Reaction from Deeping Rangers manager Brett Whaley after his side beat March Town in the Hinchingbrooke Cup final

Manager Brett Whaley felt winning the Hinchingbrooke Cup was a brilliant way to end a tough season for Deeping Rangers.

The Clarets had been battling relegation for the majority of the campaign in the United Counties League Premier Division North.

They secured their safety in the penultimate match of the season before ending the campaign on a high with victory in their cup final over March Town last Tuesday night.

Late goals from Luke Hunnings and Enoch Opayinka secured the win in front of a crowd of more than 600 at Yaxley with Whaley full of praise for the Deeping support during a difficult campaign.

He said: "The amount of people at the game and the interest shown beforehand all deserve it.

"There were times this season where we were poor and right in a mess but the supporters stayed with us.

"They didn't get on our backs and their numbers increased when we really needed them to.

"When you're in a game where you're under pressure for most parts of it and you can hear them backing you, we really wanted to give them and the club something because it's been a tough season and it's been a brilliant way to finish it.

"It felt amazing at the end."

Rangers had to withstand a lot of pressure from their United Counties League Premier Division South opponents.

The Hares had enjoyed a good season by reaching the play-offs and winning the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup.

They dominated large periods of the game on the 3G surface but Rangers' resilience again came to the fore.

Whaley added: "I have to give March a lot of credit because I felt they were excellent.

"We had to work really hard to stay with them. They've had a brilliant season and you can see why because they're such a good side.

"They played really well and moved us around but, as I've said for the past few weeks, we've become really solid defensively.

"It's easier to do that on a pitch with a few bobbles but, on a 3G, it means you have to work.

"We didn't get to grips with them in the first half or get close to them but managed to keep them out.

"We made a little change in the second half which got us a bit more up the pitch and it was a proper counter-attacking performance."

Hunnings headed Deeping in front in the 89th minute before Opayinka sealed their success in injury-time.

It capped a strong finish to the season for Deeping who lost just twice in their final eight league and cup games.

Whaley commented: "I've said a number of times that confidence had been an issue earlier on in the season but we've stayed in games and, if you do that, you just hope that chance will come.

"I think everybody that was at the final would see that 2-0 wasn't a fair reflection of the game but I've got to see it from our point of view.

"Over the last few months, we've dug out some results when we've really needed to.

"We were on one point after the first quarter of the season so to dig ourselves out of it showed we had the character.

"We needed the character against a good footballing side where we've had to stay in a game and you can't fault our work-rate or effort.

"We could have been better at the top end of the pitch in terms of keeping the ball and that's not a criticism but it's us as a team.

"I think it was a result where if you work hard, stay in the game and don't give clear-cut chances away, you just hope that you get yours and I'm delighted for the football club."

Former Spalding boss Whaley took charge of Deeping in September following the departure of Johnny Alflatt.