N GREENFORD 2, PETERSFIELD TN 2

PETERSFIELD came from behind to secure three valuable points at bottom side North Greenford last Saturday.

It was a scrappy match on a heavy Berkeley Fields pitch, but Petersfield improved after the interval and did enough to finish worthy winners.

Greenford, under new management, were lively in the first half, but wasted several chances to build on their lead, having scored after just four minutes from their first real attack of the game.

A swift, incisive breakaway was clinically finished off by midfielder Matt Riggs.

A minute later, striker Aaron McLeish had a great chance to extend the lead, but his shot flew over the crossbar.

The Rams had loud shouts for a penalty waved away when Oliver Bailey hit the ground and, soon after, Stuart Green went close with a 25-yard drive.

Then came a key moment in the game when Greenford keeper Josh Kensit was injured in a coming-together with Howard Neighbour. Kensit continued after treatment, but was taken to hospital at half-time with a badly gashed arm.

The replacement keeper failed to appear and so the task fell to player-manager Danny Bennell who, up until then, had been doing an excellent job in defence.

Even so, Greenford could have doubled their lead before half-time. Glen Yala’s fierce shot was beaten away by Anthony Ender at his near post and Ike Nzuruba blazed over the top from inside the area.

Petersfield were determined to test the emergency keeper in the second half and David Jerrard and Gary Norgate both fired off shots before the visitors equalised on 50 minutes.

A dangerous cross came in from the left and Bailey diverted the ball past Bennell and into the net.

Petersfield now sensed they could win the game. Neighbour, latching onto a slack back pass, dragged his shot wide of an open goal and then Bailey missed with a free header.

A cross from Joe Briggs seemed to have set up a certain goal for Neighbour, but his sidefoot shot looped up and hit the crossbar before dropping into the keeper’s hands.

The Rams persevered, however, and were rewarded with a penalty on 68 minutes when Briggs was sent flying by Bennell. Neighbour made no mistake from the spot.

Greenford kept going, but Petersfield were in no mood to surrender the lead. Indeed, they could have added a third when Adam Brice shot high and wide of the target with only the keeper to beat.

Petersfield: Ender, Hyde (Searle), Jerrard (Todd), Brice, Sackman, Ford, Green, Norgate, Neighbour, Briggs, Bailey. Subs (not used): Richardson, Wain, Lowley.