning to take charge of the midfield battle.

Showler again turned tormenter with a run down the left and his goal bound shot was blocked by Jacob Sturgess when a goal looked odds-on. The home side did have the ball in the net when, after Will Bird's header was cleared off the line, Jack Youngblood bundled the ball under Dearle but Mr Latham had seen an infringement and the effort was quite rightly chalked off.

Seconds before the break and the go-ahead goal for the Badgers. A Dixon corner from the left zipped into the near post area. All Sam Meakin had to do was make contact and his stooping header beat Swan all ends up. The lead at the interval was just about deserved for the pressure the visitors were imposing on the Rangers defence.

Deeping woke up and began to boss the early play in the second half and Showler tested Dearle again and, in return, young Messom and Wrenn both tried their luck to which Swan was equal to. A scare for the visitors on the hour after Dearle had a rush of blood to the head and rushed off his line to poleaxe Tai Williams inches outside the box. A yellow for Dearle but the free kick came to nothing as Dan Flack's kick flew miles over. Minutes later Meakin made a superb goal line clearance from a Williams shot.

Fifteen to go and, after a booking for Sturgess for a foul on the dangerous Showler, Dixon bought out the best of Swan with a mazy run and shot. End to end now and the home side seemed hellbent on getting some reward from the contest. Equally the Eastwood back line was holding on superbly snuffing out any forward momentum from the lively Clarets forward play.

Two minutes from time and controversy. A flare up in the centre between Kelly and Flack resulting in a red card for the Badgers striker. Quite how Flack escaped punishment as well is any ones guess. He appeared just as culpable as Kelly and Clarets centre back Robbie Ellis was also lucky not to be admonished for getting unnecessarily involved.

Worse was to come for the visitors. A good 2 minutes into added time. There seemed no danger as Showler picked up a pass from Substitute Jake Walton. His shot was low and true evading both defenders and Dearle alike as the ball nestled in the corner. A body blow the to Red Badgers players who could hardly believe their bad luck so late on. Much worse could have followed on 95 - Hunnings tried his luck from distance with a firmly struck piledriver but Dearle got down swiftly and turned the ball away for a corenr before Mr Latham drew a halt to proceedings. 1-1 the final score.

Harsh on Eastwood ? Yes but football has a habit if kicking you in the teeth and so it was here. Eastwood fully deserved maximum points from tricky opponents at a tricky venue. Every Squad member contributed to a fine performance which was carried out with guts and commitment.

Joint - Gaffer Zander Shayler :~ “It was silent in the changing room after the match, today’s performance if nothing else shows how much this group of players care and the result hurt everyone today. With five regular first team player’s missing I’m proud of the team today. We dug in and were minutes away from getting what we deserved.” “We’ll take the positives and pick ourselves up for another big test against Long Eaton next week.”

I spoke with Eastwood's Captain Sturgess and he said this :~ "It didn't help going down to ten men for the last 5 or 10 minutes or so but that's another story for another day. It was backs to the wall stuff in the second half against the wind and decent opponents and I thought we were good value for all three points. I thought young Jack played well in midfield and our 'keeper Rich never let us down. He's been a breath of fresh air since he's been with us coming out and claiming everything, Loius and Wrenny were also solid at the back throughout. Both their wingers were tricky and it was testament to Meaks when the No 7 was withdrawn after 65. Onwards and upwards and we've got to keep going. We train twice a week now and are bulding something. We have a good chemistry now and we put ourselves on the line every game"

Att ~ 74

Referee ~ Stuart Latham.
Assistants ~ David Lovell and Chris Lawson.

Deeping Rangers ~ Dan Swan, Dan Flack (C) Matt Carter (Jake Walton 79') Jack Bloodworth, Luke Hunnings, Robbie Ellis, Jones De-Sousa (Luke Steel 65') Tai Williams (Jake Brown 65') Will Bird, Sam Wilson, Jake Showler.
Substitutes not used Charlie Coulson and Marcu Pancho.
Caution ~ Brown (74’ foul)

Eastwood CFC~ Richard Dearle, Jacob Sturgess (C) Louis Anthony, Connor Wrenn, Sam Meakin, Kyle Dixon, Joe Harrison, Jack Messom, Ben Henderson, Kamani Wilson (Kyle Stovell 85') Nathan Kelly.
Substitutes not used ~Lewis Scott, Tyrell Shannon-Lewis, McKenna Parton and Bita Kiza.
Dismissal ~ Kelly ('88 foul)
Cautions ~ Dearle (60' foul) Sturgess (70' foul)