PETERSFIELD Ladies continued their good start to 2020 with a 3-1 win at Aldershot and Farnham’s third team.

With their captain and some senior players unavailable, Petersfield’s line-up included several talented junior players.

Despite these enforced changes and an initial period of Aldershot and Farnham dominance, the ladies soon settled into the game. The central midfield partnership of Beaton and S Bardoe dictated play in the middle of the pitch, distributing the ball effectively and using the width offered by Leach and Eames.

The first goal fell rather fortunately for the hosts, their umpire missing successive Aldershot and Farnham feet in the D before a Petersfield foot finally edged the ball over the line. Goalkeeper Arthur was unable to recover.

Petersfield responded positively from the restart. Slick passing through the midfield saw Beaton transfer quickly to Eames on the right flank, who in turn fed Hegan’s well-timed run ahead. Her tireless running paid off as she swiftly cut into the D to confidently slide the ball past the keeper.

Aldershot and Farnham put together some good passing moves themselves, but they ultimately failed to trouble the Petersfield goalkeeper as Llewelyn, Briggs and Head stood firm in defence.

Petersfield were unlucky not to take the lead before the break after a succession of narrow misses from a variety of well-worked penalty corners. The wide midfielders, Walton and Leach, continued to track back energetically, always giving support to the full-backs whenever the home side managed to push forward.

A floodlit second half started as the first half had ended, with plenty of confident passing and link-up play between S Bardoe and Beaton.

Unusually for Petersfield substitutes were available for the trip to Aldershot, giving some much-needed recovery time during this encounter.

Bidwell’s runs through the middle caused the home side endless problems, and she was well supported by Hegan, J Bardoe and O’Kelly rotating through the forward line.

Midway through the second half after a period of sustained pressure, Petersfield took a deserved lead. A breakaway attack up the right, started through Llewelyn and Eames, was nonchalantly finished off once again by Hegan with a classy reverse-stick shot.

To their credit Aldershot and Farnham kept on battling for an equaliser and almost managed to capitalise on a wayward pass across the top of the Petersfield D. The danger was averted, though, as Beaton managed to slap the ball wide left and out of harm’s way.

Petersfield’s nerves were finally settled with a few minutes remaining. J Bardoe, anticipating the next Aldershot and Farnham pass, cleverly intercepted the ball on the edge of their D and calmly played a pinpoint pass through to Bidwell, who found the backboard with a fine strike.

Petersfield played out the end of the match with trademark passing triangles round the fast freezing pitch, as the visitors ran out 3-1 winners.

The victory cements the ladies’ second place in Hampshire Division Three.