Netherton United stormed to the top of the league with an emphatic win away from home against Deeping Rangers. In conditions not really suitable for football the city side played some lovely stuff at times, showing they are just as capable of playing football with style away from home, as well as, when they are on 3G at home.

Netherton were missing some big names including captain Ash Jackson, Karl Gibbs, James McDonough, Callum Madigan and Robbie Ellis. Netherton Utd manager Jon Harrison still had the luxury of leaving star defender Chris Hansford, top scorer Zack Fisher as well as party boy Louis Heming on the bench.

It took a good fifteen minutes for the away side to settle and get used to the windy conditions before taking control of the game.

The opening goal came from Ondre Odain who got on the end of a Fountain cross to take the lead. He grabbed his second minutes later in similar fashion. Tricky teenager Kyrie Forster somehow beat a defender on the by line, before picking out Odain to finish.

Netherton dominated the rest of the first half and created more clear cut chances however they were wasted by Mark Baines and Tommy Randall. Netherton went in at half time ahead despite carrying the lacklustre Fountain,Randall and Mastin.

Half Time Deeping Rangers FC (Reserves) 0 - Netherton 2

The first 20 minutes of the second half was a joy to watch. The city side passed and moved the ball with great confidence; the home side were chasing shadows and were bewildered.

It was only a matter of time before the goals came in the second half and lo and behold they did. The first was a cute finish from Forster, then Odain who celebrated the birth of his fourth child earlier in the week claimed his hat-trick. Teenager Kyrie Forster completed the scoring with another tidy finish. The score line could have been more emphatic for the city side but taking the weather conditions into account a 5-0 win away from home was the perfect result. The day became even better when news filtered through that title rivals Moulton lost to Whittlesey, it turned out to be the perfect weekend for Netherton.

A word from Netherton manager Jon Harrisson
“It was just about getting the job done today, we were missing some big players but the squad is good and there’s quality everywhere, it’s good to see players fighting to keep their shirts, bodes well for the run in.“

Team:Keir, Wood, Barron, Daly, Watson, Mastin, Fountain, Baines, Odain, Forster, Randall (Fisher) not used Hansford, Heming.

Man Of The Match: Baines