PETERSFIELD TN 2, BOURNEMOUTH 2

PETERSFIELD remain marooned at the foot of the Sydenhams Premier League, but a fighting point against mid-table Bournemouth on Saturday gave the Rams a glimmer of hope.

The draw ended a run of nine straight losses and there were signs that Petersfield are finding a bit of form with a more settled line-up.

Jordan Neal scored twice for the Rams, his second goal rescuing a point in the 81st minute.

The home side made a positive start and Olly Kershaw went close with a dipping shot just over the crossbar.

But it was the Poppies who made the breakthrough on 22 minutes. Robert Head’s free-kick was parried by Luke Eaton and home defenders stood rooted as Stuart Glynn pounced to put away the loose ball.

Petersfield kept plugging away and Luke Walker was unlucky to have a goal disallowed for marginal offside.

The Rams got their reward four minutes before half-time. Bournemouth’s marking was sloppy at a corner and Neal crashed a close-range header into the net.

Luke Kendall twice went close to putting the Rams in front either side of half-time and then Ed Plackett just failed to get the final touch to an inswinging free-kick.

However, the visitors regained the lead on 76 minutes – albeit with a slice of luck as Eder Batista’s free-kick took a heavy deflection and the ball rolled past a wrong-footed Eaton.

Petersfield kept going, though, and had their own piece of good fortune when Poppies keeper Jake Poynter failed to hold a low shot from Neal and the ball ended up in the net.

Both teams had chances to snatch victory in the remaining minutes, but a point apiece was probably the right result.

Petersfield: Eaton, Gilbert, Geddes, Tremlett, Plackett, Wycherley, Kershaw, Kendall, J Neal, Walker, Fagelman. Subs (not used): Evans, Tayler, Thomas, Collins.

• Tuesday night’s Sydenhams League Cup third-round tie ran to form as Petersfield lost 3-0 at Sholing. Kevin Brewster (2) and Marvin McLean scored for Sholing who are currently fourth in the Premier Division.

• Petersfield are away to Lymington this Saturday.