Mens second team thump Hamble

In contrast to recent weeks the junior members were greatly outnumbered by vets. The first five minutes suggested Petersfield would face their toughest challenge of the season yet, with play evenly contested and largely in the middle of the park. Petersfield opened the scoring through a bizarre goal, with Eddy taking down a chest high pass with aplomb and nonchalantly squeezing the ball inside the near post. The goal changed the game, with Petersfield taking charge and mounting attack after attack.

The midfield was marshalled by Anderson and Cooke-Priest, a great combination of youth and domineering presence. Conran roamed at will, challenging with customary sublime stick skills. Lewis’s mazy runs confused Petersfield and Hamble players alike; just when it appeared he’d taken on the last opposition player and a pass was on the cards he’d turn back and beat them again. On the right wing, Eddy was running the Hamble left-back ragged, beating him at will and creating chance after chance. On the left Pearce, playing only his second game for Petersfield and sixth game ever, created multiple chances and helped himself to a goal. The majority of play took place in the Hamble half, giving a relatively quiet day for the defence. However, when called upon, they defended as resolutely as the Redcoats of Rawkes Drift; a back line of Morley, Faulkner and a pair of Woods is an intimidating sight. On the rare occasion that Hardy in the Petersfield goal was called upon he performed admirably, keeping Hamble at bay. Petersfield went into the break leading 4 nil; 2 for Eddy, 1 for Pearce and a Wheeler miss-hit.

The second half played out much like the first, Petersfield mounting attack after attack, with Anderson reminding the vets what it was like to be young and have an engine that can keep going. Lewis continued to mesmerise the Hamble defence; Cooke-Priest played through hamstring pain, turning back the years to boss the midfield and Conran created a number of chances after returning from a breather. Eddy and Pearce added to their tallies and Wheeler struck a second half hat-trick, making up for the hat-full of sitters he missed in the first half.