PETERSFIELD Hockey Club’s men’s second team returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory against Southampton’s third team on Saturday.

The home side took the early initiative and won a number of penalty corners, but Southampton’s strong defence held firm.

Southampton responded well and a hard-fought game of end-to-end hockey developed, with Petersfield also having to defend well under pressure.

Plewes and Cornelius showed real commitment to keep the score 0-0 at the break.

Southampton broke the deadlock early in the second half to go 1-0 ahead.

Petersfield settled after a change in formation and promptly countered with a swift ball out of defence up the right-hand side, with sharp passing through Cleife and J Cooke-Priest to T Cooke-Priest, who drove around the back of Southampton’s defence and set up Street for the finish.

With two goals in quick succession the match pace turned up a notch and Petersfield, buoyed by the swift equaliser, were on the front foot.

King picked up a loose pass, drove up the centre of the pitch and released Street to slot pass the Southampton keeper for his second goal.

Southampton countered and again the play was end to end with combinations of short sharp passing mixed with lengthy aerial through balls from both teams.

Petersfield had to defend numerous penalty corners, with Broadmeadow proving resilient and acrobatic in goal.

Having had a barrage of well-defended shots on goal, Petersfield were awarded a penalty corner late in the second half.

The injection was stopped by Cleife for King to drag the ball into the D and slip right to Harris, who took the shot.

The shot was saved by the keeper, but Street tapped in the deflection for his hat-trick.