Petersfield 0 Farnborough 0: PETERSFIELD’S first team were looking to put aside the disappointment of their cup defeat away at Hastings last week and arrest the run of five league defeats that have anchored them firmly to the bottom half of the table.

Coach Andy Patience was able to pick a very strong side for the game, with a number of players returning to the team after various absences. However, the changes in the side once again highlighted the fluid nature of Field’s selections and the lack of consistency in the team. Bremner was back at full-back and Sam Rushmer was back at inside centre.

Field’s opponents, Farnborough, sit seventh in the table, two places above Field and within mathematical touching distance of Sandown and Shanklin. Indeed, a win at Penns Place would have taken them to within two points of their island rivals and put clear water between the top seven and the four labouring away in the danger zone at the bottom of the table.

As it turned out, neither team could break the deadlock and the hard-fought game ended in a scoreless draw; most unusual at this level. Both sides had their chances but a combination of strong defences and difficult conditions allied with some poor decision making and a lack of execution in the final third put paid to any score.