IT’S ONE of the most difficult jobs in the Sydenhams Wessex League this season but Petersfield goalkeeper Luke Eaton has no intentions of walking away from his role.

Being Petersfield Town’s first choice keeper has been a tough position to fill over the last two seasons due to the number of goals the team has been conceding and some heavy defeats experienced along the way too.

Just in league games alone during the present campaign, the Rams concede on average 4.37 goals per game. They have let in 131 goals in 30 Premier Division matches so far.

Not all of Petersfield’s drubbings this season have come on Eaton’s watch but the keeper deserves enormous credit for the positive attitude he has displayed in the face of such adversity.

“As a goalkeeper, having the league’s worst defensive record is obviously something I don’t want to be remembered for,” reflected Eaton when he considered the statistics for the campaign so far.

“It’s been tough mentally to keep playing each week but to walk away wasn’t an option for me.

“I would love for the club to get back to where it was a few years ago. I believe we could definitely start competing again at this level and make Love Lane a hard place to come to, like it was a few years back.

“Having been involved with the club when we won the Wessex League and got promoted to the Southern League, it’s given me a great deal of experience and desire to play at the highest possible level.

“A lot goes on behind the scenes at all non-league clubs, but the support and tireless efforts of club officials, volunteers and supporters is incredible at this club.

“No matter how difficult a week we could have, off and on the pitch, everyone will still work extremely hard to help the club move on and prepare for the next game.”

Memories of more successful times under former manager Ian Saunders are still fresh in the minds of most at The SureFix Home Improvements Stadium, and they certainly put the club’s current fortunes into stark contrast against those happier days.

Eaton added: “Everyone in the local football scene knows the struggles we’ve faced on and off the pitch this season.

“It’s been a tough position to be in and with the uncertainty early on in the season, with players and managers deciding to leave, it’s had lasting effects on the club and its players.

“Obviously the season hasn’t turned out how we would have liked, but there has definitely been an improvement within our play lately.

“Massive respect goes to Mark Summerhill and his coaching team for their continuous work to get squads together and bring players in. And also to everyone at the club who continues to turn up and help out where they can, and show us support.”

It’s been a whirlwind of change for Eaton over the last few seasons. Shortly before Ian Saunders departed Petersfield in July 2016 the young keeper headed to Fareham Town for a season’s loan but shortly after the deal was agreed the Rams boss had left and in the early weeks of the season Eaton picked up a serious leg injury which put him out for the whole of the season.

He was still on the road to recovery at the beginning of the current campaign and was soon thrust into first team action when he declared he was fit enough to start playing again.

Mentally it has been a tough season for Petersfield goalkeepers and Eaton has not only played the majority of games during the campaign but he has also lifted himself from thrashings like the 9-0 hammering at Hamworthy United and the 8-1 thrashing at Lymington Town and been ready to go again with a positive attitude that would have been beyond the capabilities of the majority of goalkeepers.

And despite the nightmare season the club has endured, Eaton is still proud to pull on the Petersfield goalkeeping shirt every week.

“Having been out for pretty much the past two seasons with injury, it’s been great just to be playing regular football again,” said Eaton.

“It’s not been ideal with the results we’ve been getting, but to wear the number one shirt at this club is something I’m proud of and I’ll continue to try to help turn our season around.

“Though there may not be a lot of games left, we will keep going until the very end and try and give our loyal fans something to shout about.”