PREVIEW: Deeping Rangers (A)

Venue: The Haydon Whitham Stadium, Outgang Road, Market Deeping PE6 8LQ
Date & Time: 21st of March 2023 (KO 19:45)

Melton Town’s Form:

Melton’s inconsistent 2023 continued on Saturday as the Reds returned to winning ways with a 4-0 hammering of Eastwood. Prior to that Melton had been 3-0 down to Boston Town when that match was abandoned, with that match on the heals of a 2-1 defeat at Sleaford Town. The two matches before those saw wins at home to Heanor Town (4-1) and away to Newark & Sherwood United (3-2).

The rest of 2023 had seen a win (3-2 at home to Pinchbeck), followed by a loss (3-2 away to Wisbech Town) before another win (2-0 away to Selston) and another loss (1-0 away to Skegness). In all, away from Sign Right Park, Melton have won seven and lost six, with a goal difference of plus three.

Deeping Rangers’ Form:

Rangers are unbeaten in five matches, dating back to an 11-0 humiliation at the hands of Loughborough Students at the end of February. Their two most recent results were both victories in which they kept clean sheets, 2-0 away to Heanor Town on Saturday and 5-0 at home to AFC Mansfield last Tuesday. The three matches prior to that were all draws, 1-1 away to Newark & Sherwood United, 1-1 at home to Sleaford Town and 2-2 at home to Quorn.

Deeping currently sit 11th in the table with 43 points, almost two thirds of which have come at home. At the Haydon Whitham Stadium Rangers have won eight, drawn four and lost just twice, with an impressive goal difference of plus 26.

One to Watch:

Without doubt, one of the in-form forwards in the UCL is William Bird. Scoring in each of his previous four matches, Bird has scored five times in that streak. In all the prolific centre forward has scored 30 times in 29 appearances this season. Bird didn’t play in the defeat at Sign Right Park earlier this season.

Last Meeting:

Straight from the kick off Town were on the front foot and a first minute corner found Pat Fini who beat Aaron Eyett on the byline and passed to Tom Wakley whose first time shot found the keeper. The visitors’ first chance came in the seventh minute when a corner found Dave Burton-Jones free, only for his header to be easily saved by debutant Dan Jinadu.

The game was fast paced with a lot of good quality but lacked any clear cut chances except for a 25 yard shot from Toby Fura which needed Dan George to be at full stretch to touch the ball around the post. On the half hour Rangers should have taken the lead after a melee in the corner saw the ball come out to Ben Seymour-Shove, who fired in a powerful shot from a tight angle, bringing about a great save from Jinadu.

Fura had another effort from 25 yards needing a finger-tip save. 37th minute and a great move by Melton where Henry Eze picked out Paul Anderson and he touched the ball onto Ryan Calver, his low shot went a whisker past the far post. Right on the stroke of half time, Rangers’ counter-attack saw some desperate defending finishing with a Luke Steele volley that had Eze having to head the ball off the line.

The ball went straight up the other end and a Fura corner was met by the head of Sam Beaver giving the keeper no chance, scoring with the last touch of the half. The second period started with an end to end battle before the match was turned on its head in the 54th minute. A ball over the top of the Melton defence saw Seymour-Shove clean through on goal. Jinadu came racing out and unfortunately used his hands just outside the box to prevent a goal. He was shown the red card and, as Melton had no reserve keeper on the bench, passed the gloves onto Ryan Calver.

Calver’s first touch of the ball was to pick it out of the net as Seymour-Shove’s resultant free kick gave the midfielder no chance. Melton were left defending the point before a rare attack had Wakley using his pace down the right to beat Eyett. Top-scorer Wakley picked out Anderson in the box who sweetly fired into the corner of the net.

Melton spent most of the remaining 25 minutes putting their bodies on the line to prevent an equaliser, which they did with tremendous effort.

Report by Sam Ellis

Prices: Adults £7.00, Concessions £5.00