PETERSFIELD Hurricanes continued their rise up the North East Hampshire Youth League ranks after a seven-goal thriller against Badshot Lea Huskies at The Petersfield School on Saturday.

The under-eight Hurricanes were warmed up by a flying start despite the chilly conditions on the 3G pitch as eager worker Oscar Walker latched onto Taylor Pearce’s threw ball before planting a first-time shot past the Huskies goalkeeper.

Moments later, Pearce got his name on the scoresheet as he dispossessed a defender before shooting past the keeper to double the Hurricanes’ lead.

The aptly-named Huskies came in from the cold despite the best efforts of Benjamin Oru and home goalkeeper James Port, dragging a goal back with a far post effort following a scramble in the box.

Warming to the challenge, the Huskies then forced Port into a smart save before drawing level following a quick breakaway.

But back roared the Hurricanes with Pearce the provider again, this time for debutant Albert Wheeler who deftly lifted the ball over the Huskies goalkeeper.

Wheeler looked like doubling his personal tally early in the third quarter when he found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper but put his firm shot wide of the post, while Port, who came out of goal for the second half, tigerishly beat three players before getting in a cross which Luca Baragan was inches away from converting.

But the Hurricanes were left stunned after Alex Garlant conceded a free kick on the halfway line which was blasted into the net from distance – just moments after stand-in goalkeeper Walker had made a stunning save to keep the Huskies at bay.

Undaunted, and with Connor Redpath and Finlay Stafferton weighing in in midfield, the Hurricanes went looking for a fourth goal, with Garlant twice trying his hand from the edge of the box.

And they weren’t to be denied. After the Huskies had had a goal ruled out because the ball had gone out of play earlier in the move, the Hurricanes took a quick throw and the ball fell to Baragan who made no mistake to round off the scoring.

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