Uppingham Town beat Oakham United in Peterborough League Premier Division derby

Rob Forster fired home the solitary strike that settled the Rutland derby between Uppingham Town and Oakham United on Saturday.

The leading marksman in the Peterborough League Premier Division netted the crucial goal for Uppingham to ensure they completed the double this season over their near neighbours.

The victory for Town also moved them closer to pole position in the Premier Division as they are now within one point of league leaders Stilton with a game in hand at the midway mark of their campaign.

Boss Paul Sheehan said: "It was a tight, scrappy game in the first half. We were too slow in our play which played into Oakham’s hands.

"I asked the lads at half-time to move the ball quicker and up the work rate and in second half the tempo was a lot better and we started to drag Oakham out of position and created chances.

"Fair play to Oakham as they made it difficult for us and defended well for long periods but we deserved the three points on our second half showing.

"We're now halfway through the season and I'm happy with the start we've made, but there's still a long way to go and we have some very important games coming up before Christmas."

Oakham - who had lost 2-0 in the reverse fixture with Uppingham at the start of the season - are now 11th in the 13-team division after their seventh reversal of the season.

They again competed well with one of the leading lights in the division but were left to rue a lack of clinical finishing in a game of few chances which has been their main issue this term.

United have only conceded 17 goals in 12 league games which is the joint fourth best in the division, however, they have only netted 16 times with seven of those coming in one game against Long Sutton.

Manager Seb Hayes said: "It was a game of very few chances. Both sides only had a couple of chances but they took theirs which was the difference.

"Both sides really cancelled each other out and the weather didn't help because it was so windy.

"Both teams actually played better going into the wind because it was holding the ball up but the weather did ruin the game.

"I thought we deserved a point but we always knew that if Rob Forster got a chance then he would take it and that's what happened.

"We tested them, worked them hard and matched them but they had that little bit of extra quality in the box to what we had on the day.

"We have to start putting the ball in the back of the net because, when you're up there like Uppingham are, you just have to tough games out against sides like us and that's what they did so fair play to them."

Town had started well with Josh Sennett shooting across the box after a good run while Forster fired into the side-netting after running past the Oakham defence.

United's top scorer Michael Nelson then sent a shot off target from a tight angle before Forster raced clear but shot against the post from an acute angle.

Oakham created their best chance of the game after the break through a Nelson header from a long free-kick that was well saved by Uppingham goalkeeper Tom Hubbard who then made a comfortable stop from a Stewart Lambie free-kick.

Forster then pounced just past the midway mark in the second period as Martin Turiccki's fine work was rewarded as he ran 25 yards with the ball before crossing for Town's ace marksman to finish from close range.

United pushed more men forward in the latter stages in search of an equaliser but Harley Pridmore and Josh Porter were in fine form at the heart of the Uppingham defence.

Town came closest to increasing their advantage and it needed a tidy save from Oakham goalkeeper Jamie Stephens to prevent Callum O'Berg from doubling Uppingham's lead.

Uppingham now host third-placed Holbeach Reserves this weekend while Oakham continue their run of tough games against pre-season title favourites Moulton Harrox.

United have faced league leaders Stilton and second-placed Uppingham in their last two league outings.

Boss Hayes added: "Last weekend was another free hit for us because nobody expected us to get anything from the game.

"The performance was there again but we just didn't take our chances when they came along.

"Hopefully we can produce a similar performance against Moulton and get a result on Saturday because we have had a tough run of games."

Moulton are co-managed by Tim Cole who was Hayes' assistant during their time together at Holbeach United.