Petersfield Town 0 Bemerton Heath Harlequins 5: THERE were plenty of fireworks around Love Lane at the weekend but the visitors had to be relied upon to provide a display for the watching crowd.
Petersfield’s performance resembled that of a disappointing firework – a bright start but ultimately the overall impression given was disappointing.
And this came against a side the Rams need to be beating at home if they are to climb away from relegation danger as the season progresses.
It all looked like it was going to be very different during the opening spell of Saturday’s Wessex Premier Division match.
The home side started well and Grant Powell forced keeper Robert Crossley to make a save down to his right when he shot from 30 yards out on four minutes.
Two minutes later Max Elward sent his header from a corner on the right towards goal from 15 yards out but it dropped just wide.
Bemerton created their first chance of note on 16 minutes when Kelvin Robinson was played in behind the defence and from inside the penalty area he hit a low shot which forced keeper Luke Eaton into making a sharp save.
Two minutes later and the Rams went close again – a corner from the right found Will Essai and after his shot was charged down the ball ran to Elward, who hit a low shot through a crowd of players towards goal but Crossley dived full length to his left to keep the ball out.
Seb Dawes had a goal disallowed for offside before the visitors broke the deadlock on 22 minutes. Dawes and Robinson both had shots on goal partially blocked but at the third time of asking Jordan Matthews tucked the ball into the net from close range.
Matthews went close again just a minute later when Eaton had to block his shot from inside the six yard box and when Dawes had a good opportunity to score, he put his effort high and wide of the target.
Matthews had a goal disallowed and he then had another chance when he picked up Nick Tayler’s headed clearance but Eaton comfortably gathered up his low shot.
Bemerton’s second goal two minutes after half time was too easily scored – a corner from the left was headed home at the far post by Dawes who had been left unmarked.
Robinson then smashed his shot well over when he found himself in front of goal and Luke Walker picked up the ball inside the box at the other end but his shot on the turn went wide of the target.
Bemerton’s third goal came on 70 minutes when Petersfield’s defence failed to deal with a ball through the middle and Matthews ran on to the ball, took it around Eaton and then rolled his shot into the empty net.
Matthews completed his hat-trick seven minutes later when he swept his shot into the back of the net from the edge of the penalty area and the final goal came on 81 minutes when Robinson got to a cross first on the edge of the six yard box to be able to convert his shot into the net.
Petersfield: Eaton, Gilbert, Kershaw, Elward (Carabetchi), Plackett, Tayler, Powell, Wycherley, Boxall, Walker (Thomas), W Essai (Tremlett). Subs not used: Evans, Fagelman.