Arlesey Town 1 Petersfield Town 0: ARLESEY became the third Division 1 Central side to complete the double over Petersfield so far this season with an easy victory over the Rams on Saturday.

Petersfield served up a poor performance on the road and although they huffed and puffed they never really threatened to blow the home side’s nervous looking defence down and get back into the game late on.

Petersfield threatened early on with a number of dangerous crosses whipped into the penalty area but nobody could get on the end of one of them to create a goal scoring chance.

The home side looked dangerous on the counter attack and after 20 minutes Petersfield lost the ball in midfield, which allowed Tony Williams to race clear. However, as he went to hit his shot the ball bobbled up off the pitch and he screwed his effort wide of the post.

Nine minutes later the home side went close to scoring again when the ball was played into the box from the right and Dylan Gittons’ shot was blocked and Rams keeper Luke Eaton blocked Lewis Wilson’s effort from the rebound.

Joseph Steele then got his header all wrong when well positioned to score from a free kick and Gittons created a chance when he cut inside the penalty area on the right but his shot was deflected wide for a corner.

Arlesey scored on the stroke of half time when Gittons took the ball down the right wing after Petersfield lost possession in midfield. The Rams defence was stretched and the ball to the far post found Christian Tavernier unmarked and he slammed his shot into the roof of the net.

Petersfield enjoyed the better of the chances during the second half but they lacked conviction in front of goal to get anything from this game.

On 58 minutes a short corner routine saw the ball rolled into the path of Mike Needham on the edge of the penalty area but he screwed his shot wide of the target.

The home side again threatened on the counter attack and on 71 minutes Arlesey broke forward down the right before the ball was pulled back into the path of Wilson but he put his shot straight into the hands of Eaton.

Two minutes later substitute Jordan Neal had a free header at the far post after the ball was crossed in from the right but his effort looped up over the crossbar and Howard Neighbour’s header from a free kick curled away from the target.

Petersfield’s best chance of the game came on 81 minutes when the ball was played up to Joe Briggs from midfield. His first touch was excellent and set up a scoring chance from 15 yards out.

Keeper Nick Thompson had already gone to ground and all Briggs had to do was lift his shot over him into the empty net but he tried to curl in a low shot and put the ball straight into the keeper’s hands.

The visitor’s final chance came with three minutes remaining when Lewis Hyde’s cross from the right was flicked on into the path of Neighbour, who tried to guide his header into the goal but ended up putting it wide.

Petersfield: Eaton, Buckland, Wain, Green (Neal), Hyde, Ford, Richardson, Needham, Neighbour, Briggs, Bailey. Subs not used: O Searle, Saunders, Silver, Ender.