Rangers got their maiden Premier Division campaign up and running with a derby success at Uppingham on Wednesday night after a 3-2 home reversal against AFC Fletton on Saturday.

A brace of goals from Robbie Pearce, which were aided by heavy deflections, saw off their local rivals in front of a healthy crowd at Tods Piece.

Saddington said: "I'm pleased we have got our first points on the board, scored a couple of goals and kept a clean sheet.

"Hopefully now the players will relax a little bit because they were really nervous on Saturday.

"Everybody was really revved up for it on Wednesday and, although both teams had some good chances, I thought we just shaded it."

Rangers could have found themselves a goal down after just three minutes when Andy Sayers spurned a guilt-edged chance as he dragged his shot with just visiting keeper Shane Hicks to beat.

Muzzy Saddington hit back for Rangers with a header which went just over before his low shot brought the best out of Town custodian Graham Williams who dived full length to tip the ball around the post.

Richard Nelson then struck the top of the home crossbar with a curling free-kick before Sam Munton headed a corner goalwards only to see his effort cleared off the line by a combination of Town full-backs Liam Baines and Gavin Cliffe.

Rangers broke the deadlock after 36 minutes when a long throw was flicked into the path of Pearce whose shot deflected off the unfortunate Mark Cox to wrong-foot Williams.

Uppingham came out for the second half determined to get back on level terms, but they found Rangers keeper Hicks in inspired form.

He bravely blocked a Will Thomas effort before Town old boy Stu Lambie was on hand to thwart his former club by clearing off the line after an Uppingham corner caused panic in the Rangers box.

Rangers responded with the home side scrambling a Michael Nelson effort away from goal before Muzzy Saddington slid in to connect with a low Richard Nelson cross which came back off the home upright.

Hicks produced a fine save to deny Thomas' shot from the edge of the box before Sayers curled a free-kick goalwards only for the Rangers keeper to parry and then react to smartly stop Scott Bryan's follow-up.

Town threw substitute Dylan Oliver into the fray late on as they searched for an equaliser and he saw another low shot turned away by the impressive Hicks.

As Town pushed forward in the dying throes, Rangers sealed their win in the last minute as Pearce bundled the ball under pressure from Bryan who could only help the ball into the net.

Uppingham: Williams, Baines (Lewin 89), Cliffe (Oliver 85), Cox, Clarke, Pridmore, Turricki, Thomas, Bryan, Arnold (Elkashoty), Sayers.

Rangers: Hicks, Munton (McRoyal 78), Bain, Wood, Dalby, R. Nelson, Forbes, Smith (M. Nelson), Lambie, Pearce, Saddington.