The `groundhop` weekend began with Irchester United winning 4-0 at Raunds Town in Division One on Friday night.

On Saturday evening, a crowd of just under 300 saw fancied Deeping Rangers host Sleaford Town in the Premier Division and ran out 1-0 winners.

Michael Simpson's all-action display proved that a new-look Deeping squad still needs plenty of experience.

The veteran midfielder led by example at Eslaforde Park by scoring the only goal.

Simpson showed his career is not over yet when he burst into the box to coolly finish off a neat move by the Clarets.

Next up came the game at the Dog & Duck between Wellingborough Town and Peterborough Northern Star on Sunday morning.

Both teams were under new management, with Gary Petts and player/assistant-manager Joe Rich taking charge of the Doughboys and Steve Wilson taking over at PNS.

The first half was basically a midfield battle with chances few and far between at either end.

However, seconds after the restart, the home side broke the deadlock with a header from Giuseppe Daniel Freitas, who had come on as an early substitute for the experienced Andy Hall.

Many in the crowd of around 300 missed that goal but managed to see the second 10 minutes later when striker Adam Speight powered through the middle of the Northern Star defence before poking the ball past visiting `keeper Quincy Shorunmu.

The former AFC Rushden & Diamonds, Sileby Rangers and Huntingdon Town man certainly wouldn`t have been happy with the Doughboys third goal a few minutes later as he allowed a long-range Lloyd Buckby effort to squirm under his body to make it 3-0.

At the other end, debutant keeper Justin Greatorex – formerly with the club`s under-18s before stints at Corby Town and Kettering Town – pulled off one fine save with his feet to preserve the three-goal lead but had little else to do as the home side picked up three fairly comfortable points.

Soon after the final whistle had sounded at the Dog & Duck, many of the crowd made their way `over the fence` to watch the second game of the day between Whitworth and Cogenhoe United.

The hosts, who just avoided relegation at the end of last season, soon found themselves behind to a neat finish from 8 yards out from Montel Dore.

And then 2 minutes before half-time, the Cooks doubled their advantage when Ryan Dove converted from close range after good work from Ryan Ansell.

Both teams struggled against the strong wind, but the visitors matched Wellingborough`s score from earlier in the day when Dove scored his second from the penalty spot 8 minutes from time.