PETERSFIELD Hockey Club’s ladies’ second team lost 3-0 at home to Southampton Ladies’ fourth team on Saturday.

The first ten minutes of the game was a midfield battle, with neither side entering the opposition areas.

However, Southampton grew into the game and for the majority of the half Petersfield were forced to defend.

Southampton registered nine short corners in the first half but were unable to score with any. A combination of quick closing down by Jenny Payne and a series of good saves from Carys Pearson kept the visitors at bay.

Southampton were also strong from open play and following good work down the right-hand side a cross was played to two attacking players on the back post, only for a diving Pearson to save with her stick at just the right angle to bisect the two attackers who were waiting to score a simple tap-in, with the ball instead going to the side line for a Southampton hit.

The match was still goalless at half time, but whatever was said during the Southampton team talk certainly made a difference.

The first goal came shortly after the interval when the visitors had numbers forward and broke into the D. A diving save from Pearson could not stop the ball heading towards the Petersfield goal, only for the defence to rush back to stop it on the line. However, a Southampton attacker bundled the ball over the line before it could be cleared.

Southampton scored a further two goals from open play in similar style, with all three goals coming within ten minutes of the restart.

The home side were then on the front foot for the remainder of the second half.

Payne made several crunching tackles in midfield, and Lauren Preston went on some driving runs from defence through to the left wing.