Petersfield 0

PETERSFIELD were reduced to 10 men in the closing minutes of this tough, physical encounter as they battled to get on terms.

Stockbridge got their reward for all the hard work they put in against a big physical Town outfit at the Recreation Ground.

The game was not a classic on a wet windy afternoon, but there was no lack of effort by both teams.

Stockbridge looked to have gone behind after five minutes when Petersfield's Calvin Swan got the ball in the net but his effort was ruled offside.

Soon afterwards, it was Stockbridge's turn to go close when Dave Barker's header went just wide.

Petersfield then hit the home crossbar through another effort by Swan as play swung from end to end.

The only other real chance of the first half came in the last couple of minutes when Stockbridge's keeper Allan Ralph was called on to make a save from a fine Petersfield effort.

Stockbridge started the second half well forcing a number of corners, and a Steve Witt header went narrowly over.

The home side got the all- important goal on 57 minutes when Witt headed home from a Ryan Boare cross.

Petersfield worked hard to get back in the game but a resolute Stockbridge defence kept them at bay, with defender Dave Allen in tremendous form.

Near the end, Petersfield became rattled and Swan, who had come closest to getting Town back into the match, was sent off after collecting a second yellow card for dissent.

That effectively finished off any chance they had of earning themselves a share of the points.

Petersfield: Gosling, Baker, Clark, Goulsbra, Harding, Hounslow, Jones, Keogh, Swan, Tee, Wray; subs: Payne, Poultney, Steele, Bishop, Sewell, Warwick.