Hamworthy United 9 Petersfield Town 0: PETERSFIELD Town had to endure another heavy defeat on Saturday – this time at the hands of high-flying Hamworthy United.

The home side had the advantage of knowing how to play on the artificial pitch while the Rams had to field another depleted side due to injuries and unavailability.

Indeed two of their starting 11 shouldn’t have been playing – one played with a broken nose and another had a heavy flu virus going into the game.

Hamworthy hit the post in only the third minute when the ball was partially cleared by the visiting defence and Dan O’Sullivan drove forward before seeing his effort rebound off the woodwork.

The first goal of the afternoon came on five minutes when a cross from the left reached the far post and O’Sullivan was allowed to steal in unmarked and he tucked his shot home.

It was 2-0 five minutes later when Petersfield’s Jon Small was caught in possession on the edge of his own penalty area and Dan Cann ran through with the ball before smashing his shot home.

Sam Clarke then had a free header from a corner which drifted wide of the target and Steve Smith had two chances to score – a header at the near post and then keeper Luke Eaton blocked his follow up effort with his legs.

Petersfield should have got on the scoresheet on 26 minutes when a free kick from the right was curled perfectly towards the far post but two players completely missed a simple tap in from six yards out.

It was 3-0 on 27 minutes when Petersfield were again caught trying to play their way out of defence. Cann picked up the ball on the right and took it along the edge of the area before unleashing a low shot which found the bottom corner of the net.

Cann then had another shot blocked by Eaton’s legs before Petersfield were caught in possession yet again but this time substitute Edgar Zanin swerved his shot wide when well placed.

The visitors conceded just a minute into the second half after the ball had been worked forward down the left and when the cross came into the centre Carl Preston was on hand to finish off the move from close range.

It was 5-0 on 55 minutes when a cross into the box was knocked down into the path of Cann who steered his shot into the corner of the net to complete his hat-trick.

The sixth goal came on the hour mark after Hamworthy had hit the post in their previous attack. The ball was played through the centre of the defence and Smith latched on to it to tuck his shot past Eaton.

The next goal came on 67 minutes when the ball was played across to the far post and Zanin hooked his shot home at the second attempt while he was on the floor.

It was 8-0 on 70 minutes when a shot from outside the penalty area was lifted over Eaton by Zanin and into the net. The overworked keeper made a fine save moments later though when he kept out Preston’s header from a cross.

Eaton then saved another effort by Cann and the follow up shot on goal was hooked off the line by Michael Essai to prevent a certain goal.

The scoring was completed somewhat surprisingly 15 minutes before the end when Zanin shot from just inside the penalty area and although Eaton got a strong hand to the ball, it still bounced up and flew into the top corner of the net.

Petersfield: Eaton, Johnson, Kershaw, Tremlett, Dove (M Essai), Elward, Bedford, Small, Boxall (Thomas), Evans, W Essai.