FOUR goals from Petersfield Hurricanes newcomer Albert Wheeler was the highlight of a barmy 14-goal thriller against North East Hampshire Youth League rivals Camberley Rascals on Saturday.

The game was moved to the 3G pitch at The Petersfield School, with Love Lane again a victim of a wet winter, and a goal fest ensued.

The Hurricanes were a disciplined unit in the first quarter and made a flying start when Alex Garlant weaved his way past three players before calmly planting a left-footed shot past the visiting goalkeeper. Garlant then turned provider when his firm clearance from the heart of defence found Luca Baragan in space and he made no mistake to double his side’s lead with his sixth goal of the season.

With a big squad to accommodate, the management team rang the changes in the second quarter and the Rascals cut the Hurricanes’ lead before Wheeler appeared to take the game away from them with two quick goals – the first when he seized upon hesitation in the Rascals’ defence after Taylor Pearce’s initial shot had been saved and then when he skilfully cut across his marker and fired a left-foot shot past the goalkeeper.

But back came the Rascals in what turned out to be a wild 10 minutes of play. James Port, in the Hurricanes’ goal, palmed away a high cross and then got down smartly at his near post to turn the ball round the post for a corner. From the resultant kick, Port was powerless to prevent Pearce’s attempted headed clearance finding the net.

At the other end, Wheeler completed his hat-trick, firing in low from the edge of the box across the goalkeeper, before sloppy defending gave the determined Rascals a foothold in the game with two quick strikes before the half-time whistle. And they continued where they left off in the second quarter, forcing a terrific diving save from Port and then a brave block moments later to maintain the Hurricanes’ slender lead.

And Port’s double save seemed even more crucial shortly after as the Hurricanes restored their two-goal cushion when Garlant reacted quickest for his 17th goal of the season after the Rascals keeper failed to hold Pearce’s high cross.

The diminuitive Baragan’s mazy runs, combined with the tenaciuous tackling of Connor Redpath, Benjamin Oru and Finlay Stafferton in the middle of the pitch and the lung-busting defensive runs and intelligent distrubution of inspired workhorse Oscar Walker, who even took a turn in goal late on, threatened to keep the Rascals at bay, but they reduced the deficit to one early in the fourth quarter.

Back came the Hurricanes again in a pulsating game, with Wheeler notching his fourth in style following a quick throw and brilliant work at the back by Oru, but all the good work was undone as the Rascals took full advantage of the Hurricanes losing their shape, pushing too far forward and leaving their goalkeeper exposed as they grabbed two goals in the closing minutes to earn a share of the spoils their efforts deserved.

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