Petersfield Town 1 AFC Portchester 3: PETERSFIELD paid the price for giving Portchester an early two goal advantage in this Wessex Premier Division match on Tuesday night.

The Rams found themselves 2-0 down after only eight minutes at Love Lane as former manager Ian Saunders returned to the place where he enjoyed considerable success during his time in charge.

His current side Portchester had to endure plenty of pressure in the second half when the home side pulled a goal back but a third strike for the visitors ensured they headed back down the A3 with all three points.

The first goal on three minutes was a soft one given away by the home side. A cross from the left was hung up high and as keeper Luke Eaton tried to pluck it out of the air, former Rams player Andy Todd got between the ball and the keeper and knocked it over the line from close range.

The second goal five minutes later came from another Petersfield error when they gave the ball away as they tried to push forward. Portchester threaded a pass through the home defence to send Steve Ramsey clear and he had the time to pick his spot and rifle his shot into the net.

Petersfield went close to pulling a goal back on 13 minutes when Billy Connor put keeper Cameron Scott under pressure and his clearance fell straight to Josh Wycherley, who tried to lift the ball into the empty net from 30 yards out but his effort dropped behind the net.

Portchester continued to look a threat and Todd’s shot on the turn from 10 yards out went wide and Dean Hudson then found himself in space inside the penalty area and Eaton had to block his low shot with his legs.

Bobby Scott then picked up the ball in midfield and drove past his marker before firing off a shot from the edge of the box that went wide.

Substitute Will Essai then got around his marker inside the penalty area and pulled the ball back to Max Elward, who fired off a shot which appeared to be blocked by a defender’s arm but the referee waved away the home side’s strong protests.

Grant Powell went close to scoring on 41 minutes when he found his way into the left hand side of the penalty area and he tried to fire the ball inside the far post but it swerved the wrong way and narrowly missed the target.

Two minutes later Portchester almost got lucky in front of goal again when a cross from the left by Robert Evans found Matt Page at the far post. He hit his shot back across goal and it hit a player but fortunately from the home side’s perspective it flew away from the goal.

Petersfield were right back in the game eight minutes into the second half when they won a penalty. Powell kept trying to get past the visiting defence and he fed the ball to Connor, who was taken out from behind by a defender. Essai made no mistake with his spot kick.

The Rams almost drew level on 57 minutes when a corner from the right picked out Ed Plackett but his header drifted just the wrong side of the post.

The home side continued to press the opposition but they could not find a way through, despite creating a couple of half chances.

Portchester made sure of getting all three points when they got their third goal with six minutes remaining. A cross from the right was knocked back across goal and substitute Alex Baldaccino was given a free header in front of goal and he ensured the ball found the back of the net.

Petersfield: Eaton, Tayler, Geddes (W Essai), Wycherley (Boxall), Plackett, Evans, Gilbert (Kendall), Elward, Connor, Powell, Tremlett. Subs not used: Thomas, Fagelman.