Deeping Rangers beat Heanor Town in the United Counties League

Deeping Rangers ended a run of three successive United Counties League losses with a home victory over Heanor Town on Saturday.

The Clarets ran out 3-0 winners in the Premier Division North clash at the Haydon Whitham Stadium after a solid all-round performance.

Jacob Goodley put Deeping ahead in first half stoppage time before goals after the break from Ryan Cook and Harrison Dee sealed a vital victory.

Boss Brett Whaley said: "We had a long chat before the game because we had been concerned about a couple of half performances.

"We were very poor in the first half at Newark last Wednesday night and against Kimberley in the second half a fortnight ago.

"You just can't get away with that in this league because you need to be right from minute one right until the final whistle.

"We hadn't done that but we felt we did on Saturday. We really needed a result because you don't want to go on a bad run.

"The league is so tight and, if you lose a couple of games, you find yourself sliding down the league pretty quickly or, if you win a couple, you go the other way.

"We knew it was a big game against a side in a sticky spell so we had to take advantage of that."

Home goalkeeper Aaron Butcher made an excellent early save to keep the scores level as both sides created chances in an opening first half.

It looked like ending goalless until Cook and Harvey Thorne linked up well to find Goodley who curled home his finish from the edge of the penalty area.

Cook went close to doubling the advantage after the break before applying a calm finish on the hour mark to put Rangers into a two-goal lead.

Dee then netted his second goal in as many games to move Rangers up a couple of places into 11th spot in the league table.

Whaley added: "We started well and the goal just before half-time was critical in the game.

"We were the better side at that stage. We hadn't taken our chances and didn't want to go into half-time having let them off the hook.

"We got better in the second half and we were excellent. It was a massive three points, particularly at home, where our support is brilliant.

"I was really pleased that we put in a performance and, as a group, we just need to learn that you can't be off it for 10 or 15 minutes in this league because you get punished."

Deeping's next league match is a derby date at Blackstones on Saturday.