Chichester Friars 0 Petersfield Veterans 4: PETERSFIELD Veterans started the league season as they had finished the last – with a comfortable victory in a closely fought game against local rivals Chichester Friars.

Pruden, White, Hulme and Parker were all guilty of missing good chances but, eventually, Thompson found Pruden at the top of the D, who jinked to the left and drilled the ball past the Chichester keeper with a sharp reverse stick strike.

This proved to be their only goal of the first half as the Chichester defence tackled well, with Petersfield attacking down the centre and failing to use the wings.

Broadmeadow, in the Petersfield goal, made a fine stick save from a Chichester penalty corner to keep the away side ahead.

Pruden continued to pick up good ball at the beginning of the second half, putting the Chichester defence under pressure – but went off injured after one lunge too many. Cornett’s entry opened up the wings, giving Cleife and Parker more opportunity to wreak havoc.

The pressure told when Cleife finished sharply from Liddle’s through ball. This was followed by a solo breakaway goal, when Cleife coolly slotted the ball past the Chichester keeper.

At 3-0 the game looked over, but Chichester rallied.

However, good defending limited Chichester to two wayward reverse stick shots and a penalty corner that Thompson cleared off the line at the far post. Liddle completed the scoring when he thumped home a loose ball at a penalty corner.