Oakham United have a new management team ahead of their Peterborough League Premier Division opener

Oakham United are hoping an 'easy and smooth transition' of their new management team will help the club overcome the challenges of a testing pre-season.

The Rutland club had appointed Matt Nikolich as their new first team boss following the departure of Lea Jordan towards the end of last season.

However, Nikolich decided against continuing in his role after a couple of weeks of pre-season training.

Reserve team boss Neil Duncan has stepped up to take the reins of the Peterborough League Premier Division club along with Aidy Jordan.

Jamie Jordan will also be helping the first team management along with club stalwart Stewart Lambie.

Last season's Under 17s manager Steve Brill has taken on the reserve team role as the club look to blood a number of up-and-coming youngsters in their senior ranks following a number of close departures.

Lambie said: "Neil knows a lot of the players coming through better than anyone and all of the players will have worked with the managers before.

"It will be an easier and smoother transition for the players.

"We know it's going to be a tough season, especially in the Premier Division, as it will be big step up for some of the players.

"The lads seem up for the challenge though and hopefully we can progress and develop them into better players.

"They are all local lads now and hopefully it will mean that bit more to them."

Oakham have retained the services of half of last season's first team squad but several players have moved onto pastures new.

Kieran Pledger, Ed Sakovich, Jamie Stephens and Michael Uff have all joined Netherton United with Rob Parker-Meadows and Cardin Pierre-Liverpool joining Whaplode Drove and Peterborough Rangers respectively.

It was a young Oakham side that took to the field in the final of the Peterborough League Cup on Friday night.

The match pits the Senior Cup winners against the Premier Division champions in the annual curtain raiser to the new season.

And two strikes in each half secured a 4-0 victory for Moulton Harrox with efforts from Dec Earth, Josh Maguire, Mason Shores and an own goal compiling their tally.

It was Earth who opened the scoring when he headed home at the back post from a Nathan Smith cross.

Maguire doubled the lead when he hit home a fine strike from distance before Earth was denied his second by a save from Oakham goalkeeper Henry Marvin after a jinking run and shot.

The Oakham custodian then got down well to turn away a low shot from Smith before the Moulton frontman headed wide when well-placed in front of goal.

Earth was next to be denied by the United stopper as he finger-tipped away his goal bound shot at full stretch before the Moulton play-maker fizzed another effort inches wide ahead of the interval.

Earth teed up Smith after the break but he fired over the Oakham crossbar, however, the Harrox hitman assisted his second and their third shortly after when his cross was diverted into the United.

Smith then robbed an Oakham defender before playing in Earth who fired over with the goal at his mercy.

The win was wrapped up with a fourth goal as a shot was unleashed from outside the area by Shores to beat Marvin who had played through the pain barrier of an ankle injury which severely restricted his movement.

The attacking onslaught continued despite the four-goal cushion with Earth seeing another effort well saved while Harrox goalkeeper Brendan Taylor had to be alert late on with a close range block to deny Oakham a consolation.

Oakham open their campaign with a tough trip to Leverington on Saturday.

Rutland rivals Uppingham begin their season at the weekend with a trip to newly-promoted FC Peterborough Reserves before hosting a derby duel with Oakham on Tuesday night.