AFC Rushden and Diamonds 1 Petersfield Town 1: Petersfield Town made a bright start to life in the Southern League on Saturday afternoon with a well deserved point at title favourites AFC Rushden and Diamonds.

In some respects the Rams will be disappointed they allowed the home side to find their way back into the game after the visitors played the better football in the second half when they took the lead.

However, they will more than settle for a point after Tom Lorraine wasted a golden chance to nick a winner with five minutes remaining.

Manager Ian Saunders gave four debuts to players in his starting line-up, with summer signings Ryan Woodford, Dan Sackman, Stuart Green and Michael Dixon all playing their first games for Petersfield.

The crowd of 530 seemed to be nervously quiet for the opening exchanges of the game, with the home support expectant of their side making a winning start to the campaign.

AFC Rushden and Diamonds had a host of early half chances – Daniel Quigley headed well over from in front of goal and on 14 minutes Petersfield keeper Matt Shortt had to throw himself full length to his right to keep out Steve Spriggs’ goalbound shot.

On 23 minutes the home side got the ball on the left and Courtney Herbert’s first attempt was blocked but he shot his second effort into the side netting.

On 25 minutes Petersfield had their first chance of the game when Michael Dixon worked himself some space and his low shot forced home keeper Matthew Finlay into making a low save.

Herbert then had a better chance to score moments later but he scooped his shot well over.

On 31 minutes the Rams fashioned their best chance of the first half when Jason Silver cut in from the right, fed Dixon who took the ball across the edge of the penalty area before passing to Joe Richardson, whose low bouncing shot sent Finlay scrambling across his line but the ball went wide.

The home side had the first chance of the second half when two shots were blocked inside the box before the ball ran to Tommy Berwick, who drove forward before sending his shot into the side netting.

Petersfield took the lead on 57 minutes after dominating the play for the early part of the second half. A deep cross from the left was lost by the home defence and they left Stuart Green unmarked at the far post and he was free to tuck the ball home.

The Rams almost doubled their lead a minute later when Dixon got free of his marker but his shot went just wide of the far post.

Matt Shortt then made a double save to keep the home side out again.

On 65 minutes he pushed a shot from Claudiu Hoban behind and from the corner the Rams keeper had to push Berwick’s header off the line.

AFC Rushden and Diamonds went closer still three minutes later when Woodford’s back pass fell short of the penalty area and the home winger played a pass inside to Lorraine but his effort was blocked at point blank range by the Rams defence.

However, the home side drew level on 77 minutes when a long throw in from the left found the head of Delroy Gordon and he powered his effort home from eight yards out.

AFC Rushden and Diamonds almost stole all three points with five minutes remaining when a through ball caught the Petersfield defence napping and Lorraine got on to the loose ball with only Shortt to beat.

The home support thought he had scored but he put his shot from 12 yards out high and wide of the target.

Petersfield: Shortt, Hyde, Wain, Woodford (Walker), Sackman, Ford, Green, Richardson, Dixon, Briggs, Silver. Subs not used: McEnery, Neal, Gale, C Searle.