Deeping Rangers 1
Long Buckby 1
RANGERS would have settled for a point going into this top of the table clash with Buckby but it was a case of two points lost at the final whistle.
While the point maintains Tuncay Korkmaz's men's four point lead over Buckby the hosts had several good chances to win the game in the second half and it was Buckby who were grateful for the point.
Playing into a strong first half wind Rangers found themselves pinned back, but they defended well and looked dangerous on the break.
Despite the wind advantage Buckby could not break through and the first half ended goalless.
With the winds at their backs the second period saw Rangers go on the attack straight from the restart.
Sam Bettinson played in Ash Stevens who beat the offside trap only to put his shot wide of Farhad Afandiyev's goal.
From the goal kick Long Buckby won a free kick in the Rangers half. The ball was whipped into the box and Ross Dunkley reacted quickest to head past Danny Bircham and give the visitors the lead.
That lead lasted just ten minutes as September's goalscorer of the month Ryan Semple latched onto a ball and, with the aid of a slight deflection, fired home.
The goal lifted the hosts and they were back in full flow. Stevens thought he had put the table toppers ahead only to see his header ruled out for offside.
David Cobb then saw a strike crash back off the bar and moments later another Cobb strike was spilled by Afabdiyev who somehow managed to recover to stop the ball on the line.
Korkmaz said: "I will take a point from such a big game, but we could and probably should have had all three.
"Had we been a bit more clinical with the opportunities we had, I feel sure we would have won the match."
Rangers face lowly Rothwell at Outgang Road on Saturday.
Rangers: Danny Bircham, David Buton Jones, Andy Ellis, Mark Baines, Matt Porter, Michael Goode, Ryan Semple, Lee Ellison, Sam Bettinson, Ashley Stevens (Adam Weston), David Cobb.