Alton Veterans 3 Petersfield Veterans 4: PETERSFIELD Veterans managed to win with a stuttering performance in gloomy conditions to maintain their lead at the top of the league.

Petersfield dominated the first half, but struggled to break down the robust and resilient Alton defence. Much of the possession they had was wasted with speculative balls into the Alton D being easily picked off and little use made of Parker and Dryden-Brownlee. On the two occasions that they did get behind the Alton defence, goals resulted. Dryden Brownlee’s pass from the back-line on the right found Liddle, who rounded the keeper and lifted it over him with a deft reverse-stick flick. This was followed by Parker’s perseverance on the left getting the ball through to Bilsland who stopped, swung and doubled the lead.

Budden, Liddle, Cornett and Williams were comfortable in midfield and Rowland, Martin and Cornelius had no problem mopping the handful of Alton attacks. However, shortly before half time, a missed tackle saw Alton burst through and the ball was placed into the Petersfield goal past a flat-footed Broadmeadow.

The second half was more even, with Alton’s forwards playing an increasingly active role. They drew level through a scrappy goal after Broadmeadow made the initial save. As gloom descended on the game, Petersfield went 4-2 ahead through Cornett’s drilled penalty corner and Dryden-Brownlee’s finish from six inches at the far post after a good run from Pruden. Alton brought it back to 4-3 with a deflected penalty corner, before the final whistle was blown under conditions that had become unplayable.