Farnborough 2 Petersfield Town 0: MANY observers of this game felt Petersfield could consider themselves unlucky to come away with nothing from their visit to promotion-chasing Farnborough.

The lack of a striker who can apply the finishing touch to their game is what Petersfield are lacking right now and it was the main difference between these two sides at complete opposite ends of the table.

It was a bitterly cold evening in North Hampshire, with temperatures below freezing when the game kicked off and as low as minus four by the time the 90 minutes was completed.

The home side took the lead after 18 minutes when Olly Searle tried to hook the ball out of play but couldn’t quite stretch far enough to make a full connection. Farnborough took advantage of this and with the Petersfield defence caught out of position, Perry Coles stole in between two defenders to turn the ball into the net.

Petersfield went close to scoring on 26 minutes when Stuart Green picked up the ball following good play in midfield and he let fly with a shot which former Rams keeper Aaron Bufton had to dive full length to his left to keep out.

The Rams were almost caught napping again five minutes before half time when they weren’t ready for a free kick swung in from the left but fortunately for them John Oyenuga put his header over the top.

Petersfield were so close to levelling the scores just a minute into the second half when Will Essai put Adam Cripps through into the penalty area but his shot hit the post and the ball was cleared to safety.

On 54 minutes Michael Onovwigun was given a free header on goal from a corner on the left but just after he sent the ball towards the target, Harry Giles jumped in front of him to deflect the ball over the top.

However, from the next corner two or three Rams players went for the same ball at the near post and it was only cleared as far as Keith Emmerson who, from 15 yards out, smashed his first time shot in off the inside of the near post.

Petersfield went close to scoring again on 79 minutes when the Farnborough defence couldn’t get the ball clear. It fell to Harry Wedlake on the edge of the box and his shot was partially blocked but rolled through towards goal. He ran after the loose ball and tried to turn it over the line from two yards out but he put his effort wide.

Petersfield: Bray, Searle, Medway, Green, Benjamin, Geddes (Graham), Giles, Cripps, Andrews (Wedlake), Whittingham (Awford), Essai.