Marlow 2 Petersfield Town 2: PETERSFIELD Town were good value for their point at Marlow in the Southern League Division 1 Central on Saturday afternoon.

The Rams led at half time, drew level after going behind in the second half and towards the end of the match when the play opened up, they looked increasingly likely to catch the home side with one of their counter attacks.

Petersfield got an early boost when home keeper Simon Grant played the opening 15 minutes with an injury before being replaced by striker Marcus Mealing.

Marlow had the first chance of note in the game on eight minutes when Ben Buckland had to head off the line from Calam Gallimore’s close range effort.

Five minutes later a quick move from the visitors saw Alfie Whittingham roll the ball into Dan Simmonds’ path but his near post shot was blocked.

On 19 minutes Petersfield were almost gifted a goal when the stand-in keeper Mealing’s attempted clearance fell straight to Simmonds 35 yards out and his first time shot on the empty goal bounced up off the pitch and hit the crossbar before being cleared to safety.

Jordan Brown had two good chances for Marlow – the first swerving effort was gathered at the second attempt by Rams keeper Aaron Bufton and then he shot straight at the keeper from the edge of the box.

Isaac Osei-Tutu got no power behind his header on goal and Bufton had to tip another effort over the crossbar. At the other end Harry Giles had a shooting chance from the edge of the area but he couldn’t get enough power behind his effort to test the keeper.

The Rams took the lead on 33 minutes when Jordan Neal got the ball on the left and threaded his pass inside to Simmonds, who had got clear of the home defence before smashing his shot past the keeper.

Petersfield went close again four minutes before half time when a deep ball forward from a free kick found Simmonds, whose shot was saved but he rolled the rebound to Giles on the edge of the penalty area whose effort was deflected over the crossbar.

The home side almost snatched an equaliser in injury time at the end of the first half when a quick ball forward caught the Petersfield defence napping and Anaclet Odhiambo latched on to Osei-Tutu’s knock on but he put his shot wide of an open goal.

The home side made a quick start to the second half and Osei-Tutu almost drew them level but he put his shot wide after good build up play from midfield.

Marlow made it 1-1 on 51 minutes when Osei-Tutu was brought down by Giles on the edge of the box and Alex Salmon sent Bufton the wrong way with his penalty.

The home side took the lead two minutes later when Odhiambo latched on to a long clearance down the right, cut inside and then beat Bufton at his near post with his low shot.

However, the Rams were back on level terms just four minutes later when Whittingham was brought down in the box and Simmonds sent the keeper the wrong way with his spot kick.

Petersfield rode their luck a little as the home side went close to scoring again on several occasions – Bufton made an easy save from Sam Bangura’s free kick before blocking Odhiambo’s effort from point blank range and then Marlow had a goal disallowed for offside.

Odhiambo smashed over the top when well placed with 15 minutes remaining, Bufton then got down low to cut out a dangerous cross and at the other end substitute Connor Hoare got the ball in space 25 yards out but fired his shot straight at the keeper.

In injury time, good build-up play for Marlow put Odhiambo clear inside the penalty area but his low shot went across the face of goal and wide of the far post.

Petersfield: Bufton, Searle, Buckland, Giles, Page (Smith), Needham, Miroy (Hoare), Green, J Neal (Coker), Simmonds, Whittingham. Sub not used: Woodford.