Peterborough League action returns with games for Ketton, Uppingham Town, Stamford Bels and Wittering Premiair
Ketton and Uppingham Town will return to Peterborough League action on Saturday.
The league has organised its fixture schedule to ensure that teams and players in the same tiers can play matches against each other.
Ketton will host Cardea in a Premier Division clash at Pit Lane while Uppingham will make the trip to face Peterborough-based ICA Sports.
It will be first competitive game in five weeks for the Rutland duo with Ketton facing a crunch clash against a Cardea side who are just two points above them in the league standings.
Ketton have dropped to second-from-bottom in the Premier Division table despite running out 4-0 home winners over Oakham in their last outing before lockdown.
They have been leapfrogged on goal difference by Stamford Lions who were awarded the three points after Parson Drove were unable to stage their October meeting between the two sides due to their pitch not being marked out.
However, victory for Ketton on Saturday could move them up a couple of places against a Cardea side who had a daunting return to action last weekend.
They were thumped 14-1 by title favourites Netherton United with duel registered Blackstones player Robbie Ellis hitting a hat-trick against the Peterborough side who are now under new management with Junior Jones taking the helm after Matt Robinson’s move to Blackstones as assistant boss to Mark Baines.
Ketton have made a couple of new signings during lockdown with Taylor Breagan joining from Peterborough Northern Star Reserves while experienced former United Counties League campaigner Giuliano Staffieri has also signed for the Quarrymen along with Vaidas Macianskis.
Uppingham will face some familar Rutland players in their trip to ICA who are managed by ex-Oakham United boss James Brattan.
His assistant is former Oakham manager Stewart Lambie while ex-Lands End Meadow players Cameron Brookes, Gavin Cooke, Joe De Lucis, Michael Nelson and Adam Rothery are also in the ICA ranks.
Oundle Town made a winning return to action as the Peterborough League season got back underway last weekend.
They returned triumphant from their Division One trip to Eunice Huntingdon after a 3-0 away success.
Peter Beverly, Ed Thorpe and substitute Finlay Sewell were on target for Oundle who remain in second spot in the standings.
They now trail league leaders Wittering Premiair by five points with the table-toppers having been awarded the victory from their scheduled clash at the end of the October against Peterborough Northern Star Reserves who were unable to raise a side.
Wittering host Eunice Huntingdon this weekend while third-placed Stamford Bels entertain Rippingale and Folkingham.
Bels were 7-1 winners in the last meeting between the two sides in the final match before lockdown thanks to goals from Josh Randall (3), Kieran Duffy-Weekes (2), Jake Walton and Glenn Spearink.
SATURDAY
FA Trophy
First round proper: Kidsgrove Athletic v Stamford (1pm, behind closed doors).
Peterborough League
Premier Division: ICA Sports v Uppingham, Ketton v Cardea.
Division One: Stamford Bels v Rippingale, Warboys v King's Cliffe, Wittering Premiair v Eunice Huntingdon.
Division Two: Parkside v Oakham Res, Wittering Premiair Res v Hampton.
Division Three: Huntingdon Rovers v Wittering Premiair A, King's Cliffe Res v FC Peterborough Res.
Division Four: Uppingham Res v Park Farm Pumas, Whittlesey A v Deeping United.
Division Five: Dreams Res v Wittering Premiair B, Park Farm Pumas Res v King's Cliffe A, Rippingale Res v Holbeach Bank, Sutton Bridge v Deeping Utd Res.