Lack of cutting edge sees Deeping Rangers draw
Deeping Rangers had to make do with just one point on Saturday after they were held to a 0-0 draw against Harborough Town at home in the UCL Premier Division.
The game started in a heavy downpour with the home side setting the early pace, Jezz Goldson-Williams did well down the right to cross to the far post for the arriving Fraser Sturgess who was beaten to the ball by defender Joel Konteh.
Goldson-Williams drove a shot from an acute angle that forced visiting keeper Glen Giles to react smartly to tip over.
The Bees started to find their feet, Harry May got the better of Tom Smith to whip in a cross that had Jack Cotton at full stretch to cut out, May’s corner was met by Ben Williams who headed wide and Joe Baldwin hit a skidding shot that home keeper Danny Bircham watched fly past the post.
Deeping’s best chances fell to Scott Coupland – he collected from Goldson-Williams rounded Giles and shot, only to see the ball cleared from the goal line by Williams, he was then sent free down the left side by a Luke Avis’ pass and tried a chip over the advancing Giles with the ball also beating the bar to find the top of the net.
Town’s Joe French crossed for May to leap and head but he was off target as well.
Rangers’ Smith exchanged passes with Coupland to get to the goal-line but he could not get his cross over.
It was the away side who started the better for the second half and home custodian Bircham produced a fine flying finger tip save to tip away Barnes Gladman’s shot on the turn.
The game descended into defence domination as both teams failed to create goal scoring opportunities.
Harborough had a series of corners as they pressurised the home side while at the other end Goldson-Williams sent a cross field ball that found Sturgess who was in space but his cross was poor and was dealt with by Williams.
The Bees’ Jordan Crawford twisted on the edge of the box and shot to see the ball deflect off Luke Hunnings to loop over Bircham and the bar.
Sturgess’ clever flick released Smith who delivered for Scott Mooney to get a touch that was wide of the post, Smith was free to cross where Town’s Callum Milne headed into the path of Avis whose effort was straight at Giles.
A swift Bees break saw Crawford hit a cross-field ball to find Gladman who in turn released May to cross dangerously but Cotton was on hand to clear the ball.
Rangers’ last opportunity came as David Burton-Jones thrust forward to release a ball towards Coupland but for the interception of Williams’ long leg.
The draw did move Deeping one place up the UCL Premier Division table to 8th in the standings, with a couple games in hand still to play on most of the teams above them.
Deeping Rangers: Danny Bircham,, Dan Flack, Tom Smith, David Burton-Jones, Jack Cotton, Luke Hunnings, Jezz Goldson-Williams (Jason Kilbride), Luke Avis, Scott Mooney, Scott Coupland, Fraser Sturgess.
Harborough Town: Glen Giles, Joel Konteh, Michael Duroe, Joe Baldwin, Ben Williams, Callum Milne, Harry May, Jack Burrows, Barnes Gladman, Jordan Crawford, Joe French (Dino Tuksar).
Referee: Kevin Saunby
Attendance: 110
