Petersfield Veterans 4 Chichester Friars 3: FOR THE second time in seven days, Petersfield Veterans beat Chichester, this time putting them through to the league cup finals day on Saturday, April 16.

A depleted Chichester side started the game well and, after the ball was given away in midfield, Petersfield’s poor marking allowed Chichester to take an early lead. As has so often been the case this season, this spurred the home team into action and 20 minutes of near flawless hockey followed. First, Hulme scored through a delightful drag-flick to convert a penalty corner. White swept in another penalty corner from the left. This was followed by Dryden-Brownlee’s simple tap in after accurate passing between Hulme and Pruden cut through the Chichester defence, to give Petersfield a 3-1 lead with only 12 minutes played. Pruden added a fourth when he dispatched Dryden-Brownlee’s cross for the right.

The score could – and arguably should – have been higher as Cleife continued to run rings around the Chichester defence, but a combination of poor finishing and some fine saves from the Chichester keeper kept Petersfield at bay. As the second half approached, Chichester increasingly looked dangerous. Budden had to go off following a back strain, losing Petersfield’s aerial route out of defence. Some last gasp tackles from Wilson and Rowland, together with a couple of saves from Broadmeadow in the Petersfield goal prevented Chichester from narrowing the gap before half time.

Petersfield lost their way in the second half, not helped by a series of cards for Liddle, Pruden (twice) and Rowland, and Thompson having to retire after taking a blow defending a penalty corner. Although Chichester were dominating the game, the home side continued to have good chances. They were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal when Martin could do nothing to prevent a high deflection at a penalty corner being bundled in by Chichester. The away side then took the score to 4-3 with a well-stuck penalty corner evading the Petersfield keeper. However, the league champions played out a tense final three minutes to take them through to finals day.