AFC Portchester 3 Petersfield Town 1: PETERSFIELD Town were left with a feeling of déjà vu after slipping to defeat at Portchester on Saturday afternoon.

For the second match running the Rams held a single goal lead at half time on the road at one of the leading clubs in the division.

But for the second match running they conceded three goals in the second half and ended up losing by two goals.

The visitors had the better of the first half thanks to their strong display but they faded badly after the interval and were again left disappointed by the final scoreline after a promising start.

Petersfield took the lead on 12 minutes after Will Essai had been shoved to the floor on the right. The free kick was crossed to the far post and Ed Plackett ran on to the ball to head it into the net.

Three minutes later the visitors should have been awarded a penalty when Billy Connor broke past former Rams player Ryan Woodford, who appeared to push the young striker over inside the box but no penalty was awarded.

The home side went close to equalising on 26 minutes when a free kick from the right found Nathan Kirby at the near post but his flicked header went just wide of the far post.

On 35 minutes the home side worked the ball forward down the right and the ball was played into the box to put Dale Mason clear but as he tried to control the ball his first touch took the ball away from goal and the chance went begging.

Three minutes before half time a cross from the left flashed across the goal but no one got the finishing touch to the ball and when Kirby tried to fire the loose ball home at the far post, he shot straight at keeper Luke Eaton.

At the other end Connor went close to doubling Petersfield’s lead when he flicked the ball over Woodford on the edge of the box but as he tried to latch on to the ball again keeper Lewis Noice raced from his line quickly to smother the danger.

Portchester looked a lot more dangerous in the second half and six minutes after the re-start the ball was played in over the defence to Mason but after the ball was only partially hacked clear away from him, Eaton just beat Steve Ramsey to the loose ball as it rolled back towards goal.

The home side drew level on 55 minutes when a cross into the box was only half cleared as Kirby tried to flick the cross on and when the ball rolled into the path of Mason he hit his shot back across goal and into the net.

Two minutes later Portchester almost took the lead when the visitors again failed to clear their lines and both Kirby and Robert Evans both had attempts at trying to turn the ball home but the danger was eventually cleared.

The home side almost sneaked a goal when a ball into the box looked to be rolling harmlessly wide until Mason managed to get a foot to the ball before it went out of play and fortunately Eaton was in front of it to deflect his toe poked effort wide of the goal.

From the corner Olly Searle almost scored against his former club but his header from the centre of the penalty area was tipped over by Eaton.

Petersfield then had a rare attack when Max Smith received the ball on the left hand side of the penalty area. Noice blocked his shot at his near post and Luke Kendall’s follow up shot at the far post was blocked behind for a corner.

The home side took the lead on 67 minutes when a ball played over the top of the visiting defence allowed Brandon Miller to drive into the box before he passed the ball across goal to Mason, who fired the ball into the net.

Bobby Scott then fired a rising shot over the crossbar and in one goalmouth scramble, Mason’s shot was saved, Kirby’s follow up effort was blocked and Eaton saved Matt Page’s shot.

Portchester made sure they secured all three points with their third goal on 77 minutes. Mason fed the ball past the visiting defence for Scott to run on to and he guided his low shot past Eaton and into the net.

The home side went close again two minutes later when Evans got in behind the defence and although he rolled the ball across the edge of the six yard box no one was there to apply the finishing touch.

Portchester had another chance on 89 minutes following a quick throw in on the right but when the ball fell to Scott 25 yards out, his shot went straight at Eaton.

Petersfield: Eaton, Plackett, Llewelyn, Tremlett, Kennedy, Geddes, Essai, Thompson (Keogh), Connor, Kendall (Tayler), Smith. Subs not used: Wycherley, Fagelman, Evans.