The romance of the FA Cup continues for United Counties Premier League side Deeping Rangers as they took advantage of the conditions to dump higher level Wroxham out in the Preliminary round, writes Adrian Gowling. A game affected by a strong wind running from one end of the pitch to the other meant that this game was always going to be a scrappy affair. Two goals from Scott Mooney were enough to cancel out Jordan Rocastle’s first goal of the season for the Yachtsmen.

In a side that saw 2 changes to the midweek defeat at Dereham due to non-availability, Damian Hilton’s side were out muscled by a team playing against his higher league opposition.

The game started with Wroxham playing into the wind and the first opportunity fell to the Yachtsmen. A Payton Swatman free-kick was punched away by Stainsby in the Deeping goal but it came back into the area with Burton-Jones just managing to clear it from under his own crossbar for a Wroxham corner.

Deeping then threatened as the long ball over the top was chased by their attackers. One ball saw Schiavi take it past Elliot Pride but he was unable to get his shot away.

With former Wroxham defender Jack Marsden playing central defence for Rangers, Wroxham were unable to create many opportunities.

In the 41st minute, Deeping took the lead. Schiavi played a lovely through-ball to Scott Mooney who shot first time slotting the ball into the far corner of the Wroxham net. On 43 minutes, the lively Schiavi who was getting on the ball at every opportunity was cautioned by the referee for simulation whilst trying to go through on goal.

As the half came to a close, Scott Coupland combined with Mooney but failed to get his shot away as Elliot Pride came out to block on the edge of the area.

Wroxham came out in the second half with the wind at their backs and tried to take advantage. Elliot Pride was playing the ball out from the back towards the wings and it was one of these that Wroxham equalized. Payton Swatman and Robbie-Lee Sweeney combined well from a Pride kick and it led to a Wroxham corner. Swatman played it in to the near post and Rocastle was on hand to bundle the ball home for Wroxham.

Wroxham were starting to play the ball around a bit as they tried to gain a second but it was from one of their attacks that Deeping broke and scored their second goal. Deeping broke up the Wroxham attack and played a long ball over the Yachtsmen defence which had pushed up. There was a questionable decision about how Coupland brought the ball under control but he managed to get away from the defender. His cross from the right towards the edge of the Wroxham penalty area where Mooney was and able to strike the ball past Pride and into the Wroxham net to make it 2-1.

Damian Hilton tried to gain a second equalizer and introduced Ben Fowkes, Aarron Taylor and Sam Harty whilst pushing Ben Lewis into attack. It was Deeping though that looked the more likely to add to the score. Elliot Pride making a number of saves to keep the score down including one wonder save as he got down low to push the ball away from on the goal-line as Coupland thought he’d scored.

As the game drew to a conclusion, there were a number of incidents which referee Ashley List only just managed to keep control of. Deeping’s Dan Flack being booked for a nasty foul and Luke Hunnings pushing and shoving in the Wroxham area being two of note.
Deeping now progress to the next round of the cup where they will entertain Gresley on the 3rd September meanwhile Wroxham manager Damian Hilton will now need to pick up his side as they travel to Thurrock next weekend in search of their first points of the season.

Deeping Rangers: Richard Stainsby, Dan Flack, Tom Smith, David Burton-Jones, Luke Hunnings, Jack Marsden, Luke Avis, Charlie Coulson, Scott Mooney, Scott Coupland, Dan Schiavi. Subs: Will Bird, Henry Dunn, Jason Kilbride, Callum Madigan, Ben Lewis, Danny Bircham

Wroxham: Elliot Pride, Steve Taylor, Jackson Ramm, Payton Swatman, Ben Lewis, Ollie Ebbage, Jack Garrod, Jack Guyton (Harty 63), Jordan Rocastle (Fowkes 70), Robbie-Lee Sweeney (Taylor 73), Kyle Baker. Subs: Aarron Taylor, Ben Fowkes, Sam Harty

Ref: Ashley List

Attend: 85