Deeping Rangers 1 v 0 Ashby Ivanhoe

Saturday 26th July 2025, Kick-off 15.00

United Counties League Premier Division North

Outgang Road, Market Deeping

Admission: £8.00

Programme: Online only

Attendance: 154

A match report can be read by clicking here, also copied and pasted below :-

Deeping Rangers beat Ashby Ivanhoe in their first match of the United Counties League season

An opening day victory means Deeping Rangers already have more points on the board than they had after the first six games of last season's United Counties League campaign.

The Clarets were 1-0 home winners over Ashby Ivanhoe on Saturday in their first match of the Premier Division North campaign.

It was a solid start for Brett Whaley's side with the Clarets boss keen to avoid any repeat of last season where Deeping were pointless after six successive league losses.

While the young guns of Deeping will be carrying much of their ammunition this season, it was the old guard of goalkeeper Aaron Butcher who played a key role in securing his first competitive clean sheet of the campaign.

Butcher made some vital stops throughout to ensure there was no repeat of the six-goal mauling which Deeping had endured on the first day of the previous term.

They handed debuts to Lewis Arber, Ryan Cook, Ben Greenacre and Harvey Robertson while also welcoming the return of Jacob Goodley and Jonny Lockie.

Butcher was called into early action with a routine save to keep out Sam Birks' header before Arber whipped a shot wide of the Ashby goal.

Both sides continued to trade openings throughout the first half with Liam Donaghy producing a superb last-ditch challenge to prevent Lockie from breaking clear.

The Clarets frontman then tested goalkeeper Alex Graham before Arber had to be alert with a vital challenge to thwart Kartel O'Neill-Martin.

Butcher was equal to Will Robson's follow-up and then flung himself at full stretch to finger-tip away a goalbound cross-shot from O'Neill-Martin that was heading for the far corner of his net.

The best chance of the half then went the visitors' way as Tyler Smith raced clear only to be denied by a brilliant block from the alert Butcher.

Cook flashed a shot wide at the other end before Butcher again did well to turn away a deflected shot from Louis Anthony at his near post to ensure the opening half finished goalless.

Rangers began the second half the brighter of the two teams and forced a succession of corners which were repelled by the visiting defence.

The vital goal then arrived with 20 minutes remaining as Robertson started the move by sweeping the ball wide to Cook.

The former Holbeach man picked out his one-time Tigers team-mate Ben Greenacre who's back post cross to Will Barnes was laid into the path of Adiado by the Clarets captain.

Adiado skipped by a challenge before driving a fine finish beyond the despairing dive of Graham to give Rangers the advantage.

Their cause was further boosted 10 minutes later when Ashby were reduced to 10 men after Dec Clarke appeared to kick the ball at the assistant referee after a decision hadn't gone in his favour.

It still prompted a nervy finish for the inexperienced Deeping team but they could call on the know-how of Butcher who produced another fine stop in the dying embers of the game to deny Jordan Wilson from close range with a brave save to ensure a winning start for Rangers.

Dundee United 1 v 0 UNA Strassen

Thursday 24th July 2025, Kick-off 19.45

UEFA Europa Conference League Second Qualifying Round First Leg

Tannadice Park, Dundee

Admission: £22.00

Programme: £4.00

Attendance: 11,370

A “Story of the Match” montage can be viewed by clicking here

A match report can be read by clicking here , also copied and pasted below

Dundee United 1-0 FC UNA Strassen

Zac Sapsford opens his United account as we take a first-leg lead!

Dundee United 1 (Sapsford 47')

FC UNA Strassen 0

7.45pm Thursday 24 July

The CalForth Construction Arena at Tannadice Park

UEFA Conference League Second Qualifying Round 

Written by: Lyall MacDonald

Team Talk

 

Manager Jim Goodwin made four changes to the side that faced Oldham Athletic in the final pre-season friendly, with seven players making their competitive debut for United as we welcomed UNA Strassen of Luxembourg to Tannadice. Will Ferry was named captain for the match following the unfortunate news of newly installed Captain Ross Graham’s recent injury.

 

There were six DUFC Academy graduates in the matchday squad for our UEFA Conference League second round qualifying tie.

A Raucous Opening

 

The atmosphere was electric before kick-off as we welcomed European football back to Tannadice for the first time in three years. The buzz around the stadium was palpable, with fans eager and ready to witness United take on continental opposition once more.

Kristijan Trapanovski was the first to test the opposition, unleashing a powerful strike from distance, but visiting goalkeeper Koray Özcan reacted well to make a solid save. United enjoyed much of the early possession, with UNA Strassen looking to hit United on the break with long balls forward.

