Deeping Rangers draw with Wisbech Town in the United Counties League

Manager Brett Whaley was left to reflect on a missed opportunity as Deeping Rangers were held to a draw by Wisbech Town on Boxing Day.

Ex-Clarets striker Rob Conyard had given the Fenmen a first half advantage which was cancelled out five minutes later by Matt Sparrow's equaliser.

However, Whaley felt his side hadn't made the most of Wisbech being reduced to 10 men when Ethan Wilson was dismissed for the visitors before Deeping's Josh Moreman also saw red late on.

The Rangers boss said: "I think that it was a missed opportunity for us.

"It was a typical Boxing Day game on a heavy pitch and I think both sides would say that they'd want to play better football than they did.

"They have players that are dangerous at the top end of the pitch but I felt we managed that pretty well.

"I thought they were the better side early on but we were really good leading up to half-time and at the start of the second half.

"We needed to make that pay and their sending off should have seen us kick on but we actually went backwards.

"We have got to learn how to deal with situations a little bit better.

"It was never a great football match but we showed absolutely zero composure when they went down to 10 men."

Will Moxon flashed an early effort wide of the Wisbech goal before Conyard found space in the Deeping box to head home the opener after 16 minutes.

Rangers responded straight away to level as Moreman picked out Sparrow at the back post and he cut inside to curl home the equaliser.

Sparrow then came close to turning home a Moreman cross before Wisbech goalkeeper Will Lakin made a superb save from a Spencer Tinkler effort.

Lakin safely gathered a Dan Dougill header at the start of the second half before Moreman somehow saw over with the goal at his mercy from a Sparrow cross.

Wilson was then red-carded with 15 minutes remaining for a late lunge but Wisbech came closest to snatching a winner with goalkeeper Caleb Pipes-Goulsbra making a brave save at the feet of former Pinchbeck and Deeping player Elliot Foster.

Moreman collected a second caution for a foul as Wisbech looked to counter with two minutes left as Rangers were held to a second successive draw after their stalemate at Skegness the previous weekend.

Whaley added: "To be honest, Wisbech looked more likely to win the game than us towards the end and that's the disappointing thing.

"Josh's sending off came from the fact that we lost the ball when we didn't need to and he's had to make a challenge that he probably wouldn't want to.

"We've lost two out of the last eight games and that would mark on the outside looking in as an improvement but you can't miss opportunities like this."

The point took Deeping out of the bottom two on goal difference after Shirebrook conceded five times at AFC Mansfield on Saturday.

Deeping's next match is a home game with Boston Town on Saturday (3pm).