Goldson-Williams hat-trick gives Deeping Rangers victory
Deeping Rangers striker Jezz Goldson-Wimmiams was on the mark three times on Saturday to earn his side a 3-1 win at Long Buckby AFC and notch his second hat-trick for the UCL Premier Division outfit since making the short move from Bourne Town.
The hosts started well and had the chance to take the lead but were unable to capitalise. Both sides were unable to break the deadlock before the break despite some gilt edge opportunities.
Deeping’s Jordan Avis had a shot blocked and Goldson-Williams deliver a precision cross for Tom Smith to strike, but his volley sailed over the bar.
Midway through the first half both sides went down to 10 men when Long Buckby striker Justin McKenzie and visiting defender Spencer Tinkler were both shown red cards for an incident off the ball.
But the cards did not harm the game, in fact if anything they bought it to life with more space now availably for both sides.
Shortly before the change of ends the distance shooting of Ben Lewis almost got Rangers off the mark but Deeping keeper Danny Bircham was called into action to save an Ed Kostiuk free kick and then Nkosi Nduna-Ndlovu beat the Rangers keeper to a Nathan Liburd through ball but he failed to find the target with his shot with the goal begging.
After the break Bircham again was called into action to keep his side in the tie, somehow stopping a header from Ryan Merrey at close range.
But the goalkeeper’s hard work paid off because shortly after Goldson-Williams got the first of his triple, beating two men before striking the ball pass Long Buckby keeper Oliver Manuel.
Goldson-Williams could of had more goals after he only just shot wide from a through ball by Arvis which sliced the home defence over but he made no mistakes just minutes later when the two attackers linked up again to create the former Wakes striker’s second goal.
The homes side were still a threat and again Bircham was required to pull off a fingertip save to deny Mzungwana.
With ten minutes left to play Deeping put some polish on the result with Goldson-Williams finishing a Smith cross on 80 minutes for his third.
However Long Buckby had the final say with a nice volley from Elliot Herbert a minute from the end of regular time.
Long Buckby: Oliver Manuel, Dan Mullarkey (Ben Wilson), Ashley Knights, Nathan Liburd, Elliott Herbert, Michael Yeates, Nkosi Mzungwana, Ryan Merrey (Chris Gilligan), Justin McKenzie, Ed Kostiuk (Amadeus Clements), Muzi Nduna-Ndlovu.
Deeping: Danny Bircham, Dan Flack, Tom Smith, Spencer Tinkler, Tom Palmer, David Burton-Jones, Ben Lewis, Charlie Coulson (Matt Carter), Jamie Graham (Mohammed Hamid), Jezz Goldson-Williams, Jordan Avis.