2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (James Bedford)
A penalty from Josh Moreman earned a vital victory for Deeping Rangers on Saturday. Moreman's second half spot kick secured a 1-0 home win over play-off chasing Newark Town at the Haydon Whitham Stadium. The win leaves the Clarets four points clear of the relegation zone in the United Counties League Premier Division North with just three matches of the season remaining.
It was another industrious effort from Brett Whaley's side who are grinding out the wins at a key stage of the season. The Clarets boss commented: "I've said over the last few weeks that results are more important than performances. "It's all down to character.
We're not getting these results because we're playing great football. "We're getting them because we've become a real unit and we're working really hard for each other. "They have shown when we've really needed to dig out results that we've got characters.
" Rangers again had to defy an illness bug that has been sweeping through their squad in recent weeks to defeat a Blues side who are pushing for a top five finish. Whaley added: "It's credit to the boys because we've still got illness in the camp and we're asking boys to play when they're not fit enough to do so. "They are putting their bodies on the line and working hard when we really need them to.
"We need to aim to win the game or make sure that we don't lose it because we just need to keep topping up those points. "It was a game that looked like being 0-0 but we found a way to win it like we have been doing over the last few weeks." An even opening period saw chances in short supply for both teams with neither side making the most of any openings they created.
Newark came close to breaking the deadlock on the hour mark when Ryan Smith shaved the home crossbar with a shot. The decisive moment in the game then arrived in the 72th minute when former Deeping defender Luke Andersen was penalised for hand-ball and Moreman slotted home the resultant spot kick. The visitors then had goalkeeper Josh Wilson sin-binned for dissent for 10 minutes but Rangers were unable to add to their tally as they saw out a lengthy period of stoppage time to continue their fine home form.
Whaley added: "Our form at home is as good as most sides in the league and we've made it a real fortress in terms of teams having to come here and work very hard to get anything. "There were a few games early in the season where sides rolled up and made us look poor but we've made it much more difficult. "It's pleasing when your next two games are at home as well.
"The message is that nothing's done because the sides at the bottom keep winning. "We're not safe yet and we need a really big week for a big performance on Saturday." Deeping host bottom-of-the-table Shirebrook Town on Saturday before welcoming Harrowby United the following weekend.
Whaley added: "The next two games are absolutely massive so, if people can find a way to come and get behind the boys and help us get a couple of positive results, then we've achieved what we needed to. "Although we're not playing a style of football which is necessarily attractive, we're doing what we need to do to get results to keep this club where it needs to be." Rangers' final of the Hinchingbrooke Cup against March Town will take place on Thursday, May 8, at Yaxley FC.
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