 

UNA Strassen threatened the United goal with little over five minutes on the clock, after Daryle Myre was played through on the left-hand side of the final third, and despite his lobbed effort beating our Yevhenii Kucherenko, it sailed out for a goal-kick.

The first gilt-edged chance of the match fell to midfield maestro Vicko Ševelj after he beat the offside trap following a neat pass from Sapsford, however his shot was saved well by ?zcan.

 

UNA Strassen grew into the game more as the half wore on, relying on counter-attacks to carve chances out. However, despite their best efforts, Kucherenko had a quiet first half on his competitive United debut, with few efforts from the visitors posing any real threat to his goal.

Chances Aplenty for United

Trapanovski once again came close to the opening goal, as he was found out wide on the left following a clever reverse pass from Vicko Sevelj, although ?zcan parried away the Macedonian winger’s effort with the outside of his right foot.

Soon after, Ševelj was next to try from distance after Isaac Pappoe found him around the edge of the box, but unfortunately his shot bounced agonisingly past the post as we searched for the opener. Summer signing Krisztian Keresztes looked to have opened the scoring with a well-timed header bound for the bottom-right corner in front of the Norman Jamieson Stand. However, UNA Strassen keeper Özcan produced a superb fingertip save at the last moment to keep us out.

 

We had to remain on our toes throughout the first half though, as a well-played through ball to UNA Strassen forward Zachary Hadji looked to cause United problems. Keresztes proved his ability at the back as well as up front with a well-timed interception to clear the danger.

 

UNA Strassen Holding Firm

 

A rare foray forward from the visitors provided them an opportunity to attack the United goal ten minutes before the interval; however, smart defending from Poppoe prevented Myre from taking advantage of the counter-attack. The resulting corner found its way to the back-post, where Bert Esselink was in the perfect position to clear the danger away.

 

We mounted one final attack as the game moved into first-half injury time, earning a free kick on the edge of the box after a slick attacking move. Stand-in captain Will Ferry stepped up to take it, but his low-driven effort struck the wall and was cleared, with the whistle soon blowing for half-time and the score still goalless.

 

Stunning Sapsford

 

We started the second half in flying fashion, opening the scoring with our first attack following the break.

Our new number nine made himself an instant United hero with his first goal in black and tangerine. A clever nutmeg and neat turn took him past his marker, creating space to unleash a well-placed shot from outside the area that found the bottom left-hand corner, leaving Özcan in the UNA Strassen net stranded!

Soon after, Trapanovski was next to test the UNA Strassen defence - flying down the right-hand side and fizzing an effort just past the post and we were unable to instantly add to our advantage. We enjoyed concerted pressure early in the second half, with successive corners bringing chances for United - aside from a Keresztes header that was well tipped over by ?zcan.

 

Looking For a Second

Two more changes soon followed, with forward Max Watters and midfielder Panutche Camará replacing Ivan Dolcek and Isaac Pappoe respectively. However, Watters was forced off just seven minutes later due to injury and was replaced by Academy graduate Owen Stirton.

The United youngster was quickly involved in the action, seeing his effort brilliantly tipped onto the post by the ever-resilient Özcan in the Strassen goal.

UNA Strassen looked for an equaliser with twenty minutes to play, however Nicolas Perez’s corner from the right-hand side was missed by most in the United box, leaving substitute Craig Sibbald to clear the attack - maintaining our one-goal advantage.

 

Despite threatening with set-pieces, there was little to trouble the resolute United rearguard as we ticked towards full-time.

Sibbald showed excellent close control with a tidy touch to glide past Ricardo Delgado before being brought down, winning a free kick. From the resulting set-piece, Ferry found space on the right-hand side of the box and fired a low cross to the back post, where Camará’s effort was blocked on the line.

UNA Strassen then passed up their best chance of the match in injury time. A cross from the left found striker Matheus in the box, and his sharp turn created space in the six-yard area – but his weak effort was comfortably gathered by Kucherenko.

That proved to be the final chance of the match, as we secured a 1-0 lead to take to Luxembourg for the second leg!

Dundee United: Kucherenko; Iovu, Esselink, Keresztes; Strain, Sevelj, Pappoe, Ferry; Ivan Dolcek, Sapsford, Trapanovski.

 

Substitutes: Richards, Adams, Constable, O’ Donnell, Camará, Sibbald, Watters, Cleall-Harding, Thomson, Stirton.

 

FC UNA Strassen

 

?zcan; Brandenburger, Delgado, D. Agovic, Hall, Myre; Pimentel, Vova, E. Agovic; Matheus, Hadji.

