Salisbury Striders 5 Petersfield Veterans 2: PETERSFIELD Veterans’ losing run extended to five games as a strong Salisbury side won by three goals in a keenly-fought game.
An understrength Petersfield side, depleted through injury and unavailability, played some good hockey, but lacked the cohesion of the well-drilled home side.
Petersfield started with ten and conceded an early goal following a drive down the left wing and a well-taken shot at the far post.
Clay then entered the fray, providing a target up front. His impact was almost immediate after being put in space by Thompson’s precise aerial pass, giving White a good opportunity.
Cornelius, Mitchell and MacIntyre defended well but could do nothing to prevent Salisbury doubling their lead through a fierce reverse shot from the top of the D.
Petersfield continued to battle away and two penalty corners were awarded in quick succession. The first found White at the near post, but he couldn’t generate enough pace to get the ball over the line. However, Thompson converted the second to make it 2-1.
Shortly before the break, the home side scored their third goal through a well-worked penalty corner.
Petersfield began to tire in the second half, and Salisbury scored a fourth through a penalty corner that Petersfield should have cleared.
The away side responded through another Thompson penalty corner, before Salisbury wrapped up the scoring to give them a deserved 5-2 victory.