AFC Portchester 4 Petersfield Town 0: PETERSFIELD Town’s Hampshire Senior Cup campaign was over almost as quickly as it started last Tuesday night.

The Rams found themselves 4-0 down after only 17 minutes and although the remaining 73 minutes of the match were fairly evenly contested, the damage had already been done.

The Wessex Premier Division hosts got their first goal after only three minutes when the ball was worked up to the edge of the penalty area quickly and an initial shot was partially blocked but the ball ran to Joe Noakes who slammed his low shot under Aaron Bufton’s dive and into the net.

The home side doubled their advantage three minutes later when Petersfield got caught in possession and after the ball was moved forward quickly again, it was rolled to Jake Peppel who dispatched the ball into the net off the post.

The third goal came on 13 minutes when Thomas Cain picked up the ball on the right and cut inside the penalty area. His first effort on goal was blocked but the rebound rolled to him and he tapped the ball home from close range.

A miserable start for the Rams was completed four minutes later when the ball was worked up the left hand side and Peppel slid in on a low cross to tuck the ball home.

Petersfield had their first chance on 20 minutes when Jordan Neal curled a free kick from 25 yards out well over the top.

The home side then missed a penalty on 35 minutes when Nathan Kirby skied his spot kick well over the crossbar.

Petersfield had two chances in the closing minutes of the first half. First Alex Miroy went close with a dipping shot that went just wide and then from a throw in Stuart Green looped his shot towards goal and forced keeper Lloyd Thomas to tip the ball wide.

At the other end Noakes went close to scoring again when he cut in from the left but Bufton made a good save from his low shot.

In the second half Petersfield had two decent chances to score when they hit the post on 48 minutes and then Kirby had to clear a header off the line to keep the visitors out.

At the other end Peppel got clear of the defence and hit a fierce low shot which Bufton just about managed to smother before it went in.

Midway through the half Dan Simmonds had the ball in the net following some quick play down the right from Petersfield but it was ruled out for offside.

Bufton had to be alert in the closing minutes to ensure the home side did not snatch another goal – he had to push aside Miles Everett’s effort from 25 yards out and then substitute Cameron Quirke fired a shot towards goal from the edge of the penalty area but the Rams keeper was equal to it again.

Petersfield: Bufton, Searle, Smith, Giles, Page, Needham, Miroy, Green, J Neal, Simmonds, Wedlake, B Neal. Subs: Kendall, Harvey, Buckland, Hill.