Away - vs  Tadley Calleva  Lost 1-0
 
Petersfield slipped to defeat on Saturday in controversial fashion losing 1-0 to league favourites Tadley Calleva.
 
Petersfield restored Chris Hillman, Alex Miroy and Aaron Fennemore to the starting line-up and handed a debut to Sam Butler after his close season move from Rogate. Tadley started brightly and nearly scored in the 1st minute as a looping header from Jamie Green hit the woodwork. Tadley continued to press and pinned Petersfield back into their own half as they made the early running. The pressure led to nothing except long range efforts and half chances went harmlessly wide or met stubborn resistance from Gary Martin and the Petersfield defence. Gradually Petersfield began to work there way into the game and Aaron Fennemore spurned an opportunity as he broke into the area only to screw his effort wide. Town were now looking much more threatening as Alex Miroy cut in and fired a shot that the Tadley keeper fumbled only for the ball to be scrambled to safety.  Tadley were still asking their own questions and Gary Martin had to be alert on two occasions as Tadley probed for a breakthrough goal. Petersfield almost took the lead as Chris Hillman broke into the box and shoot straight at the keeper. In the dying moments of the half, Petersfield felt they should have had a penalty as Luke Bishop fired over whilst having his shirt pulled but the referee denied the claim. From the half time restart Petersfield took control and pressed for the opener and created several opportunities. However, 10 minutes in came a 5 minute spell that changed the game. The flashpoint followed a foul on Luke Bishop in which both teams became involved in scuffle. Out of the scuffle the referee decided that Nick Tayler had committed an offence and showed him the red card.  Petersfield were incensed, particularly after some of the actions fro the Tadley skipper who appeared to punch Luke Bishop while lying injured and became even more frustrated as Alex Miroy was shown a 2nd yellow for kicking the ball away.

Playing with 9 men Town faced an uphill battle against a strong Tadley side, but set about it in a positive manner. Town frustrated Tadley with Calvin Swan outstanding after switching to a defensive position. Tadley had the majority of possession but could not find a way through the Field defence. James Goulsbra, Sam Butler and Adam Ankorn were defending for their lives whilst Aaron Fennemore, Luke Bishop and Chris Hillman chased and harried the Tadley midfield. Liam Bray was fighting a lone battle up front but was able supported by the midfield on the break as Petersfield still tried to press. Tadley still held the upper hand and eventually the pressure told after 72 mins as after another hotly disputed free-kick, a moments lapse the tadley left back drove the ball through the crowded area and found its way into the net.  Petersfield did not throw in the towel and still tried to find a way back with Liam Bray and Aaron Fennemore both going desperately close to an equaliser. In the final 10 minutes despite playing with 9 men, Petersfield put 3 up front in an attempt to salvage something from the game but could not grab that elusive goal. On the final whistle, even the Tadley supporters applauded the effort of the Town players who had worked so hard only to be baffled by some of the refereeing inconsistency during the game.
 
Summary
Altohugh disappointed at the result, I was delighted with the effort and application shown by the team. If we can reproduce that type of determination and resilience for the rest of the season and continue to play some of the attacking football we are capable of, we have proved we can match anyone in this league. Consistency is the key.

Team : Gary Martin, Adam Ankorn, James Goulsbra, Sam Butler, Nick Tayler, Calvin Swan, Luke Bishop, Aaron Fennemore, Alex Miroy, Liam Bray, Chris Hillman . Subs : Russell Bishop, Barry Keogh, Wayne Harding, and Lloyd Patilla

Petersfield 1 Hythe & Dibden 2

PETERSFIELD Town’s eagerly anticipated opening match of the season against Hythe met with disappointment as Town slid to a 2-1 home defeat.

Despite dominating the game from start to finish, creating numerous chances, Field could not recover from conceding two poor goals in the first half.

Petersfield started brightly and could have scored as early as the first minute when Alex Miroy outstripped the Hythe defence, only to send an attempted lob into the keeper’s hands. Field continued to dominate and after work from Gary Buller, skipper Aaron Fennemore broke into the area but was foiled by good keeping.

