Hythe & Dibden 0

THAT OLD saying 'money can't buy you everything' was proved right once again at Love Lane on Saturday.

Petersfield secured their first win of the season against a side with six players with Southern League experience who are being paid to play at Hythe this season.

But there was little to separate the two sides in an open encounter, with plenty of good football played by both sides.

It was a tight game in terms of who would run out winners and you felt whoever made the first mistake would be the team to miss out on any points.

That looked like it would be the home side when Robert Warwick tried to get his chest to a low cross from the left but only managed to get his arm in front of the ball.

But the penalty taker managed to spoon his spot kick high and wide and with it went the visiting side's chances of winning the match.

Minutes later Petersfield secured all three points when Nick Tayler powered his header home from a corner.

It may have been the middle of August but the autumnal feel to our current British summer claimed Petersfield's game at Tadley.

After a day of heavy rain the game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch – the kind of decision you would associate more with October or November.

Town boss Paul Ryan said: “We were delighted with the performance and effort put in by the players.

“The disappointment of a poor performance the previous week was dismissed as we beat a very strong Hythe fielding several players with Southern League experience and a few more who played in the Wessex Premier league last season.

“We rode our luck at times particularly with Hythe missing a penalty, but we created chances throughout the match and I thought it was an excellent all-round team performance and a hard-earned victory.”

GRAEME MOIR