Petersfield Town 1 Arlesey Town 2: PETERSFIELD Town slumped to their third league defeat in seven days as Arlesey Town staged a second half fightback to claim all three points on Saturday.

Both sides deserved enormous credit for trying to play football in appalling conditions, with a gale force wind sweeping down the pitch throughout the match.

However, the Rams again failed to close out a match which they were in control of at one stage – a problem which is becoming the Achilles heel of their game in the league this season.

They started well enough when Jamie Ford had the opening chance of the match after four minutes. He picked up the ball 12 yards out after good build up play and his shot was tipped over the crossbar by the fingertips of keeper Nick Thompson.

Then Howard Neighbour found some space and turned to shoot from the edge of the box but his effort went straight at Thompson.

The visitors went close to scoring on 14 minutes when Lewis Wilson found space in the penalty area after a throw in from the left but Rams keeper Anthony Ender pulled off a fantastic one handed save at his near post to push the shot behind for a corner.

Petersfield took the lead on 26 minutes when a free kick close to the half way line was rolled forward to Oliver Bailey on the edge of the penalty area. He turned his marker and got to the byline before pulling the ball back across goal where Neighbour got enough of a touch on it to divert it over the line.

Wilson somehow missed a sitter moments later when a cross from the right found him unmarked two yards out but he scooped the ball over the crossbar and on to the roof of the net.

Ben Farrell then blazed his effort well over when well placed and Wilson was denied again by Ender when the keeper turned away his toe poked shot on goal.

The Rams weren’t pleased with the way they gave the visitors their equaliser after 58 minutes. For the second home match running the goal came from a free kick on the right hand side of the penalty area.

This time Luke Abraham caught everyone off guard by curling the ball straight into the net at the unguarded near post.

What proved to be the winner came on 66 minutes when substitute Tarum Dawkins surged forward down the left hand side before pulling the ball back across goal to Nathan Olukanmi who had the simple task of turning the ball into the empty net.

Ender had to pull off another great save to keep Petersfield in the game on 77 minutes. Dylan Gittens received the ball in the penalty area and hit a first time shot at goal which the Rams keeper just managed to tip around the post.

Petersfield knew it wasn’t going to be their day when they had a series of chances with 11 minutes remaining.

A quick break saw the ball played on from Andy Todd to David Jerrard who fired a shot on goal but Thompson made a fine one handed save to keep it out.

From the corner a header looked to be heading into the net but from nowhere a defender jumped to keep the ball from crossing the line and no one from Petersfield could turn the loose ball into the net.

Petersfield: Ender, Searle (Richardson), Wain (Silver), Brice, Sackman, Ford, Hyde, Jerrard, Neighbour (Todd), Briggs, Oliver. Subs not used: Thompson, Green.