 

Substitutes: Garrido, Marques, Sever, Sacras, Bock, Dadashev, Bopaka, L’Abbate, Perez, A. Agovic, Romeyns, Goncalves.

Montrose 1 v 2 Airdrieonians

Wednesday 23rd July 2025, Kick-off 19.15

Scottish League Cup Group Stage

Gayfield Park, Arbroath

Admission: £15.00

Programme: £3.00

Attendance: 513

A match report from a Montrose perspective can be read by clicking here , also copied and pasted below

And from an Airdrieonians perspective, by clicking here

Video highlights of this match can be viewed by clicking here

MONTROSE 1-2 AIRDRIEONIANS

Montrose returned to Gayfield Park for the final time for their second Premier Sports Group C fixture against Championship side Airdrieonians. It was the first match between the sides since the never to be forgotten play-off match in May 2022.

Stewart Petrie again made changes to his side with Quinn, Waddell, Masson, Shrive and Wighton returning with Bertie, Smith, Clark, Machado and the suspended Lyons dropping out.

The visiting line up including two former Montrose loanees In Euan Henderson and Chris Mochrie.

There was a healthier crowd of 513 inside Gayfield as Airdrie got the match underway in pleasant summer conditions.

It was Craig Brown who had the first chance of the match for Montrose in the 7th minute when he ran into the box but could only fire wide of the post.

Airdrie should have taken the lead in the 11th minute when Henderson found himself through on goal, but Clark raced out of his goal to pull off a great save.

Montrose raced up the pitch from this let off and should have opened the scoring themselves. Webster crossed from the right and in the scramble inside the box Loudon should have scored but saw his shot cleared off the line.

In the 22nd minute Loudon won a free kick on the left. Brown floated the ball into the box and Ali Shrive saw his low effort held by keeper Melrose.

On the stroke of half time Montrose won a corner kick which Webster took. It found Loudon on the edge of the box his first time volley was blocked and Wighton just couldn’t scramble home the rebound.

The Gable Endies were forced into a change at the start of the second half with goalkeeper Aaron Clark injured, 16-year-old Campbell Millar coming on in his place for his debut.

Montrose had another good chance in the 50th minute when Webster’s cross to the back post was missed by Waddell but Loudon was on hand to volley over the crossbar.

Minutes later Loudon brought down a through ball from Steeves and this time his shot was blocked for a corner kick.

Airdrie made their first change in the 53rd minute bringing on Dean McMaster for Liam McStravick.

The visitors opened the scoring three minutes later, EUAN HENDERSON crossing from the left and the ball somehow finding its way into the net despite the best efforts of Millar in the home goal.

Montrose tried to hit back and after a run along the visitor’s box Brown again saw his shot blocked.

The visitors made it two in the 62nd minute. Millar pulled off a point blank save but LEWIS McGRATTAN was on hand to fire in the rebound.

Kerr Waddell picked up a booking in the 65th minute for a late tackle on the halfway line.

The visitors made a change bringing on a trialist for McGrattan.

In the 69th minute Montrose made a couple of changes. Harry Craig made his return to first team action in place of Wighton and Machado came on for Brown.

With 15 minutes left the visitors made a triple change with Williams, Wilson and Cooper replacing King, Henderson and Mochrie.

At the same time Montrose brought on Ross Clark and Craig Smith for Masson and Waddell.

Cooper was quickly into action, but Millar made a fine stop in the Montrose goal.

Montrose were claiming a penalty when a Machado shot was blocked but referee Irvine waved play on.

In the 78th minute the lively Machado won a free kick on the edge of the box, but Montrose wasted the opportunity when Webster’s effort was cleared.

Montrose got themselves back into the match in the 81st minute when EWAN LOUDON won the ball inside the Airdrie box and rifled the ball into the bottom corner.

Airdrie then picked up a couple of bookings when MacDonald and Armstrong were yellow carded by Irvine.

Montrose had one final chance to take the match to penalty kicks when Loudon was brought down of the edge of the box. Machado took the free kick but curled his effort over the bar.

In an entertaining match Montrose more than matched their opponents and were unlucky not to take at least a point before their trip to Dens Park on Saturday to face Premier League Dundee.

MONTROSE – A. Clark (Millar), Steeves, Quinn, Waddell (Smith), Masson (R. Clark), Webster, Loudon, Wighton (Craig), Freeman, Shrive, Brown (Machado) Subs not used – Emslie, Leddie, Bradford, Bertie

Attendance: 513

Report by Andrew Stephen