FLASHBACK: PRE-SEASON 2010... DEEPING RANGERS 1-2 STAMFORD...

In Too Deeping

Foreboding descended upon me as I headed for Deeping St James, for I was approaching Geddington, which should be renamed Dreadington, where I was caught speeding at the Formula 1 clocking of 34 miles per hour, two seasons ago, en route to watch Stamford lose to Rushall. My satnav had failed to heed the dangers there and when I was allowed to attend a course, instead of accruing three points on my driver’s licence, at Northamptonshire’s Cricket Ground, almost a third of the victims had been filmed ‘speeding’ through Geddington, including one resident! I was careful. I hope I avoided another flash photograph…

CLARET & BLUE.
ASTON VILLA: OH, DEAR...

Through Stamford I drove, on to Deeping Rangers’ ground, where parking was well organised but I failed to communicate with the turnstile-operator. The elderly chap there struggled and when I ascertained that no programme had been printed and I enquired whether I might acquire the day’s team lists, he told me, I think, to ask a ‘bald-headed’ fellow, who was warming up on the pitch. I simply said that it was fine and not to worry but the old lad bellowed like an alarmed cow at the player concerned, the assistant manager, I believe. I was cringing but the player was totally accommodating, took my pen and notebook, asked his team-mates which numbers they might be wearing and we chatted about Truro. As you do…He said that he had played with Glynn Hooper in the past and I joked that he was taking a breather from the warm-up because he was knackered and the players seemed suitably amused… 

KIND MAN WRITES THE TEAM LIST FOR ME...

STILL STRETCHING...

HMM...

 I liked the set-up at Deeping, with a cricket match progressing nearby and I met Dan Holyoak, who had apparently seen time at Exeter but was currently a Deeping player and recovering from injury. I spotted a shocking blister on one of his heels. This was not his injury: he was apparently welding at work and a spillage caused the damage! Nice. As usual, a Groundhopper befriended me, who hailed from Horsham. As people do.

NET VIEW...

WARM-UP...

DUGOUTS & SHELTERS...

He had been asking a young photographer, also unable to communicate with any clarity, which camera would bring better results than the one he carried and of course I was nearby and he stayed to talk at me… He had taken in this game against Stamford, who won 2-1, incidentally, en route home from ‘The North’, where he had seen some cricket and a pre-season football match but had chosen Deeping instead of Chesterfield v Derby, played to mark the opening of The Spireites’ new stadium. Badly done, Groundhopper. Derby won that game 5-4… 

SCARY...

Stamford Stamp Authority Over Plucky Rivals

Deeping Rangers 1 Stamford 2

Pre-season Friendly. Att: quite a few…

SMART VIEW...

Early Deeping resolve was eclipsed by Stamford’s unlikely first goal; the job became more difficult just on half-time, following a free-kick goal by a more effective troop of Daniels but as the game entered its latter stages, Rangers pushed forward with some aplomb and would maybe consider themselves unfortunate not to have regained parity. True, Stamford fielded the experienced Battersby in attack, alongside the speedy, arms-pumping-like-windmill-sails Sheridan but the visiting midfield looked more fluid after the opening period, to be honest.

McCormack’s early free-kick for Deeping from the right had glanced off the falling Middleton’s head and bounced off the outside of the far upright and somehow, defender Marlow’s downward header at the same far post had ricocheted off the summer surface and over the goal-frame, following Porter’s corner. Griffiths had shot too hurriedly from a decent position, 18 yards out, after neat play by Stevenson and McCormack but although Stamford’s only threat had come from a Cotton centre and subsequent challenges on ‘keeper Crockett by the two Daniels strikers, it was full-back McCormack’s lack of pace, which led to the opening goal. 

Deeping were dispossessed in midfield, Sheridan flicked the ball through the high defence in the inside-right channel and midfielder Cotton broke past the covering McCormack, outpacing him and clipping a shot past the advancing goalie’s head into the net from 17 yards or so. 

McCormack redeemed himself by hacking the ball off his goal-line, after a weak Chamberlain header had somehow evaded Crockett and after Porter’s free-kick was challenged for by Marlow and visiting ‘keeper Wright had managed to hook the ball away in a melee, Marlow’s clearance in defence fell to Sheridan and his rather untidy hooked effort drifted past the stranded Crockett and the right post from 19 yards. Hussey was a little casual in defence and lost possession but Cotton drove wide from 24 yards and just before Stamford netted the demoralising second goal, McCormack played a one-two with Stevenson and fired a curling left-footer, which, despite Wright’s leap, bounced just past the left stick.

Beeson, who was working hard in midfield for the Daniels, stood alongside the left-footed King at a 19 yard free-kick, right of centre but Beeson’s right foot curled a smart shot round a defensive wall and just inside the unsighted Crockett’s left upright and it only remained for home forward Turner to be injured from a challenge by Chamberlain, as the half ended.

After the break, Stamford looked stronger but Sheridan appeared to waste a decent opportunity, after holding off defenders on the right then firing wildly across the goalmouth and Marlow was forced to defend strongly, conceding a corner, when Battersby fed Beeson at 17 yards. Bettinson, who had battled with little success in Deeping’s attack, although new strike partner Goodliffe had enlivened matters for the Rangers, was sin-binned along with Beeson for ten minutes and during this period, Watson’s awkward header nearly scored for Stamford then substitute Mowbay drove the ball towards Cotton on the left and his curling effort struck the face of the crossbar, before Mowbray smashed the inviting rebound too high.

Bettinson returned, won the ball, fed it back to left-back Porter, who clipped a neat pass forward for Goodliffe; he turned well,  beat the offside trap, crossed low from near the bye-line and Bettinson was there, sliding in to blast his effort high into the net from 7 yards. Deeping began to dominate then but failed to trouble Wright, only a 22 yard curling shot by Griffiths causing any consternation, an effort which drifted wide. Sheridan had broken the hosts’ pressure once but was offside anyway when replacement Walton fed him for a simple chance, although the striker muffed the opportunity anyway.

Plenty of positive pointers for the Rangers, although Stevenson needed to be more involved, for his late movement was tricky and the Daniels struggled with that. Bettinson might score goals during the season but Goodliffe’s efforts were laudable, despite his ‘youthful’ looks and size. Musgrove showed some neat touches on the left and defender Marlow was solid, along with Porter but Stamford appeared stronger physically, after taking a while to settle and the knowledge of Battersby was always going to be crucial. The Daniels’ midfield was mobile and the defence fairly settled, mainly. The sin-bin idea was welcome! Neither player, or coaches were impressed but plaudits go to a sensible official, I reckon! 

THE TEAMS PREPARE TO SHAKE HANDS...