PETERSFIELD Ladies continued their excellent form with a 2-1 victory at Southampton Ladies’ third team on Saturday.

Southampton won the toss and opted for the first push back, but Petersfield pressed their hosts from the start.

A wayward pass from Southampton was picked off by O’Kelly and Petersfield went on the attack. O’Kelly fed to Bell on the left, who found L Day forward up the left wing.

Driving to the baseline, she fed back to the top of the D for Eames, who went for goal. The keeper confidently saved the shot off her kicker, but the power of the deflection caught a Southampton defender unaware and the contact with her foot gave Petersfield their first short corner.

S Bardoe injected it short to Eames on the left, who slipped it back to S Bardoe on the baseline. She fed it through to Easton, and the ball found a Southampton foot and another short corner was awarded.

This time S Bardoe injected to Easton for a strike. The ball was hit cleanly and fired towards the back post, but the keeper just tipped it wide of the post.

Petersfield reset for the long corner. Easton fed the ball to Eames on the right, who found J Bardoe on the baseline.

J Bardoe drove the ball into the D and slipped it back on the angle for a deflection in-front of goal. However, Southampton picked up the ball and launched a counter attack. Petersfield were caught on the back foot and Southampton opened the scoring.

Petersfield responded positively and S Bardoe fed the ball for Easton to run on to. Driving into the D, Easton went for goal. The ball beat the keeper to the back post and was deflected by the defender, marking O’Kelly off the ball, who tipped it across her own line to make it 1-1 at half time.

Petersfield largely dominated the second half, controlling play in the Southampton half but they were unable to convert opportunities past the opposition’s keeper.

Petersfield had to keep up their intensity. Easton drove to the baseline and beat a defender before slipping the ball in-front of goal for three waiting forwards. Miscommunication meant nobody went for the deflection and the ball slipped past for the Southampton defence to pick up.

Gifted the opportunity, Southampton were able to make a break down the pitch. Sebastain-Todd drove the forward wide, and Head picked the ball off the Southampton forward and found Bell.

Back on the attack, Petersfield were determined not to let another opportunity slip by as the umpire called two minutes left of play.

Bell linked with O’Kelly, who had switched to left forward and was sitting high on the pitch. O’Kelly fed the ball back to the 25 line for Eames.

She found L Day running in and took the chance for a strike. The keeper had the angle covered but did not see S Bardoe running in.

The keeper’s deflection went straight to S Bardoe’s stick, and she scored to secure a late win for the visitors.

Petersfield remain second with a game in hand and will host league leaders Poole at Dunhurst School on Saturday.