Ware 3 Petersfield Town 1: PETERSFIELD Town slumped to their 10th league defeat of the season as Ware became the first side to do the double over the Rams in the Southern League this season.

Despite going in level at half time, Petersfield’s hopes of extending their unbeaten league run were sunk by three second half goals and although they pulled a goal back and rallied late on, they had left themselves too much to do in terms of getting something from the game.

Ware’s grounds staff had done well to get the game on as the pitch was fairly heavy but both sides tried to play passing football – although there were very few chances on goal created during the first half.

On 15 minutes Kieran Bishop broke clear in midfield and fed the ball to Dernell Wynter, who took it forward into the penalty area but his low shot was blocked by the legs of keeper Luke Eaton.

Four minutes later Lewis Hyde lost the ball as he tried to bring it out of defence and Wynter took it to the edge of the six yard box before unleashing a shot which Eaton had to turn aside.

The ball was then hit to the far post where Khale Dacosta hit his first time shot high and wide of the target.

Moments before half time Ware pushed forward again and Wynter was again denied by Eaton before the ball was played to Kieran Bishop at the far post but he put his shot well over.

The home side took the lead on 53 minutes when Rams captain Jamie Ford lost the ball about 25 yards from goal and Bishop ran forward into the penalty area before dispatching a low shot under Eaton and into the net.

Petersfield almost drew level immediately when Howard Neighbour burst clear with the ball from midfield but his shot from the edge of the box was turned away by keeper Tom Coulton.

Andy Todd then won possession of the ball inside the box and took it past a defender before chipping a shot towards goal which Coulton managed to tip over the crossbar.

Ware should have doubled their lead on the hour mark when they broke clear of the Rams defence. Wynter’s shot was partially blocked and Bishop slid in to try and turn the loose ball home but he put his effort over the target.

They did get their second goal on 72 minutes when Dacosta worked himself some space on the right and his cross to the far post found Wynter completely unmarked and he turned the ball over the line from close range.

Dacosta was starting to terrorise the Petersfield defence and a minute later he cut in from the right wing and delivered a cross which hit the top of the crossbar.

Ware made it 3-0 on 75 minutes when Dacosta again cut in from the right wing and his stepover tricked his marker and he then had the time to role his shot inside the near post.

At this stage Petersfield rallied rather than let their heads drop and they pulled a goal back on 78 minutes.

They worked the ball down the right hand side and although the cross looked to have been blocked by a Ware defender’s arm it rolled to Joe Briggs and his shot was deflected up and over Coulton, who could only help the ball on its way into the net.

It could have got even better for Petersfield after 84 minutes. A cross from the left appeared to be clearly handled by a home defender and if a penalty had been given and the Rams had scored it, that would have set up a grandstand finish.

However, the referee turned down the penalty protests and from the next attack Stuart Green headed a cross straight into the arms of Coulton.

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