Petersfield Reach Cup Final!

Petersfield faced Salisbury for the third time this season as they were brought together for a final time within the semi-final of the Hampshire Open League Trophy. Petersfield were expecting another victory here as in both previous encounters Petersfield came off the better team.

Petersfield started the game off very well, sharing possession with Salisbury and working hard when not in possession, this saw a limitation in opportunities for Salisbury and caused no threat to the defence of Godfrey, Alder, Barnes & Parry. Cains, Edwards & Elms forced errors from the Salisbury defence from the hassling and sharp closing down on the ball. With play continuing Petersfield forwards broke through the defence of Salisbury and was enforced with the midfielders of Hind, Martin, Bott & Grinstead which forced a string of penalty corners where Elms and Martin added a goal to their tally. Petersfield now with a 2-0 lead reconciled and kept an attacking display of hockey going where Edwards picked up 2 goals from slipping the ball past the keeper in one on one situation. Salisbury now 4-0 down drove towards the heart of the Petersfield defence and overloaded the circle, mistakes were forced which allowed right-back Godfrey to reinstate himself after receiving a Green card by deflecting a drag flick on the line wide of the post with great stick handling from a penalty corner.

The second half saw much of the same from Petersfield, Grinstead scored in open play after receiving a pass from Cains before hammering it past the goalkeeper. Elms added a further goal to his tally after a firm strike past the goalkeeper from another penalty corner routine. Martin also picked up another goal after receiving a slip pass from Elms and deflecting it past the defender and goal keeper into the bottom left corner. Salisbury still kept going strong despite being 7-0 down at this point. Petersfield went down to 10 men after Hind received a yellow card where Salisbury capitalised and scored in open play. Salisbury with the extra man forced a lengthy string of penalty corners which were cleared with the help of Grinstead & Alder with one being saved by keeper Parry. When back to full strength Grinstead propelled a drag flick into the top right corner to conclude the match at 8-1 where the victorious Petersfield maintain an undefeated streak and extend to 37 in all competition along with securing a place within the Cup Final.

Team: Parry, Godfrey, Alder, Barnes, Grinstead ©, Cains, Bott, Martin, Hind, Edwards, Elms.