It’s a trip East again this Saturday as we visit Peterborough based Deeping Rangers. Deeping who go into the game winless in eight in the league, having only won two from fourteen this season with both victories coming via penalty shootout successes. In contrast to last season Rangers were eleven points better off at the same stage but have severely struggled at home winless in 10 at the Haydon Whitham Stadium a drought stretching back February.

The Red Badgers on the flip side are in fine form with no one in the league having scored more or conceded less than Eastwood this season, Saturday’s win over Lincoln made it three straight wins and seven unbeaten. Alex Troke scored the only goal in that game and the strike was his 9th of the campaign, meaning Troke, Tyler Blake and Aaron O’Connor all individually have netted more goals than Deeping this season. Ball & Thomas are fully aware that a win on Saturday could lift ECFC to the top of the table ahead of a very tough October with a minimum of seven games set to be played.

Player Watch: Forward Joshua Moreman has averaged a goal every other game which includes strikes against Loughborough Students and Melton Town.

Previous Meetings: Battles with Deeping Rangers go all the way back to 2019 when Rangers dumped a step 6 Eastwood out of the FA Vase in the 4th Round. Since then it has been two stalemates and three defeats for the Red Badgers. In last seasons visit to Market Deeping, a first half strike from Kyle Tomlin and second half goal from Tyler Blake rescued a point as the Red Badgers found themselves trailing twice before walking away with a 2-2 draw. The fixture has also seen two red cards for Eastwood with Nathan Kelly and Jamie Williamson both being given their marching orders within the last seven meetings.

Squad Update: Craig Westcarr underwent four stitches to his head on Saturday evening and has been ruled out for a minimum of two weeks. Oliver Robinson is away but Lavell White is back, Ricky Starbuck could be named in the sixteen for the first time since August 10th. Riece Bertram is out as he continues to struggle with an ongoing Achilles problem, Daniel Elliott is back in training but not included this weekend. Finnley Commons is set to return to the squad after being rested last weekend, Academy captain Alfie Flynn could debut, whilst Donte McMannamon-Fuller will make it back to back squad inclusions for the first time since early August after impressing for the Under 21’s earlier this week.

Saturday 28th September 2024
United Counties Football League Premier North
Deeping Rangers vs Eastwood CFC
3pm Kick Off
THE HAYDON WHITHAM STADIUM, TOWNGATE EAST, MARKET DEEPING, PETERBOROUGH, Lincolnshire PE6 8LQ

#RedBadgers