U12 Boys show progress against Haslemere to draw away

Petersfield continued to demonstrate real progress in a hard-fought 3-3 draw away against Haslemere. Goalie, Ethan Casson, produced numerous well-judged clearances, repeatedly hoofing the ball past oncoming forwards into the ranks of Petersfield shirts.

Stalwarts in defence Seb Gray, Kieran Brown, and George Shaxson produced critical tackles while Seb Liddle and Henry Plewes tracked their opponents resolutely to guard the Petersfield goal. A robust back line allowed Archie Ingham-Thomas, Freddie Anderson and Fred Slingsby to build from the back and drive play into the midfield zone using a combination of runs and incisive passing.

An opportunistic interception followed by a couple of accurate passes helped Haslemere to push up and grab a 1 - 0 lead. Petersfield's response came not long afterwards from forward Ollie Slingsby who received the ball on the run and charged into the D to drill into the net and put Peterfield back on terms. However, the creativity in Petersfield’s midfield couldn’t hold back a relentless Haslemere and spirits were tested to the full when Haslemere secured their second and third goals.

With plenty left in the tank and a score line of 3:1 Petersfield midfield went up a gear. Harry Stansfield, Max Wallis and Rory Morris linked seamlessly and produced penetrating runs up the flanks. Supply to Petersfield’s forwards James Hill, Will Nichols and Ollie Slingsby improved and an impossible comeback suddenly looked achievable. The comeback was set in motion when James Hill received the ball in the top of the D and turned the Haslemere defence, just doing enough to guide the ball between the posts. Not long afterwards Ollie Slingsby skilfully drove home his second and Petersfield’s third goal to ensure the last period kept onlookers on the edge of their seats. With little between the sides the game could easily have gone either way in a nail bitingly good final period.

A very determined team performance, many great saves, strong tackling, lots of accurate passing and some wonderfully finished goals. Well done boys.

Steve and Justin ”