Oakham United beat Leverington Sports in Peterborough League Premier Division clash

Joint Oakham United manager Stewart Lambie is hoping that strong competition for places can help his side to start stringing a run of wins together.

Oakham were 4-1 home victors over Leverington Sports in Saturday's Peterborough League Premier Division clash at Lands' End Meadow.

The triumph was achieved without regular goalkeeper Connor Barker, the influential Nelson brothers - Richard and Michael - as well as the suspended Sam Munton.

The quartet could all be available for this weekend's league trip to Holbeach United Reserves where Oakham will be aiming to record back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

But Saturday's solid success over Leverington saw Oakham boosted by the return of Ash Chamberlain while substitutes Julio Lopes and Connah Hunt both made a goalscoring impact after their introductions.

Lambie said: "We are starting to get some competition for places which can only be a good thing.

"People can't expect to just start every week.

"It made a big difference having Ash Chamberlain back on Saturday and hopefully we should have a few others available for this weekend as well."

Oakham had suffered a pre-match setback on Saturday when regular custodian Barker failed a fitness test in the warm-up, forcing Lambie to take on the goalkeeping duties.

A sluggish start by the hosts saw them fall behind to Michael Chow's opener as the Leverington man found himself unmarked to convert a back post cross from close range.

This seemed to kick-start Oakham who started to dominant the game and they got back on level terms when Chamberlain's diagonal ball released Kieron Burley who raced clear to finish.

They then took the lead shortly after when Steve Mastin - who had a fine game for the hosts - tapped home after Joe Hatherill's had flicked on Burley's cross.

Oakham continued their dominance after the break but it needed a smart stop from Lambie to deny Leverington who had created a good chance.

The hosts then added a third goal when substitute Hunt latched onto a ball over the top and lobbed the advancing Leverington custodian.

Lopes then rounded off the scoring as he took advantage of Leverington pushing forward in search of goals by skilfully beating the full-back and then racing clear to slot home.

The visitors finished the match with 10 men when goalscorer Chow was sent off after collecting his second caution.

Lambie added: "We were very slow out of the blocks and might as well have not been there for the first 20 minutes.

"But we turned it around and it was a big improvement on the performance last week against Polonia."

Oakham: Lambie, Richmond, Uduovie, A Chamberlain, Kefford, Burley, Brockbank, Hatherill, Mastin, Bates, North. Subs used: T Chamberlain, Lopes, Hunt. Not used: Parker.