Petersfield Town 1 Horndean 5: HORNDEAN deservedly took all three points from the East Hampshire derby clash held at Love Lane on Hallowe’en night.

The struggling Rams gave the high-flying Deans a fright when they took the lead early on but a scary second half slump, which saw the home side concede three goals in four minutes, allowed Horndean to head home with the treat of an away win in their pockets.

The visitors had the first chance of the game on six minutes when Mark Smith had a free header from a corner at the near post but he put his effort well over the top.

No one was expecting what happened next when Petersfield took the lead after eight minutes. Grant Powell latched on to a clearance 25 yards out and although it looked like his speculative effort was going wide, it hit the inside of the post and bounced into the net.

However, Petersfield’s advantage only lasted six minutes. The ball was crossed in from the right and Miles Everett got a strong enough touch to his shot to ensure it beat keeper Luke Eaton and rolled into the net.

On 21 minutes the ball was worked down the right again and eventually it found Josh Maloney in the middle of the penalty area and his low shot had to be blocked by Eaton’s legs.

The Rams almost re-took the lead two minutes later when a corner from the right was knocked down into the path of young striker Matt Roberts and his shot hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced down inside the six yard box before it was hacked clear.

Horndean got themselves in front for the first time on 26 minutes when Josh Maloney picked up the ball on the left hand edge of the box and he had the time to unleash an unstoppable shot which found the far corner of the net.

The Deans tried to press home their advantage further after this but Smith shot well over when a low free kick ran in his direction and Eaton made an easy save from Everett’s shot from the edge of the box.

At the other end Will Essai ghosted past three players before hitting a shot which had Horndean keeper Aaron Holt well beaten but it swerved away from the target.

In the second half the two sides traded chances with Joe Boxall for Petersfield trying to place his shot home but it went just wide and at the other end Everett put his half chance off target as well, before forcing Eaton to block another shot at his near post.

Another header in front of goal had to be cleared off the line by the Petersfield defence before their four minutes of madness arrived mid-way through the half.

Horndean extended their lead on 63 minutes when a cross came in from the right and Smith got in front of his marker to hook the ball home at the near post.

Two minutes later it was 4-1 when the visitors won a penalty after one of their players was sent tumbling as he made his way into the penalty area. Jack Maloney buried his spot kick into the opposite corner from where Eaton was diving towards.

The fifth goal came two minutes after that when Petersfield lost the ball as they looked to break forward and Sam Hookey picked up possession before looping his shot over Eaton and into the net.

Smith could have made it 6-1 with two minutes remaining but after making his way into the penalty area he hit his shot over the target.

Petersfield: Eaton, Fagelman, Gilbert (Walker), Wycherley, Plackett, Elward, Powell, Small (Thomas), Boxall, Roberts (Kendall), W Essai. Subs not used: Evans.