Petersfield Veterans 3 Alton Veterans 2: A NEW-LOOK Petersfield Veterans side huffed and puffed and again just managed to get over the line with a win against a competitive Alton team.

New boys Cleife and Rowland added skill and determination and all seemed to be going well when fine approach play from Cleife found Pruden in space, leaving him with a simple tap-in.

Field’s expansive play continued and Ulph, Pruden, Liddle and White were unfortunate to find the Alton keeper in sparkling form. Midway through the half, Pruden scored his second – a trademark run from right to left across the top of the D, followed by a fierce reverse stick shot into the bottom corner.

MacIntyre, Rowland and Cornelius seemed to be marshalling the Alton forwards with ease, but a smart first time shot dribbled over the line after Broadmeadow made the initial save. Alton continued to apply pressure, and it took good saves off the line from Cornelius and Martin to keep Petersfield ahead at half time.

For the first 20 minutes of the second half, Alton pressed Petersfield, playing five up front and also dominating midfield. This was not helped by Petersfield’s weak and inaccurate passing that kept turning possession over.

However, Rowland was reading the game increasingly well, adding impetus to Petersfield’s attacks from the back. One of these saunters forward found Ulph via a smart Dryden-Brownlee pass, who bundled the ball home to give the hosts some breathing space.

This didn’t last long, with Petersfield’s defence leaving four players unmarked at the far post to tap the ball past the helpless keeper. Further scares followed, but good saves from Broadmeadow and some steely tackling from Martin after a long injury lay-off kept Field ahead.

For the last 15 minutes of the game, Petersfield regained their poise and control of the game. However, although numerous chances to increase the lead presented themselves – most noticeably Cleife’s aerial pas to White who hooked the ball out of the ground and Ulph’s slides at the far post – Field could not find the killer goal.

In the end, Petersfield were relieved to hear the final whistle to end a game that, in truth, they should have won by a much wider margin.