Petersfield Town 1 Northwood 0: PETERSFIELD Town played the part of promotion party poopers as they dented the play-off hopes of Northwood with this victory last Wednesday night.

It was an even contest throughout and the visitors looked very disappointed with the outcome of the match on the final whistle.

They continued what they had done throughout the game as the match officials tried to make their way back to the dressing room. The referee and his assistants had had to deal with a constant barrage of protest over almost any decision made during the 90 minutes.

In the end though Petersfield got their noses in front and then withstood increasing pressure put on their defence as the game wore on to get all three points.

Joe Briggs had an early half chance when his diving header attempt couldn’t quite connect with a cross from the left to the far post.

At the other end Rams keeper Luke Eaton had to race quickly off his line to clear the ball as Rob Hastings tried to beat him to it. Louis Stead then had two good chances to score – he dragged his first effort wide of the target and then he beat Eaton with a shot from the edge of the box but it bounced back off the post.

Moments before half time Hastings got on the end of a long through ball but his shot was blocked by Eaton’s body.

Petersfield got their goal on 56 minutes when they found some space down the right – one of few occasions on the night when they outfoxed the Northwood defence.

Andy Todd battled well to win the ball in midfield and it was played down the right to Briggs. His deep cross found Oliver Bailey at the far post and he directed his free header inside the post and keeper Berkley Laurencin couldn’t keep it out.

Northwood had what they thought were strong calls for a penalty turned down and then Niko Muir got on the end of a deep cross from the right but couldn’t turn the ball home.

Northwood kept pressing Petersfield and in the closing stages a lot of the game was played in and around the Rams’ box but they just couldn’t find a way through the home defence, even with the addition of over six minutes of added time at the end of the game.

Petersfield: Eaton, O Searle, Wain, Green, Hyde, Ford, Richardson, Todd (Giles), Neighbour, Briggs, Bailey. Subs not used: Geddes, Saunders, Buckland, Ender.