PETERSFIELD Ladies faced a tough test on Saturday when they hosted runaway league leaders Poole.

The hosts started the game the better, bossing the possession in the first 15 minutes.

The first goal came shortly afterwards and is not one the Poole keeper will want to remember. Hedges ran into the D and hit an off balance shot towards the goal which the goalie appeared to have easily covered, but a badly timed left foot kick away sliced the ball into an empty goal.

For a Poole team who had not lost this season this was not a position they were used to and for the next ten minutes it was Petersfield who looked the more likely to add to their goal tally. Further good work from Eames, S Bardoe and Easton, who were playing possessional hockey, meant Poole were chasing the ball while the hosts looked for the opening to release Hedges, who was a threat throughout the game.

As the visitors started to settle into the game it was clear their main threat was going to come from their number six midfielder who orchestrated a lot of their attacking chances, and they had a real strength at hitting a dead ball with pace and accuracy.

The physical aspect of Poole’s game was evident throughout the match, but Petersfield were prepared for it and countered well.

Leech, though, did not thank the Poole player who smashed the ball from a dead position at her shins from a short distance.

Petersfield’s defence of Briggs, Sebastian-Todd and Llewelyn, with Pearson in goal, had to be on top of their game throughout the match as Poole have been averaging eight goals in each game over the past five matches.

The visitors did draw level in the first half from a well-worked short corner. Having shown their strength from the dead ball, the visitors opted to pass the ball left from the top of the D to their attacker, who hit a shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal.

Chances started to come at both ends, with Petersfield making it 2-1 through Day.

Poole pressed for an equaliser and thought they had scored from their second short corner. The ball this time was passed direct to the top of the D and was met by a screaming shot which had to be saved at full stretch by Pearson.

The home side couldn’t hold out until half time, as Poole scored from open play shortly before the break to make it 2-2.

The second half was very much more of the same, with both teams trading attacking plays. Both teams were passing the ball intelligently and accurately and creating chances, with Petersfield enjoying some well-worked attacks through Day, J Bardoe and O’Kelly.

Petersfield went 3-2 ahead through Hedges, which was well received by the crowd.

The home side tried to hold on for the win going into the last 15 minutes, only for Poole to draw level and then go ahead for the first time in the game through some very clinical finishing to lead 4-3.

As Petersfield chased an equaliser it left more space at the back, which Poole ultimately exploited through a fifth and final goal to give them a flattering scoreline.