PETERSFIELD Hockey Club’s men’s third team returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory against Alton’s fifth team.

A first-half hat-trick from Ian Pruden did the damage for the home side.

Petersfield dominated from the off against Alton, winning a short corner in the first minute after good trickery from Elliot White.

The set piece came to nothing but was an indication of the domination to come. After five minutes of pressure, Pruden latched on to a loose ball in the D and despatched a rising shot past a helpless keeper.

Despite bossing the game, Field did concede the next goal when Alton broke down their left and, after the crossed ball ricocheted around the D, a lifted shot deflected into the goal via keeper Charlie Weller.

Jacob Rump, playing his first senior game, Josh Bardoe and Sam Gibbon all looked comfortable in midfield, dominating their opposition.

Bardoe in particular controlled the game, passing sensibly when called for and beating his man when the opportunity came. Petersfield broke repeatedly down their right wing, with Bardoe, Gibbon, Alex Hulme and Max White all creating chances by driving into the D. Good work from Hulme led to Pruden’s second when he hammered a fierce shot into the corner.

His third came after E White picked up the ball on the left and swapped quick passes with Bardoe, before finding Pruden who found the corner.

The second half followed the pattern of the first, with Field just unable to seize on numerous opportunities to extend their lead. Finlay Rushin once again had a very solid game in defence, picking tackles and distributing the ball for his team to launch attacks.