UXBRIDGE 3, PETERSFIELD TN 4

PETERSFIELD Town won by the odd goal in seven for the second match running in a pulsating Boxing Day encounter at Uxbridge.

It moved the Rams up to 13th, level on points with Uxbridge in the tightly congested middle regions of Division One Central.

Recovering well after falling behind on just five minutes, Ian Saunders’ men built a 4-2 lead before Uxbridge scored their third to set up a tense finish to a game of many twists and turns.

Soon after the start, Petersfield failed to deal with Wayne Carter’s through-ball and Matt Woods took it round debutant keeper Luke Eaton to score.

The Rams went close themselves, but then it was backs-to-the-wall stuff as Uxbridge fashioned a series of chances.

Eaton was equal to Lewis Cole’s fierce shot and then used his legs to block Anthony O’Connor’s close-range effort. From the corner, Mark Dennison put a free header into the sidenetting.

Eaton made several more saves, the best when he dived full-length to push away a curling free-kick from Carter.

Just before the interval, Petersfield had two shouts for penalties turned down, but their self-belief was growing and after a strong start to the second half, they equalised from a set-piece on 56 minutes.

A corner came in from the left and Lewis Hyde got enough purchase on the ball to divert it inside the far corner.

Both sides then missed decent chances before the Rams took control in dramatic fashion, scoring three times in 12 minutes.

First, Dave Jerrard played the ball into the path of Joe Briggs who, after mis-hitting his first shot, made no mistake with his second attempt, shooting home from close range.

Four minutes later, Briggs turned provider with a neat ball to Howard Neighbour who turned his marker before nutmegging keeper Paul McCarthy with a low shot.

Uxbridge promptly went up the other end to earn a penalty for a foul on Woods who got up to score his second of the match.

But just as quickly, the Rams restored their two-goal cushion with 12 minutes to go. Briggs found space down the right and after cutting inside, curled an unstoppable shot into the far corner.

Back came the home side and Petersfield owed much to Eaton who stopped a goalbound shot with his legs and then palmed a free-kick over the crossbar.

Uxbridge also had a goal disallowed for offside before Petersfield hit backwith a flurry of attacks, Neighbour, Briggs and Joe Richardson all bringing fine saves from McCarthy.

It was breathless stuff and there was still a twist to come as Uxbridge pulled it back to 4-3 in the 88th minute. Eaton parried a shot from Reece Grant, but the rebound left substitute Abobaker Eisa with a tap-in.

Petersfield held on, however, and a third straight win sets them up nicely for the local derby against Godalming this Saturday (ko 3pm at Love Lane). On Wednesday, January 6, Petersfield entertain Potters Bar Town.

Petersfield: Eaton, Searle, Wain, Brice, Jerrard, Ford, Green (Lowley), Hyde, Neighbour, Briggs, Richardson.