Fareham Ladies III 1 Petersfield 7: PETERSFIELD Hockey Club’s ladies’ first team continued their excellent start to the season with a comprehensive victory against Fareham Ladies’ third team on Saturday.

Despite having only ten players, Petersfield dominated the game from start to finish.

Petersfield put the home side under pressure in the first five minutes, denying their opponents any opportunity to make advances beyond their own third of the pitch.

O’Kelly, S Bardoe and Hedges frustrated their opponents by restricting space and movement.

The tactic paid off for the visitors and Petersfield took control early on and created scoring opportunities for J Bardoe and O’Kelly.

Both players were well positioned to convert but were denied by a tenacious Fareham defence.

It was Easton’s emphatic tackle in the centre of the pitch which dispossessed a perplexed Fareham player and led to the first goal.

Spreading the ball wide, Easton’s heavily disguised pass found Beaton, who pushed the ball neatly into the path of the athletic Hegan.

She took on her opponent with ease and the ball found Hedges, who was able to drive the ball over the line for her first goal.

Hedges was able to add another goal to her tally shortly afterwards.

Llewelyn at right-back calmly deprived Fareham during a rare midfield attack and initiated a switch of play which led to a string of passes between Sebastian-Todd and Easton.

Easton slipped the ball to O’Kelly, who took on her opponent and supplied Hedges, who took full advantage to put Petersfield 2-0 up.

The visitors scored a third goal before half time.

S Bardoe received the ball and found Beaton.

After an exchange of passes S Bardoe set up Beaton on the edge of the D, and she promptly delivered a fierce shot to make it 3-0.

After the break Petersfield continued to keep the home team at bay.

The visitors’ well rehearsed press prevented Fareham from making any serious advances as Petersfield successfully closed out all of the home team’s attacking options.

O’Kelly and Hedges regularly won the ball and fed Hegan at any opportunity.

Hegan took on the tiring Fareham defence and created many chances for the visitors, two of which were converted by Hedges.

A one-two exchange with J Bardoe led to Hegan herself penetrating the D and flicking an accurate shot into the right-hand corner of the goal.

The visitors then conceded a goal against the run of play.

Petersfield keeper Jones, who had been untroubled until that point, was beaten by a rare but unstoppable shot.

Both Beaton and Easton’s efforts and commitment to win every ball paid off as they dominated the midfield area.

A nice move which involved Llewelyn, Sebastian-Todd and O’Kelly then won Petersfield a short corner.

It was captain Easton who this time accepted an accurate injection from S Bardoe, who rattled the backboard to score Petersfield’s seventh goal and seal a comprehensive 7-1 victory for the visitors.

Petersfield Ladies are top of the Hampshire Division 3 (Women) table with nine points after winning their first three matches of the season.

Petersfield are at home this Saturday, and will be looking for a fourth victory of the season when they entertain Bournemouth’s fourth team at Dunhurst School (2.45pm).