PETERSFIELD TN 1, NORTH GREENFORD 0

THIS win effectively means that Petersfield are safe in the Southern League Division One Central, while North Greenford’s spirited display suggests they can yet pull off a great escape.

The Rams were much the better side in the first half and only poor finishing and excellent goalkeeping by Greenford’s Lewis Todd kept them to a 1-0 lead at half-time.

On 14 minutes, Petersfield took the lead from their first decent chance.

Pressing home their attack after a free-kick, they delivered the ball to Howard Neighbour who allowed it to roll past him before thumping an unstoppable shot home off the underside of the bar.

The visitors spurned what turned out to be their best chance of the match three minutes later. Glen Yala beat Olly Searle on the halfway line and surged down the left before pulling the ball back into the path of Charlie Conner who shot into the sidenetting when he should have at least tested Luke Eaton.

The Greenford goal then led a charmed life. Andy Todd’s looping header hit the post and the other Todd made a fine one-handed save to keep out Jordan Neal’s close-range effort.

Joe Briggs was also denied by the woodwork and then a deflected shot from Neal forced another fine stop from young Todd.

North Greenford came out fighting for the second half, closing their opponents down in midfield and worked hard at the back to counter the threat of the Petersfield strikers.

But the visitors lacked a cutting-edge up front and Petersfield withstood their surges fairly comfortably.

At the other end, Joe Richardson had a goal disallowed for offside.

It was not until injury time that Petersfield’s goal was really in danger and some of the visiting spectators thought Greenford had equalised when substitute Piotr Marek had a free shot and the ball hit the sidenetting rather than the back of the goal.

Petersfield, on their debut season in the Evo-Stik Southern League, move up to 13th in the table.

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

N Greenford: Todd, Addae, Miller, McAlinden (Marek), Bennell, Kinsella, Yala, Hind, Pither (McEwan), Sangolo, Conner.