Hythe stunned the home side with a breakaway goal. Hesitation between the home defence and the keeper allowed a Hythe forward to nip in to steer the ball into the empty net.

As the half wore on, Petersfield maintained the upper hand and had further opportunities through Gary Buller and a far-post header from Rob Hansler which hit the side netting, but shortly before half-time another moment’s uncertainty led to Hythe stealing a second goal to put Petersfield two goals down at the break.

The second period continued in the same vein with Field dominating territory and possession. Early in the half Petersfield brought on Chris Hillman and Liam Bray to try to find the breakthrough.

Within ten minutes Hillman's persistence won a corner and Miroy delivered a perfect ball for Fennemore to execute a well worked set-piece routine.

Further chances went begging as Petersfield searched for the equaliser and Hythe clung on to their lead, running down the clock whenever possible.

With 15 minutes remaining, Hythe had a player sent off for alleged abusive language to the referee and Field sensed an opportunity and sent three up front.

In a last frantic period, Calvin Swan, Rob Hansler, Fennemore and Barry Keogh all went close to earning a point but it wasn’t to be.

Petersfield: Martin, Williams, Goulsbra, Swan, Hansler, Tayler, Fennemore, Ankorn, Buller, Miroy, Harding. Subs: Hillman, Bishop, Keogh, Tiffin, Bray.

Petersfield 4 Totton & Eling 1

AFTER the previous week’s opening day disappointment against Hythe and Dibden, Petersfield earned their first points of the season with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Totton & Eling.

Keeper Gary Martin passed a late fitness test, and Town made two changes to the previous week’s line-up with the inclusion of James Tiffin and Liam Bray.

Playing up the slope and into the driving rain, Petersfield made a slow start against a useful Totton & Eling side.

In the opening minutes Town were subjected to early pressure as Totton & Eling pushed for an early goal, but some resolute defending kept the scores level.

In the 12th minute, only a superb goal-line clearance by James Goulsbra prevented Field from conceding, and this proved to be a turning point as Petersfield began to take control.

Minutes later a sweeping move from defence involving Aaron Fennemore and Alex Miroy found centre-half Joe Williams breaking from the back.

He made no mistake with a low drive from just outside the area. It was now Petersfield who pushed forward and it came as no surpise when they doubled the lead on 22 minutes.

Striker Alex Miroy's persistence won Town possession in the opposition’s half, and he played a great one-two with Liam Bray and crossed to the back post for Fennemore to find the net from close range.

Petersfield were now in full control with the defence of James Tiffin, James Goulsbra, Joe Williams and Nick Tayler giving Totton no chance of getting back into the game.

A third goal came on 39 minutes as Fennemore hit a great effort into the far corner from 25 yards out.

Half-time came with Petersfield wanting more of the same. Chris Hillman and Gary Buller were providing good penetration down the flanks and Calvin Swan and Fennemore were in control in the midfield battle.

As the half wore on Petersfield looked the more likely to add another goal, and Alex Miroy duly obliged.

Picking the ball up on the left wing he cut inside and thundered a shot beyond the outstretched dive of the Totton keeper.

The game was marred by a bad challenge on Williams who had to substituted by Luke Bishop.

For a few moments Petersfield became unsettled and conceded after a goalmouth scramble left the rarely-troubled Martin no chance.

Barry Keogh and Wayne Harding were introduced into the action and Town quickly re-establish the upper hand.

Further opportunities for Bishop, Fennemore and Gary Buller came and went and the game petered out in difficult conditions.

Petersfield manager Paul Ryan said: “After the previous week’s disapointment this was the type of result and performance we were looking for, with every single player involved contributing in a big way.

“Our defensive play was assured and decisive, our midfield won their individual battles and when we attacked we looked capable of scoring on a number of occasions, causing Totton all sorts of problems.

“We were excellent today but know we need to be more consistent and cannot afford too many slips-ups like the Hythe game.

“Our finishing was clinical and we didn’t make the individual errors of the previous week.”

Petersfield: Martin, Tiffin, Goulsbra, Swan, Williams, Tayler, Fennemore, Buller, Bray, Miroy, Hillman. Subs: Bishop, Keogh, Harding, Ankorn, Smith.