Having played Alton in a friendly a fortnight ago, we knew we were in for a chance if we played with energy and moved the ball fast. A tense, stilted first few minutes were pushed aside as Petersfield broke down the right with George Shanks and Eddie Kershaw working to feed Henry Peers on the wing. Driving to the baseline he pulled the ball back into a forest of legs only for Hugo Butterworth to dig it out and pop it over the line.

Alton fought back to 1-1 with a well worked short corner, something they had been threatening to do in previous attempts with a neat, near corner routine. But then something extraordinary happened, in quick succession Petersfield broke through the Alton midfield, moved the ball to a free blue shirt and then found Butterworth twice at the left post and twice he scored. That was his hat-trick and we were 3-1 up with only 25 mins played.

Alton were stirred and starting breaking at speed through the middle. Our defence was starting to be overwhelmed and inevitably Alton scored from a short corner. And then again. So 3-3 as we went into halftime.

After the break we started to build momentum again through the midfield as Hector Bhattacharjee and Ollie Morley cut out attacks and then fed Wilf Vincent and Trystan Morris on the wings. Thomas Crabtree kept creating opportunities but was kept at range with the goalkeeper making some good saves. At the other end Henry Marshall was solid in the centre of defence but when Alton did get through Harry Medcalf was quickly out of his goal to clear the danger.

Petersfield’s pressure eventually bore fruit as a scrambled goal (was it Eddie Kershaw or Henry Peers?) was forced in, to the parent’s delight on the sidelines. 4-3 with less than 15 mins to go.

Rupert Redgrave drafted into defence provided some timely clearances and Xavier Ashwell showed great agility to clear a ball right off the line. But still Alton came knocking on the door at the top of our D until almost inevitably they won a short corner…..and scored. 4-4.

A disappointment when we were so close to our first win of the season but also a fair result after a very well played match. Heads up boys, you have done your club proud this season.