PETERSFIELD Hurricanes under-8s suffered a first defeat in 11 games after a tough trip to Camberley.

After the two teams fought out a high-scoring thriller in January, there was not much to choose between the in-form Hurricanes and the Rascals in the first half of Saturday’s early-morning North East Hampshire Youth League clash.

But three goals in the third quarter in the fog put paid to the Hurricanes’ impressive unbeaten run which stretched back to November 21 last year.

The Rascals, whose quick and clever forwards were a threat all game, put the Hurricanes under pressure early, forcing a double save from ever reliable visiting goalkeeper James Port, the first of which saw the ball clawed away for a Rascals corner.

Lively left-footer Albert Wheeler then shot wide from distance to cap a goalless opening period before making his shot count early in the second quarter when he latched on to a throw in before turning and firing low into the bottom corner for his 10th goal of the season to give the Hurricanes the lead.

Energetic top scorer Taylor Pearce then thumped the ball against a post as the Hurricanes threatened to seize control before Port was again called into action at the other end to deny the Rascals with his legs.

Two crucial tackles at the back from Benjamin Oru then kept the Rascals at bay, but not for long as the Surrey side equalised with a breakaway goal after the Hurricanes were caught out pushing up in search of a second goal.

The Hurricanes, with Pearce, Wheeler and Luca Baragan keeping busy and probing away in the Rascals half, and with Alex Garlant and Harry Timmons providing defensive cover behind them, saw Wheeler’s shot saved by the home goalkeeper in the last action of a tense first half.

But the Hurricanes, who brought on last week’s goalscorers Finlay Stafferton and Connor Redpath at half time, didn’t have to wait long to retake the lead.

And it was Stafferton who was central to the goal as he tackled his way past two Rascals defenders before his attempted cross fell to Baragan who fired low into the bottom corner of the Rascals nets for his eighth goal of the season.

Moments earlier, Baragan had almost turned provider when his delightful through ball found Oru unmarked in the penalty area but the Rascals bravely keeper raced out of his goal to smother the ball.

But from there on in the Hurricanes imploded as the Rascals roared back with three unanswered goals, the first when a corner wasn’t cleared, the second when a spell of Hurricanes possession saw them pushed back before losing the ball in a dangerous area, and the third despite Port’s gutsy double save.

The Hurricanes battled to the end, with Oscar Walker’s shot being forced behind for a corner after good work from Wheeler while Pearce sent a half-volley narrowly wide in the final seconds.

Petersfield Hurricanes: Port, Walker, Redpath, Oru, Timmons, Stafferton, Baragan, Wheeler, Garlant, Pearce.