Guildford Veterans 0 Petersfield Veterans 3: AFTER losing out to Bournemouth in a national cup game, Petersfield Veterans returned to winning ways with an assured performance against Guildford.
The first half was dominated by a virtuoso performance from Cleife, who ran the Guildford defence ragged.
Despite some robust defending, he scored two goals – the first a smart self-take free hit that he drove into the D and slammed past the Guildford keeper, the second a trade-mark dribble that he slotted away at the far post.
It was by no means a one-man show, with Rowland giving fine distribution from the back and marshalling Cornelius and Wilson into a secure defensive unit, with Liddle bossing midfield.
Pruden made an unexpected but welcome return to the side and went close with a couple of reverse stick strikes, while the running of Parker and Dryden-Brownlee gave Cleife the space to run the game.
In the second half Petersfield played a less expansive but well-measured game, but could not put the ball home.
Cleife turned down a couple of open goals while Pruden flicked the ball over a gaping net when following up a penalty corner.
Eventually the pressure told when Petersfield were awarded a penalty flick, which Cornett converted despite a strong touch from the Guildford keeper.
Guildford looked dangerous on the counter, and it took a couple of timely interventions from Broadmeadow at the top of the D to prevent Guildford narrowing the gap.