The Greens began well in South Lincolnshire and actually led after Ricki Goodale had diverted Josh Parker’s cross into his own net – but Sparrow was the man the bring the visitors level midway through the half before laying on assists for both Scott Waumsley and Byron Adiabo to put the Greens out of sight. He was then the man, rather fittingly, to round of the scoring as the clock ticked towards the 90th minute, rounding Jack Arbon before powering beyond Flitton to round off a miserable afternoon for the visitors.

Manager Matt Evans was forced into one change from the side that was defeated 2-0 by Harrowby United on Tuesday evening, with Lewis Smalley dropping out of the side as a result of illness. His place was taken by Jake Henderson who returned to the side after missing Tuesday evening’s defeat, while there was also a place on the bench for Joe Wilkinson who took up the vacant spot amongst the substitutes. Hosts Deeping Rangers meanwhile picked up a well-earned point in midweek, drawing 1-1 with Skegness Town and they also made just one change from that side with Daniel Bucciero dropping out of the side – his place taken by Luke Redfern.

The made the dream start in South Lincolnshire, leading within two minutes when Josh Parker’s fizzing cross was diverted home by the unfortunate foot of Ricki Goodale to get an entertaining first half rolling. Ben Ashall, lively going forward down the left flashed a cross across goal, Parker’s outstretched foot inches away from connecting before Ben Robson powered into the grateful hands of home keeper Ignas Sakalas from range.

The hosts were noticeably growing into the game though, first notable when Sparrow blazed over the bar under the attentions of Ben Ashall. Back at the other end and Parker was again close to extending the advantage, catching Sakalas off-guard from range, forcing the home keeper to tip over the crossbar.

It was then out of nothing that the hosts were level, the ball falling neatly to Matt Sparrow who powered without mistake beyond the despairing dive of Liam Flitton to restore parity. Flitton was in action again shortly after, twice forcing a save from Sparrow who’d made the most of a lose Finlay Armond pass.

The Greens could then have restored the advantage had an unsuspecting Whalen not found the grateful leg of Sakalas in the Deeping goal, but rather than lead, the Greens quickly found themselves behind. Sparrow was the man involved again as he broke free off Flitton, deflecting his cross off the helpless Greens man into the path of Scott Waumsley to nod home into an empty net. The Greens had Liam Flitton and the half-time whistle to thank as things threatened to get worse, the Greens custodian called into action one final time before the break to tip Byron Adiabo’s effort around the post.

The hosts – clearly buoyed by their first half turnaround – began the second half with confidence and forced Flitton into early action to tip away Luke Hunnings header inside the opening three minutes. The Greens keeper was back in action again a few moments later, recovering well to get down and beat away Scott Waumsley’s effort five minutes later.

The killer goal the hosts had threatened soon arrived though, and it was handy link up play between Byron Adiabo and Matt Sparrow that saw the former square for the latter to rifle home the hosts third and give them daylight over the Greens. From here, the hosts were very much in control and Flitton was alert on the three-quarter mark to beat away Sparrow’s venomous drive before Liam Hook whistled an effort inches beyond the post.

The handy pairing of Adiabo and Sparrow were in action again shortly after, the former crashing over the crossbar this time before, in a rare foray forward, Sakalas was forced into action to beat away from Lewis Greenfields drive from the right. Despite that brief respite, the Greens were soon put totally to bed, and it was man-of-the-match Sparrow who drove at Jack Arbon before smashing a fourth beyond Flitton as the Greens slipped to a fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions.

Words: Oliver Atkin