PETERSFIELD Hockey Club’s ladies’ first team crashed to an emphatic 4-0 defeat against Salisbury Ladies’ third team on Saturday.

It was a rare home defeat for Petersfield, despite a gallant effort. They badly missed captain Easton, who was unwell.

Salisbury soon settled into a rhythm which allowed them to dictate the tempo for the majority of the match.

For the first ten minutes of the game a slick and well-structured Salisbury team burst into pockets of space, forcing Petersfield into their own half of the pitch.

The home team’s defence were swiftly challenged and, as a result, midfielders Beaton, S Bardoe and A Leach became defensively active too.

Llewelyn, Briggs and Sebastian-Todd successfully challenged some spirited play by the opposition, but the visitors did make their mark from a short corner. Salisbury were denied further chances in the first half by Sebastian-Todd, who repeatedly blocked balls and forced the Salisbury attackers to reset the play.

Anna O’Kelly was her usual industrious self, providing options for the midfield. She was unfortunate not to find herself on the scoresheet three minutes before the break. She received a fast-paced cross from winger Eames along the baseline, but she was unable to direct the ball past the post.

Anna O’Kelly found a Salisbury foot, resulting in a short corner, which despite the best efforts of Hedges and J Bardoe was desperately scrambled away by Salisbury.

After the break Salisbury appeared to moved up a gear and maintained a methodical approach, exploiting space and making it difficult for Petersfield to find their shape and grasp hold of the game.

Petersfield fought hard to disrupt the visitors’ momentum. Valiant efforts were made by Eames, Beaton and A Leach to gain possession, switch play and make advances up the pitch, only for the home side to become frustrated when passes were intercepted.

Petersfield keeper Alex O’Kelly was repeatedly called into action and made some significant saves, including a mid-air stick interception on a goalbound shot.

Salisbury did find a way through via a short corner, and they followed it up with a third goal five minutes later.

Halfway through the second period S Bardoe played a well-timed pass for Hedges to run on to. Hedges took a touch just inside the D and struck her effort well, but was denied by the sprawling Salisbury keeper.

Beaton continued to work hard, and midfielder S Bardoe progressed skilfully up the left-hand side of the pitch.

The home team were caught on the break and the visitors finished the match off with a final, unstoppable, fourth goal five minutes from time.

A disappointing result for the home side, who despite producing a feisty performance weren’t able to gel sufficiently on this occasion.

The defeat has seen Petersfield Ladies slip to fourth place in the Hampshire Division 3 (Women) table. The team will hope to return to winning ways on Saturday, although they will face a tough test when they travel to second-placed Yateley Ladies’ second team.