Deeping Rangers are ready for the start of the new United Counties League season

Deeping Rangers boss Johnny Alflatt is determined to lead the club to the promised land of the play-offs as he takes charge of his first full season at Outgang Road.

Alflatt took over in the dugout from Luke Hipwell and Scott Bogusz in March and was just unable to guide the Clarets to a top-six finish in the United Counties League Premier Division North.

Deeping were six points outside the play-off places with eight matches remaining when Alflatt took the job last season and eventually finished the campaign in ninth.

And the former Swaffham boss wants to go at least three places better this term after just falling short at the business end of last season.

"I don't like mediocrity and we want to win," he said.

"Let's go and have a go and try to get into the play-offs. There's no better feeling than when everyone else's season has ended and yours is still going.

"The tough thing now is that there's 20 players that all think that they should be in the starting 11.

"You need a good squad with strength in depth. That's what let us down last year when we got a couple of injuries and we went down to just 12 or 13 players."

Alflatt feels he has assembled a squad containing a good blend of youth and experience going into the new season.

The Clarets have lost the services of John Paul Duncliffe (retired) and Joe Cole to bigger and better things at Peterborough Sports in the National League North but have recruited well.

Experienced frontman Sam Mulready has arrived at the club along with several promising youngsters, including goalkeeper Tyler Key on loan from King's Lynn Town Academy.

Key is likely to get an early chance between the posts at Kimberley Miners Welfare this weekend with experienced custodian Michael Duggan currently sidelined with injury.

Assessing his squad, Alflatt said “Sam has scored goals everywhere he’s been and I’m over the moon to get him on board. It’s no secret that we needed to add goals and Mullers will do that.

"He's looked sharp in pre-season and the lads love him in the dressing room.

"I felt that we needed to add some youth to the mix, so we've done that with Will Barnes, Jordan Oldham, Ben Smith and Tyler Key.

"I think they're all the very top of the young ones that are coming through.

"We've picked the cream as you've got to be careful in the UCL as it's a big tough league, so we needed the right ones."

Thankfully for Clarets fans, the Deeping boss has been able to keep the core of last year's squad and Alflatt admits that is down to the club as a whole.

He added: "We've got good and experienced players and there's been people coming in for them. They don't know me that well so that's a testament to Deeping as it's a good club in general.

"You look in from the bottom to the top, the chairman does everything brilliantly and the committee is perfect.

"The set-up is brilliant, the pitch is very good and nothing is ever a problem for them. That's the reason why we can sign good players."

Deeping lifted the South Kesteven Charity Cup after victory over Harrowby United on Saturday.

The Clarets were 2-0 winners over their new United Counties League Premier Division North rivals Harrowby United in the final at Grantham Town.

Alflatt's side had defeated the Gingerbreads last weekend in their semi-final clash and backed that up with victory over the Arrows on Saturday.

They had looked the more threatening side in the opening exchanges with Elliot Foster and Ryan Lennon both testing Harrowby goalkeeper Jake Frestle with shots.

The deadlock was then broken just past the half-hour mark when Dan Dougill headed home the opening goal from a Foster corner.

Dougill came close to doubling the lead in identical fashion just before the break when he headed wide from another Foster setpiece.

Clarets custodian Tyler Key had to be alert to avert any danger from an early Harrowby raid in the second half when Frestle saved well at the other end to deny Lennon.

Rangers introduced Jonny Lockie with 10 minutes remaining and he made an immediate impact to wrap up the win.

New signing Ben Smith crossed from the left and Lockie headed home the match-clinching second goal with five minutes remaining.

Deeping complete their pre-season programme with a home friendly against Boston United Under 23s tonight (Wednesday).