PETERSFIELD TOWN 2, FLEET TOWN 2

PETERSFIELD need a Great Escape if they are to escape relegation from the Southern League and they showed the necessary fighting spirit in a hard-fought draw with Fleet Town on Monday.

The signs were not promising as Fleet took the lead with a goal timed at 20 seconds.

Immediately winning possession, the visitors poured forward and Pat Cox cut in from the left and struck the ball past George Hill from 15 yards.

The sticky Love Lane surface made it difficult to string passes together, but it took the Rams only six minutes to draw level.

Billy Connor got a sight of goal and the youngster promptly beat keeper Ryan Pryce with a cracking shot from the edge of the box.

A fired-up Petersfield were giving as good as they got and shook Fleet by grabbing the lead after 32 minutes. A free-kick was lifted into the box and Adam Cripps’ header looped up over Pryce and hit the underside of the bar before falling into the net.

The second half found Fleet pressing hard for an equaliser and a good effort from Josh Francis forced Hill to tip the ball over for a corner. Craig Davis swung over a dangerous kick and Josh Harfield headed home strongly: 2-2 after 49 minutes.

Petersfield dug in and defended well as Fleet peppered the home goal with a series of crosses. But it wasn’t all one-way traffic and the Rams wasted a couple of decent openings on the break.

Substitute Danilo Cadete almost won it for Fleet in the final minutes, one shot clearing the crossbar and then Hill diving to touch a goal-bound drive round the post for another corner.

A fighting point for Petersfield who remain marooned at the foot of the table alongside Histon, both on nine points. So only a victory will do this Saturday when the Rams make the long trip to Histon in Cambridgeshire for a basement battle. On Tuesday, Petersfield travel to AFC Portchester in the quarter-finals of the Russell Cotes Cup.

* A minute’s silence was observed before kick-off on Monday in memory of Fleet Town chairman Steve Cantle who died before Christmas.