Uppingham Town lose to Leverington Sports in the Peterborough League Premier Division
Uppingham Town suffered their biggest Peterborough League defeat for more than a year in Saturday's reversal at Leverington Sports.
The reigning champions went down to a 4-1 defeat in the Premier Division clash against their third-placed hosts.
Kieran Hamilton, Aaron McKenna, Callum Young and Louie Garner all netted for Leverington with Josh Porter replying for Town whose previous heaviest defeat came at the start of September last year when they lost 4-0 at home to Moulton Harrox.
Town had gone close early on to breaking the deadlock when Callum O'Berg had a right-footed shot cleared off the line after a scramble in the box.
However, they fell behind after 10 minutes when a loose pass was picked up by Hamilton who shot from 25 yards into the top corner.
Leverington's lead was then doubled when a long ball forward was picked up by Hamilton who beat his marker and squared for a tap-in.
Uppingham looked for a way back into the contest with Porter seeing a corner punched onto the post by the home goalkeeper while Rob Forster rattled the crossbar with a dipping free-kick from 25 yards out.
Leverington also sent a shot over the bar when well placed as the hosts went into the break with a two-goal lead.
Town had their best spell of the game in the opening 15 minutes of the second half and Porter shot just wide after controlling a cross from Forster.
They then halved the deficit when Porter ran onto a Martin Turiccki flick-on and finished into the bottom corner of the home net.
However, Leverington had restored their two-goal advantage midway through the half from the penalty spot as Town failed to clear their lines and Turiccki brought down the home winger.
Danny Sheehan went close to reducing the deficit with a fierce volley that was cleared off the line before Leverington wrapped up the win with five minutes remaining as Uppingham were caught on the break and the home winger cut inside before finishing well.
Uppingham manager Paul Sheehan said: "We were quite poor and started too slow in the first half while Leverington were good and very energetic.
"They took their first two chances well. We hit the post and bar from two set pieces but Leverington were good value for their lead.
"We were a lot better in the second half and, at 2-1, we were right in the game but shot ourselves in the foot by not defending properly.
"We didn't give up and kept going but we lost too many individual battles at key moments. Leverington were full value for the win and were clinical."
Town face another tough away test on Saturday as they travel to face fifth-placed Stanground Sports who have a 100 per cent home record after six victories at their Peterborough base.