PETERSFIELD TN 2, BEDFORD TN 1 (Evo-Stik Southern League: Div I Central)

PETERSFIELD adapted better to the boggy surface at Love Lane and deservedly notched up a fourth consecutive home victory, thanks to a quickfire brace of goals from Howard Neighbour.

The Rams led 2-0 at the interval, but then had to dig deep as Bedford launched a determined fightback.

Both sides had chances for an early breakthrough. Bedford’s Josh Beech failed to get his header on target, while, at the other end, Andy Todd’s diving effort brought a fine block from Enol Ordonez Suarez and the loose ball fell to Neighbour who blasted over an empty goal.

Neighbour quickly made amends by giving Petersfield the lead after 16 minutes. Bedford failed to clear a cross properly and the ball eventually came to Neighbour whose shot was too hot for Suarez to hold.

Joe Briggs then missed a glorious one-on-one chance before the Rams doubled their lead in the 22nd minute. Bedford were caught out by a bad bounce on the muddy pitch and Neighbour was again there to rifle home an unstoppable shot.

Joe Richardson almost made it 3-0 before the break. His first shot was charged down and his follow-up was turned on to the post by Suarez.

Bedford came back well in the second half and gave Anthony Ender much more to do in the home goal. The Rams keeper was only saved by the top of the bar when an inswinging corner caught him off his goal-line.

And Petersfield had another let-off when Nathan Hilaire provided a neat finish to a good move, only to have the goal disallowed for offside.

However, the visitors did pull one back on 77 minutes. Keeper Suarez thumped a free-kick down the field and the ball broke nicely for James Peters to slot home calmly.

Petersfield ran the clock down, although they had one more scare when James Hillsdon’s low shot forced a full-length save from Ender.

Petersfield: Ender, O Searle, Wain (Sackman), Green, Hyde, Ford, Richardson, Neal (Needham), Neighbour, Briggs, Todd. Subs (not used): Buckland, Saunders, Eaton.

Petersfield Tn 1, Beaconsfield SYCOB 2. Petersfield, seeking a fifth straight home league win, were edged out by Beaconsfield at Love Lane in midweek.

The Rams had high hopes of victory after Oli Bailey scored the only goal of the first half. But Beaconsfield came back strongly and secured the points with two goals in seven minutes midway through the second half. Aaron Berry and Tristan Campbell scored for the visitors.