Deeping Rangers host Quorn in the United Counties League Premier Division North

The run of tough fixtures continues for Deeping Rangers as they host county rivals Sleaford Town on Tuesday night.

The Clarets entertain fourth-placed Sleaford at the Haydon Whitham having faced two of the top three teams in the United Counties League Premier Division North in their last two outings.

Rangers responded to their 11-goal mauling last midweek at table-topping Loughborough Students by picking up a solid point in a 2-2 home draw with high-flying Quorn on Saturday.

Goals from Josh Sennett and Kyle Onyon had given the Clarets a two-goal lead before Paddy Webb struck twice to earn third-placed Quorn a point.

Joint boss Luke Hipwell said: “After Tuesday’s performance, a draw was a great result and I was really proud of the players afterwards and how they reacted.

“It was what we were looking for because we won’t be saying too much about Tuesday as we’ll keep that in-house.

“We’ve still got a cup final and a semi-final to play for and we showed on Saturday that we can match it with the best in the league.

“Quorn have been on an absolute roll but we picked ourselves up and will continue to work hard and, if we show the same commitment and endeavour towards each other in the group, then we’ll be fine this season.”

Webb had seen an early header saved well by Dan George in the Deeping goal before the hosts took the lead after 17 minutes when Sennett struck home a superb free-kick.

The lead was then doubled four minutes later as Onyon capitalised on a defensive error to score his first goal in Clarets colours.

Matt Sparrow could have added a third after another defensive mix-up but was denied by a fine save from Ben Whiting in the Quorn goal.

The visitors finished the half the stronger and, after Stephen Hart and Webb had gone close, they cut the deficit six minutes before the break through Webb’s first of the afternoon as he latched onto a through ball before slotting home past George.

Josh Moreman brought a good save out of Whiting after the break before Quorn equalised after 68 minutes when Webb fired home a fine finish into the bottom corner from outside the area.

Quorn finished the game the stronger of the two teams but were unable to find a winner as Rangers held out.

Hipwell added: “I thought we scored two brilliant goals and the boys applied the game-plan. It’s about five percent of us and 95 percent of what they do.

“They listened to the five percent and went and implemented it. We could have been three or four up and then we stuck to the task and really defended like men in the second half.

“It will be another tough fixture on Tuesday and the games are coming thick and fast but we’ll be ready and this gives us a positive to take into the game.”

Rangers: George, Flack, Henderson, Tinkler, Withers, Watson, Sparrow, Dougill, Onyon (Fieldhouse), Moreman (Seymour-Shove), Sennett. Subs not used: Moxon, Bogusz.

Attendance: 130.