Newbury & Thatcham Veterans 2 Petersfield Veterans 2: PETERSFIELD Veterans scraped through to the last 16 of the Over 40s National (Tier 3) Cup with a hard fought victory against Newbury and Thatcham Veterans on penalty flicks.

Petersfield had only been able to find ten available players for this rain-drenched away match.

Newbury, by contrast, had a full side with some substitutes and made this numerical advantage count in the first 15 minutes, scoring a well-finished goal after winning a short corner after a period of sustained pressure.

Petersfield’s back line of Stu Martin, Steve Liddle and Matt Williams kept out further assaults on Mark Broadmeadow’s goal. Liddle saved one on the line and Broadmeadow made some saves to keep the visitors in the game.

Early in the second period Ian Pruden leapt towards a through ball from Matt Davis and guided the ball past the advancing Newbury keeper.

The game then swung Newbury’s way when Martin was overrun on the left flank and Newbury finished well.

Pruden then scored his second with a close-range finish after a short corner.

The match finished 2-2 and five players stepped up for the penalty flick competition to decide the winner.

Petersfield’s first flick was well saved by the Newbury keeper and they edged ahead with flicks two and three, but two fine saves by Broadmeadow and a flick to bring up Pruden’s hat-trick put the pressure on Newbury.

At the death they faltered, and Petersfield sealed their place in the next round.