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Deeping United drop first points of the Peterborough League Division Four campaign




Deeping United saw their 100 per cent start to the new Peterborough League season ended after a 1-1 home draw with Netherton's A team on Saturday.

It was the first time this season - and only the third game in the past two campaigns - where none of United's prolific strike force of Steve Jucikas, Ryan Ellwood and Nathan Smith were on the scoresheet.

Co-boss Ian Abbott felt a lack of creativity from his side stalled the front three and was also full of praise for fifth-placed Netherton.

Matty Kent was United's man of the match against Netherton A. (42871015)
Matty Kent was United's man of the match against Netherton A. (42871015)

Teenager Harvey Henderson was particularly impressive on his first start of the season for the Peterborough side against the Deeping club where he also plays his youth football.

Henderson has captained United's Under 18s side in Division One of the Peterborough Youth League this season and also plays for a Netherton team which competes in the Nerf Junior Premier League.

Abbott said: "You have to give Netherton plenty of credit because their back four played really well and they made it hard for us.

"Harvey was fantastic at centre-half. He won everything in the air and you couldn't fault his performance.

"It was just one of those days for us. Our main problem was that the quality of the final ball in the final third wasn't good enough which cost us.

"We know that we have very direct and fast strikers, but every pass forward to them was too hard."

Ryan Ellwood came close to a late winner. (42871017)
Ryan Ellwood came close to a late winner. (42871017)

United fall behind in the opening 10 minutes of the Division Four contest when the experienced Ben Daly was allowed time and space on the edge of the box to drill home the first goal.

The visitors - who had the strong wind in their favour in the first period - then came close to increasing their advantage.

They saw one effort hit the upright while United goalkeeper Nick Merryweather made a crucial save to ensure the half-time deficit remained at just one goal.

The hosts then suffered a further setback five minutes into the second period when Lewis Bradley collected his second booking to leave United to play with 10 men for 40 minutes.

United changed their formation by switching to a back three which improved their fortunes despite the dismissal.

They got back on level terms midway through the second half when Matt Gunns won possession and shrugged off his marker before rifling home a fine finish into the bottom corner of the Netherton net.

The 10 men of United then came close to snatching a last-gasp winner when Ellwood was brought down on the edge of the box after weaving past a couple of challenges.

Chris Hall made a winning start as reserve team boss. (42871019)
Chris Hall made a winning start as reserve team boss. (42871019)

However, he hit the injury-time free-kick narrowly past the post as United dropped their first points of the campaign.

Abbott added: "We were 1-0 down and up against it with 10 men so we managed not to lose the game which shows how hard we tried. I couldn't fault our work-rate."

Recently-appointed reserve team boss Chris Hall made a winning start to his management tenure as United's second string stormed a 6-2 away success at Holbeach Bank in Saturday's Division Five clash.

Liam Reeve gave United the lead inside the opening minute with Lewis Challis adding their second 10 minutes before the break.

Ryan Howard halved the deficit for Holbeach four minutes later from the penalty spot before Aidan Armstrong levelled the contest early in the second half.

However, four goals in the final seven minutes of the match secured the success as United finished with a flourish.

Scott Stojanovic put them back in front before Arron Raven netted twice in four minutes with Jody Clark completing the scoring in the last minute.



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